{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]],"date-time":"2025-12-29T18:32:27Z","timestamp":1767033147346,"version":"3.48.0"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]],"date-time":"2025-12-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1766966400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To examine females\u2019 perceived effects of contraceptive use on weight management and to identify potential confounding factors that may contribute to perceived weight changes across their lifespan.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Three hundred and fifteen predominantly UK-based females completed a questionnaire assessing the prevalence and type of current and previous contraceptive use, reasons for use, side effects experienced, and perceived effects on weight. Twenty-five participants who reported contraceptive use subsequently completed timeline interviews to gain deeper insight into the perceived impact of contraception on weight status and to identify contextual or lifestyle factors that may have contributed to perceived weight-management difficulties.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Contraceptive use prevalence was 88% among respondents, with 38% using a contraceptive method at the time of data collection. Forty-two percent reported greater difficulty managing their weight while using hormonal contraception compared with their natural menstrual cycle. In follow-up interviews,\n                      <jats:italic>depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA)<\/jats:italic>\n                      was consistently identified as the method most associated with difficulties in weight management. However, most participants attributed weight-related challenges to broader life circumstances, such as moving away from home, relationship changes, and stress, rather than contraceptive use alone.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Although 42% of females reported difficulty managing their weight while using contraception, these perceptions often reflected lifestyle factors rather than physiological effects of the contraceptive itself. Clinicians, coaches, and recreationally active females should consider the most appropriate contraceptive type for their circumstances and also reflect on life status and current events as potential contributors to\n                      <jats:italic>perceived weight management struggles<\/jats:italic>\n                      or\n                      <jats:italic>weight gain<\/jats:italic>\n                      . Individuals may want to consider alternative methods if they are initially affected by DMPA.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0339323","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]],"date-time":"2025-12-29T18:27:31Z","timestamp":1767032851000},"page":"e0339323","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Does it hold weight? The perceived effects of contraceptive use on weight status in females: A mixed-methods study"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"given":"Leonie","family":"Bass","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tamara","family":"Prostin\u00e1kov\u00e1","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-1200-7326","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Kathelijne Gabrielle","family":"Silang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alyssia","family":"Griffiths-Gray","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4987-5938","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Stephen","family":"McQuilliam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Elizabeth","family":"Mahon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Amy","family":"Whitehead","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7395-5129","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Kelsie Olivia","family":"Johnson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0339323.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.12688\/f1000research.22482.1","article-title":"Determinants of contraceptive use among married women in Indonesia","volume":"9","author":"A Gafar","year":"2020","journal-title":"F1000Res"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0339323.ref002","article-title":"Combined hormonal contraceptives for heavy menstrual bleeding","volume":"2","author":"A Lethaby","year":"2019","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0339323.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2028","DOI":"10.1093\/humrep\/der156","article-title":"Oral contraceptives and endometriosis: the past use of oral contraceptives for treating severe primary dysmenorrhea is associated with endometriosis, especially deep infiltrating endometriosis","volume":"26","author":"C Chapron","year":"2011","journal-title":"Hum Reprod"},{"key":"pone.0339323.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2471\/B09437","volume-title":"Impact of contraceptive use on women\u2019s health and socioeconomic status: Evidence brief","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2025"},{"key":"pone.0339323.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"165","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsrh-2017-200037","article-title":"Contraceptive method use among women and its association with age, relationship status and duration: Findings from the third British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3","volume":"44","author":"N Firman","year":"2018","journal-title":"). BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health"},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0339323.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"926","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2017-0330","article-title":"Period Prevalence and Perceived Side Effects of Hormonal Contraceptive Use and the Menstrual Cycle in Elite Athletes","volume":"13","author":"D Martin","year":"2018","journal-title":"International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajog.2006.12.015","article-title":"Oral contraceptive discontinuation: do side effects matter?","volume":"196","author":"CL Westhoff","year":"2007","journal-title":"American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0339323.