Contraceptive Pill and the Affects on T levels

[onyx]

Researching myself I have determined with pretty much certainty that the pill, specifically the combination contraceptive pill causes a reduction in natural free testosterone. Now my question is, how does this effect a persons training? Since women have little T to start with (at normal levels) my thoughts are that perhaps this reduction could show visiable effects in terms of training? Has anyone experienced a reduction in gains when going on the combination pill (or inversely an increase in gains when coming off it)? and does anyone have any knowledge about how serverly a persons T levels can be effected on the combination pill.

Thanks in advance (and yes, I think too much )

 

[FitFossil]

You are correct. The body naturally likes to keep its hormones in balance. The extra estrogen from the Pill stimulates the production of SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) in an effort to bring things back into line. It ends up binding some of the testosterone as well. This is one reason many women report low libido as a side effect.

I also believe (although countless studies done by the manufacturers of said pills may disagee ) that the extra estrogen and reduced test, negatively affect training, but how much really depends on the person. Some women seem to do fine on the pill. It turned me into a bodyfat magnet. I've only been fat twice in my life, once when I was recovering from anorexia (the boomerang effect), and once again when I went on the pill - my bodyfat doubled in a matter of months, and my sex drive went down the toilet. I was not weight training at the time, but needless to say what kept me fit before the pill did not work on the pill. I've since switched to a non-hormonal IUD and have no complaints.

 

[gingernuts]

Unfortunately I have to take the combined pill.This is because I was ammenorhoic for five years whilst a distance runner. When I cut back on the running I still didn't menstruate.The Drs kept telling me to put more weight on - when I was a runner I was never skinny, 120lbs at 5'4" and they were still telling me to put weight on at 134lbs!Eventually when taking part in some private sports research it was found that due to lack of estrogen I had lost a siginificant amount of bone mass.

The answer was to feed me estrogen.It brought my periods back.But I find I am still able to keep my bodyfat under control.I have put on weight and fat since starting taking it but thats because I overate and drank too much due to alcohol problems.

I took the pill for several years as a teenager and was able to lose fat OK.I think it does influence your body composition to some extent but not hugely.I have had friends who blame the pill for being obese when it is clear they do not exercise and eat the wrong things.

In my experience the pills effect is most siginificant is when you get under 15% bf.It makes it even harder to lose those last stubborn pounds.When I start my competition preparation I will obviously have to stop using the pill for a while.