Do birth control pills cause weight gain or infertility?

Combined pills don't cause meaningful weight gain in controlled trials, though the injectable (DMPA) can. They do not cause infertility — fertility returns within a few cycles for most, with a longer delay after the injectable.

Ovulation typically returns within 1-3 months of stopping combined pills. The injectable can delay return of fertility by 6-12 months, which is worth knowing before choosing it.

Contraindications matter more than the fertility myth: migraine with aura, smoking over 35, history of clots, uncontrolled hypertension or certain cancers.