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"843","DOI":"10.1177\/0891243213504033","article-title":"It\u2019s those Pills that are Ruining Me","volume":"27","author":"KE Littlejohn","year":"2013","journal-title":"Gender & Society"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.1080\/23293691.2022.2054670","article-title":"Exploring Oral Contraceptive Use and Perceived Weight Among Women Aged 20 to 49 in the United States","volume":"10","author":"H Smith","year":"2023","journal-title":"Women\u2019s Reproductive Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1089\/jwh.2012.4241","article-title":"Weight and body composition changes during oral contraceptive use in obese and normal weight women","volume":"23","author":"ER Mayeda","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Womens Health (Larchmt)"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0339323.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.1097\/01.AOG.0000107298.29343.6a","article-title":"Combination estrogen-progestin contraceptives and body weight: systematic review of randomized controlled trials","volume":"103","author":"MF Gallo","year":"2004","journal-title":"Obstet Gynecol"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0339323.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"427","DOI":"10.1093\/humupd\/6.5.427","article-title":"Weight gain on the combined pill--is it real?","volume":"6","author":"S Gupta","year":"2000","journal-title":"Hum Reprod Update"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref013","article-title":"Combination contraceptives: effects on weight","volume":"2014","author":"MF Gallo","year":"2014","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.2307\/2136246","article-title":"Most British Women Use Reliable Contraceptive Methods, but Many Fear Health Risks from Use","volume":"26","author":"R Turner","year":"1994","journal-title":"Family Planning Perspectives"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0339323.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajog.2008.12.052","article-title":"Changes in weight, total fat, percent body fat, and central-to-peripheral fat ratio associated with injectable and oral contraceptive use","volume":"200","author":"AB Berenson","year":"2009","journal-title":"Am J Obstet Gynecol"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajog.2012.10.876","article-title":"Validity of perceived weight gain in women using long-acting reversible contraception and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate","volume":"208","author":"AM Nault","year":"2013","journal-title":"Am J Obstet Gynecol"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"503","DOI":"10.1016\/j.contraception.2013.03.004","article-title":"Weight change at 12 months in users of three progestin-only contraceptive methods","volume":"88","author":"Z Vickery","year":"2013","journal-title":"Contraception"},{"key":"pone.0339323.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsbmb.2009.12.005","article-title":"Central effects of estradiol in the regulation of food intake, body weight, and adiposity","volume":"122","author":"LM Brown","year":"2010","journal-title":"The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"550","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yfrne.2014.05.002","article-title":"The role of hypothalamic estrogen receptors in metabolic regulation","volume":"35","author":"A Frank","year":"2014","journal-title":"Front Neuroendocrinol"},{"issue":"1471","key":"pone.0339323.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1251","DOI":"10.1098\/rstb.2006.1860","article-title":"Modulation of appetite by gonadal steroid hormones","volume":"361","author":"L Asarian","year":"2006","journal-title":"Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1016\/S0002-9378(11)91626-3","article-title":"Suppression of 24-hour cholecystokinin secretion by oral contraceptives","volume":"167","author":"R Karlsson","year":"1992","journal-title":"Am J Obstet Gynecol"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1111\/bjhp.12122","article-title":"Using mixed methods research designs in health psychology: An illustrated discussion from a pragmatist perspective","volume":"20","author":"FL Bishop","year":"2014","journal-title":"British J Health Psychol"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0339323.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"831","DOI":"10.1177\/0194599811399724","article-title":"A practical guide to surveys and questionnaires","volume":"144","author":"EL Slattery","year":"2011","journal-title":"Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.7146\/qs.v3i1.6272","article-title":"Timeline interviews: A tool for conducting life history research","volume":"3","author":"HK Adriansen","year":"2012","journal-title":"QS"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1177\/109019818801500401","article-title":"An ecological perspective on health promotion programs","volume":"15","author":"KR McLeroy","year":"1988","journal-title":"Health Educ Q"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"589","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2019.1628806","article-title":"Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis","volume":"11","author":"V Braun","year":"2019","journal-title":"Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1037\/qup0000196","article-title":"Conceptual and design thinking for thematic analysis","volume":"9","author":"V Braun","year":"2022","journal-title":"Qualitative Psychology"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0339323.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology","volume":"3","author":"V Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qualitative Research in Psychology"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2017.1393221","article-title":"Generalizability in qualitative research: misunderstandings, opportunities and recommendations for the sport and exercise sciences","volume":"10","author":"B Smith","year":"2018","journal-title":"Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health"},{"key":"pone.0339323.