# Birth control pill

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-pill/390072>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 30, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-pill/390072 "2007-01-30T03:16:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![turtle\_dove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e7dd6/32.png) [@turtle\_dove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtle_dove)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-pill/390072/1 "2007-01-30T03:16:24Z")

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Just started taking some birth control pills. I’ve gotten no side effects; gained about 10 pounds, but the weird thing is, my face looks puffy.  
Is this from steroids in them?  
I looked at an old picture and I can see the difference. I’ve gained weight before and not looked facially puffy.

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**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-pill/390072/2 "2007-01-30T04:23:41Z")

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[QUOTE=turtle dove]  
Just started taking some birth control pills. I’ve gotten no side effects; gained about 10 pounds, but the weird thing is, my face looks puffy.  
Is this from steroids in them?  
I looked at an old picture and I can see the difference. I’ve gained weight before and not looked facially puffy.  
[/QUOTE]

The weight gain is probably from water retention (as opposed to regular fatitude) which can show up in the face.

I’m pretty sure BCP conatains a combination of estrogen and progesterone - neither of which are “steroids” in the clasical sense.

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-pill/390072/3 "2007-01-30T04:27:38Z")

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[QUOTE=turtle dove]  
I’ve gotten no side effects; gained about 10 pounds, but the weird thing is, my face looks puffy.  
[/QUOTE]

Out of curiosity, what do you think “side effect” means?