Fertility drugs symptoms and conditions

Increase in POCS and obesity due to young-age use of progesterones?2 March 2006

Ellen C G Grant,
physician and medical gynaecologist
Kingston-upon-Thames, KT2 7JU, UK
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Re: Increase in POCS and obesity due to young-age use of progesterones?
Professor Balen and colleagues write that PCOS is increasing because more women are becoming obese.1 Progesterone use can cause rapid weight gain and many adolescent girls therefore refuse to continue taking the Pill.
In an attempt to cut the numbers of unplanned teenage pregnancies more longer-acting forms of progesterone are being used. Unfortunately depo medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) caused significantly greater weight gain with longer use in adolescent girls than the Pill. After 18 months obese girls gained 9 kg while non-obese girls gained 4 kg. The authors considered that the potential contribution of DMPA to severe obesity in adolescents is concerning.2 DMPA is reported to have no inherent oestrogenic or androgenic effects, which suggests that weight gain induced by DMPA is a progestogenic effect.
Use of progestogens can also increase the risk of PCOS. In the Walnut Creek Contraceptive Drug Study significantly more oral contraceptive users aged 18-39 had non-functioning ovarian cysts than never users (50/7506 with 4/2556).3 Fewer functioning cysts would be expected in users of progestogens designed to stop ovaries functioning. Use of fertility drugs can also cause ovarian cysts.
Progestogen use also increases the risk of diabetes. In a study of 210 women taking 150 µg levonorgestrel and 30 µg ethinyl oestradiol, 60% had stopped by 15 months and only 8% were current users at 3 years. Glucose tolerance tests deteriorated into the diabetic rangein 6 women but improved when oral contraceptives were stopped for side-effects including weight gain.4
It is reasonable that obese women with PCOS are not given fertility drugs risking more ovarian cyst development and further weight gain. Advice about weight reducing high protein/low allergy diets and life-style changes is preferable.
1 Balen AH, Dresner M, Scott EM, Drife JO. Should obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome receive treatment for infertility? BMJ 2006; 332: 434-435.
2 Bonny AE, Ziegler J, Harvey R, et al. Weight gain in obese and nonobese adolescent girls initiating depot medroxyprogesterone, oral contraceptive pills, or no hormonal contraceptive method. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006; 160: 40-5.
3 Ramcharan S. Pellegrin RR, Hsu J-P, et al. Walnut Creek Contraceptive Drug Study 1981; Center for Population Research Monograph; Vol 111: P 162.
4 Wynn V. Effects of duration of low-dose oral contraceptive administration on carbohydrate metabolism. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1982: 142: 739-43.
Competing interests: None declared

Thanks, Mo! ;)

I discovered I had endometriosis in March 2000 at which time I had surgery to remove what was there, then the gyn followed up with the Depo-Lupron shots for six months. To help with the hot flashes, mood swings etc. My doctor put me on a very low dose of Estrogen which helped. I was having fertility issues before this and when I finished up the shots and the time had ran out and still had no period, my doctor put me on fertility drugs to give my body a jump start, and in April 2001 we found out we were pregnant, during which time my teeth started deteriating and by the time I have my second and last child in March 2003, I had to have major dental work done. I blame the lupron shot for this issue, apparently my calcium level dropped. I told my gyn about it and he said he had never heard of any such thing before as a side affect of the drug. I pretty muched laughed in his face and told him to advise future patients to increase the calcium while on the drug. Then recently I discovered like a lot of you that there are some really serious side affects from Lupron. Since this after having my last child I went on the Depo Prevera shot for 6 months, gained unsightly weight, so I got off of that and got my tubes tied in 2004, then by March of 2006 I knew my endometriosis was back full fledge and in June 2006 I had to have a hysterectomy. My only long term affects from the Lupron and Prevera shots is still trying to lose some of the weight and living in pain during every meal but due to the extreme affect it took on my teeth, I can not afford even with insurance to get all the work needed done!!!! If I had to do it over again, I would have had the surgery and then worked on getting pregnant immediately, because long term..... It isnt worth the "preventative" HaHaHa!!!!

I took it for just a little over 2 weeks. I felt totally sick, nauseated,tired,weak,moody,sad,chills...didn't feel like doing anything AND my face totally broke out more than ever before!!or since I can remember!) Also had the acid,gas,burping...I went to the Dr. for bloodwork, thinking I might be dying!! Finally stopped taking the yasmine and after 4 days I am just starting to begin to feel normal. I have 4 children and felt worse than I ahve w/ any pregnancy! Also lost all sex drive! My husband thought I was totally hormonal and wanted the "old me" back! I was not told of any side effects when i went on it and after week one was told to stick w/ it. After week 2, could take no more!! I've missed almost 2 weeks of exercise b/c i felt so bad and also my appetite was increased b/c I kept thinking I might feel better if I ate something! The only reason i was put on it was to regulate me and made me more irregular. I agreed to go on it b/c I was told it helps you lose weight. It's not worth it! I've taken many fertility drugs, and have never been effected w/ any as I was this! Glad to be recovering!! I will let my husband have the surgery (Father's day present!)