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1097\/AOG.0b013e3181af68b2","article-title":"Early weight gain predicting later weight gain among depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users","volume":"114","author":"Y-CL Le","year":"2009","journal-title":"Obstet Gynecol"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"793","DOI":"10.1097\/AOG.0b013e31820f387c","article-title":"Early weight gain related to later weight gain in adolescents on depot medroxyprogesterone acetate","volume":"117","author":"AE Bonny","year":"2011","journal-title":"Obstet Gynecol"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"269","DOI":"10.1016\/j.contraception.2004.06.011","article-title":"Contraceptive efficacy and safety of DMPA-SC","volume":"70","author":"J Jain","year":"2004","journal-title":"Contraception"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"548","DOI":"10.1016\/j.physbeh.2007.04.032","article-title":"Stress and weight change in university students in the United Kingdom","volume":"92","author":"A Serlachius","year":"2007","journal-title":"Physiol Behav"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"363","DOI":"10.1016\/S1471-0153(03)00030-8","article-title":"The freshman year of college as a critical period for weight gain: an initial evaluation","volume":"4","author":"DA Anderson","year":"2003","journal-title":"Eat Behav"},{"key":"pone.0339323.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"236","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clnesp.2021.06.010","article-title":"Dietary and lifestyle habits among university students at different academic years","volume":"44","author":"NJ Al-Awwad","year":"2021","journal-title":"Clin Nutr ESPEN"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.21101\/cejph.a3684","article-title":"Health promoting behaviours and lifestyle characteristics of students at seven universities in the UK","volume":"19","author":"W El Ansari","year":"2011","journal-title":"Cent Eur J Public Health"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref037","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"900","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.112.4.900","article-title":"Relation between dieting and weight change among preadolescents and adolescents","volume":"112","author":"AE Field","year":"2003","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0339323.ref038","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"695","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.85.5.695","article-title":"Frequent dieting among adolescents: psychosocial and health behavior correlates","volume":"85","author":"SA French","year":"1995","journal-title":"Am J Public Health"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref039","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"404","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bodyim.2008.04.006","article-title":"Healthy Eating Index-C is compromised among adolescents with body weight concerns, weight loss dieting, and meal skipping","volume":"5","author":"SJ Woodruff","year":"2008","journal-title":"Body Image"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref040","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.1186\/s40337-022-00594-x","article-title":"Adverse childhood experiences among adults with eating disorders: comparison to a nationally representative sample and identification of trauma","volume":"10","author":"RD Rienecke","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Eat Disord"},{"key":"pone.0339323.ref041","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"173","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-016-2843-1","article-title":"Alcohol consumption among university students in Ireland and the United Kingdom from 2002 to 2014: a systematic review","volume":"16","author":"MP Davoren","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0339323.ref042","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addbeh.2010.10.005","article-title":"Ups and downs of alcohol use among first-year college students: Number of drinks, heavy drinking, and stumble and pass out drinking days","volume":"36","author":"JL Maggs","year":"2011","journal-title":"Addict Behav"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref043","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.1080\/14034940510032158","article-title":"Health behaviour among adolescents in Denmark: influence of school class and individual risk factors","volume":"34","author":"A Johansen","year":"2006","journal-title":"Scand J Public Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0339323.ref044","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"422","DOI":"10.1080\/07448481.2021.1891922","article-title":"Understanding changes in eating behavior during the transition to university from a self-determination theory perspective: a systematic review","volume":"71","author":"MA Maillet","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Am Coll Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref045","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.15353\/cfs-rcea.v3i1.72","article-title":"Challenges to acquiring and utilizing food literacy: Perceptions of young Canadian adults","volume":"3","author":"S Colatruglio","year":"2016","journal-title":"CanFoodStudies"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref046","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"449","DOI":"10.1016\/j.physbeh.2007.04.011","article-title":"Stress, eating and the reward system","volume":"91","author":"TC Adam","year":"2007","journal-title":"Physiol Behav"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0339323.ref047","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"362","DOI":"10.1037\/0278-6133.22.4.362","article-title":"Stress and dietary practices in adolescents","volume":"22","author":"M Cartwright","year":"2003","journal-title":"Health Psychol"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0339323.ref048","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1080\/13625180500039084","article-title":"Oral contraceptives use and weight gain in women with a Central European life-style","volume":"10","author":"MM Lech","year":"2005","journal-title":"Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care"}],"container-title":["PLOS One"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0339323","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]],"date-time":"2025-12-29T18:27:40Z","timestamp":1767032860000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0339323"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Vandana","family":"Dabla","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"editor","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]]},"references-count":48,"journal-issue":{"issue":"12","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0339323","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]]}}}