Lose Weight With 'The Pill'?

A new contraceptive pill is getting a lot of attention for its reputed ability to prevent weight gain.

Early Show Medical Correspondent Dr. Emily Senay says the pill, used to prevent pregnancy, is called Yasmin. Clinical trial data showed a slight decrease in weight in women who took the drug.

Dr. Senay says that according to the study, 300 women lost an average of two pounds during the first six months of use. Another study, she says, found a similar effect. However, in both studies the women gained the weight back within a year or two.

Apparently, the word has spread fast, because even the suggestion of weight loss has a lot of women curious about the contraceptive.

Dr. Senay explains that there's not enough evidence to say whether it affects weight in the long term. It is not approved for weight loss and representatives for the company that makes it say that Yasmin is not being marketed for that purpose.

What the drug may do is act somehow to prevent some of the weight gain from fluid retention associated with other forms of contraception.

Yasmin contains another form of birth control hormone called drospirenone, which differs from the progestins currently available in other oral contraceptives. Drospirenone has diuretic properties that influence the regulation of water and sodium levels in the body and may prevent bloating.

Dr. Senay recommends that women consult their doctors to decide which form of contraceptive is right for them. There are many from which to choose. There are contraceptive pills with different combinations of hormones and also a contraceptive patch and contraceptive ring. Hormones can have different effects on different people, so it's not uncommon to have to try a few different ones to find the one that's right for you.

Right now, there is no study to find out if Yasmin really works to keep the pounds off, says Dr. Senay. There is a study to see if the pill might be effective for severe PMS.