Side effects
Do Trust pills cause weight gain?
Quick answer
The evidence says no large effect. A Cochrane review of placebo-controlled trials found that combined pills like Trust (levonorgestrel + ethinylestradiol) did not cause a large weight change.[src] Some people feel bloated or hungrier in the first months, which usually settles. Still unhappy after 3 months? Talk to your doctor.
What the trials found
"Nakakataba ba ang Trust?" is one of the most searched questions about the pill in the Philippines. The fair way to answer it is to compare people on a pill with people on a dummy pill over the same months, because most adults slowly gain weight over time anyway. The Cochrane review did exactly that across many trials and concluded that no large effect was evident.[src] The NHS puts it plainly: there is no evidence that the pill makes you put on weight.[src]
Trust uses levonorgestrel, one of the oldest and most studied progestins, with 30 mcg of ethinylestradiol. That combination is the same family as Lady (levonorgestrel + ethinylestradiol) and Charlize, and it is the kind of pill most of those trials looked at.
Why it can still feel like gain
Filipinas on Reddit describe feeling hungrier on pills, or a few kilos up on the scale.[src] That experience is real, even if trials do not show a large average effect. Common reasons:
- Fluid and bloating. Estrogen can cause some water retention and breast swelling in the first cycles. It usually settles by month 3.[src]
- Appetite. Some people feel hungrier. If you eat more, you gain, but that can be noticed and managed.
- Timing. Many people start the pill at a time of life when weight changes anyway: a new relationship, a new job, after giving birth.
- The wrong method blamed. The injectable (DMPA, "turok") is the one method with evidence of weight gain in some users. Do not mix up the two when you read stories online. [TODO: source: ACOG or FSRH on DMPA and weight gain]
A simple 3-month check
Instead of guessing, measure. It takes two minutes a week:
- Weigh yourself the morning before you start Trust, then once a week at the same time.
- Also note waist size and whether your breasts or ankles feel swollen. Bloating changes these more than fat does.
- Log hunger and mood in the side effect tracker. It stays on your phone.
- At 3 months, bring the numbers to your doctor. Real data makes the conversation faster.
If it really bothers you
Stopping suddenly mid-pack is the riskiest way to deal with it, because you lose protection. Keep taking Trust until you have a plan. Your doctor can suggest a different pill or a non-daily method. Trust is one of the cheapest pills, from ₱59.50 a pack, so switching usually costs more, but some options are free at your health center. More on all of this in our weight gain guide.
Frequently asked questions
Nakakataba ba ang Trust pills?
Ayon sa Cochrane review ng mga pag-aaral, walang malaking epekto sa timbang ang combined pills tulad ng Trust. May iba na nakakaramdam ng bloating o gutom sa unang buwan, na kadalasang nawawala pagkalipas ng 3 buwan.
Is Lady less nakakataba than Trust?
There is no evidence that one levonorgestrel pill causes more weight gain than another. Lady and Trust are close in formula. Experiences differ from person to person.
Will I lose the weight if I stop Trust?
If the change was from fluid, it usually goes. If you gained from eating more, stopping the pill alone will not reverse it. Talk to your doctor before stopping so you are not left unprotected.
This guide is for information. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or switching birth control.
Sources
- Combination contraceptives: effects on weight (Gallo et al.), Cochrane / PubMed
- Combined pill: risks and side effects, NHS
- What contraceptive pill ang hindi nakakataba?, r/AskPinay