Whether it could be regarded as common wisdom or an old wives tale, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a few authoritative-seeming sources claim that one of the dangers of the female contraceptive pill is weight gain.

Turns out that this isn’t true.

A recent press release tells us that the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has re-assessed the research and concluded that the weight gain was actually due to normal.. er.. typical age-related weight gain.

“Trials which systematically assessed what happens to women when they use the Pill have not proven any substantial link between hormonal contraception and weight gain,” says Professor Sawicki. “Many women gain some weight as they get older, whether or not they use the Pill. Limiting contraceptive choices will not help women keep their weight under control.”

You’d think that the flatter hormonal landscape that the contraceptive pill affords would lead to less stress, therefore less worrying, therefore less compensatory face-stuffing. So, my bet would be on the pill causing weight loss. Plus, being able to put the fear of impregnation out of mind would, to me, make me feel sexier (were I a woman), leading to a greater frequency of calorie-burning sex and concomitant weight loss. Who knows.

The German Institute has some possibly helpful info on contraception and weight loss if you’re interested.