Weight Gain Associated with Hormonal Contraception Use in Adolescents is not Different from Control

The use of hormonal contraception is commonly associated with weight gain. The purpose of this retrospective study was to explore the association between the use of hormonal contraception and weight change in an outpatient adolescent patient population in Lexington, Kentucky. Data were gathered from the charts of 259 adolescent female patients seen in an outpatient adolescent clinic for up to 72 months. At the initial visit, all patients were evaluated for risk-taking behavior and received preventive counseling. Patients were categorized as either contraception users or non-users (control group). Contraception users were subdivided into Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) user group or non-DMPA contraception user group. The latter group included patients using oral contraceptive pills, transdermal contraceptive patch, intravaginal, contraceptive ring, or other forms of hormonal contraception. Following the initial visit, all contraception users (DMPA and non-DMPA) visited the clinic every three- or six-months for follow-up. During the follow-up visits, patient weight was recorded and the patient received counseling services by a physician, a licensed psychologist, and/or a nutritionist as deemed appropriate. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using Statistical Analysis Software. The results showed no significant difference in weight gain between groups. We hypothesize that hormonal contraception in adolescent patients, coupled with clinical intervention in form of counseling and regular monitoring, over an extended period (longer than 24 months) is not associated with significant weight gain