They make it harder for me to lose weight. In fact, I just switched to a lower dose of estrogen because I had started taking different pills around the time I started Atkins. I didn't change my stats, but I was up over 142 before I started taking the lower dose. (Now is TOM, so I don't even want to know my weight) I know if I went off of them completely, I would immediately lose 10 pounds. That being said, I have many complications with my cycle, including endometriosis. I suspect if there are no problems with extra estrogen it shouldn't make too big of a difference. I have heard horrible stories about Depo, though.