Enlarged breasts can be caused by contraception, how come?

Each contraceptive has different side effects. You may often feel nauseous after taking birth control pills, stomach cramps from the IUD, and so on. You may also feel enlarged breasts. So, what birth control devices cause breast size to be bigger than usual?

What types of birth control can make your breasts enlarge?

For those of you who are accustomed to taking birth control pills, you may be familiar with this one side effect. Yes, regularly taking birth control pills not only makes you feel nauseous or has a headache, but also changes in the size of your enlarged breasts.

However, does this mean that only birth control pills cause breast size to change? Apparently not, you know! Women's health expert, Jennifer Wider, M.D., revealed to Self that in addition to birth control pills, other hormonal birth control devices such as birth control injections and hormonal IUDs can also cause enlarged breasts.

How come?

Both contraceptive injections and hormonal IUDs contain progestins, which are artificial forms of progesterone. This progestin can prevent ovulation, make cervical fluid thicker, and thin the cervix. As a result, the process of fertilization of eggs and sperm cells is inhibited, preventing pregnancy.

When you use birth control injections or hormonal IUDs, the hormone levels in the body will increase. This will cause many changes in your body, one of which is the breast tissue that becomes softer, enlarges, and feels painful.

In addition, imbalanced body hormones also cause the body to retain more fluids than usual (water retention). This excess fluid will enter the body's fat cells, such as the hips, thighs and breasts. So do not be surprised if your breasts look bigger because of it.

But no need to worry, because this breast enlargement effect usually doesn't last long. This condition is more common when you have recently used birth control injections or hormonal IUDs.

Over time, your body will adapt and get used to the hormonal changes in the body due to the birth control tools used. After several months, your breasts will generally return to their normal size. The same effect is felt after you take off your birth control, be it birth control pills, birth control injections, or hormonal IUDs.

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