User Reviews for Kariva

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: This pill worked fine for birth control, but I felt really down for about 2 weeks before my period. My mood swings were horrible.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I have been using Kariva for five months now and it's been pretty good. I had some itching, mood swings, spotting and lowered sex drive in the first two months. After the first three months all the side effects were gone and I've been feeling great with the pill ever since. I had no weight loss or gain and over all good health. Just wanted to share.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I have been on this pill for about a year and I have lost 30 pounds. I am a little bit more moody but I think that it is worth it.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: I have been on it for 3 months now. No breakthrough bleeding at all. Short light period. Have had a few more headaches but nothing Advil won't take care of. Great results with this pill. A lot less moody than with other pills.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I switched to this from Ortho Tri Lo almost a year ago. I have had crazy mood swings. Seriously, I can be the happiest person in the world one minute, the next I can be super angry or super depressed. My flow is real light but breakthrough bleeding in between periods have happened more often.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: So I was put on the birth control Kariva and I never got pregnant and it was the only form of birth control I used, so in that effect it worked. However, I experienced severe migraines that were bad enough. They checked me for a tumor, decreased sex drive, tired, nervous, dizziness, weight change, appetite change, and numbness on the left arm and hand. I have been off this birth control for just a few weeks and I am already feeling back to normal.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I have been on Kariva for a few months now. I switched from Loestrin 24 FE and could not be happier. My period comes like clockwork with Kariva and I am no longer a moody, crazy person. Although my periods are not lightened by this pill I do not care, I am extremely happy with it.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I started this a few months ago and since then it has fixed my cycle to be every three to four weeks instead of a week and a half and for that I am incredibly thankful. But I have had terrible migraines with blurred vision and it has not lightened or shortened my period, which is why I was prescribed this. Like all medications things work differently for everyone, but this has been my experience so I thought I would share.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I was on Kariva for about 2 years straight (almost never ever missed a pill) after being on various other pills for 3 years before that. Kariva solved my cramp problem and I did not experience any nausea OR depression/mood swings like I had on other pills. I recently switched OFF of Kariva after missing a week of pills - I didn't even realize until then how low my libido had been! My doctor just switched me to Microgestin Fe 1/20. Obviously, everyone's bodies are different and will have different reactions, but I AM happy to be off Kariva.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: This birth control pill has it's advantages in the fact that it gives you a very predictable period, and that's it. The side effects outweigh the benefits. I started getting acne at 23 when I hadn't had it for years, my skin became oily, I started getting headaches that persisted all day, my appetite increased, my sleep was disrupted, and I became depressed. The depression is the worst part. I would wake up and be horribly angry or depressed, without cause. I'm switching back to my old birth control.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I have been using this birth control for about 3 months. I had no serious side effects. I got bigger breasts and perhaps thicker thighs. I did not gain weight because I still weigh the same. Perhaps, I was working out too much (about 3-5 per week) that I gained more muscle on my thighs. There were no mood problems or spotting. I think maintaining healthy diet and working out helps not only to maintain your weight but also be healthy emotionally too.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I've been on Kariva for 8 years with no problems (before Kariva I was on the brand name Mircette - same thing). Four years ago, with the blessings of my gynecologist, I stopped taking the 4th week all together. Haven't had my period for four years, no breakthrough bleeding, no spotting, no worries.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I love this birth control pill. It's my second month on, and I haven't had trouble with any negative side effects. I used to have horrible periods (horrible cramps, puking, the whole nine yards) but now there's only light cramping on the first day. Shorter, lighter period for sure. I haven't gained any weight- if at all, I've lost a few pounds. I used to have some trouble with breakouts, but my skin is clear as can be now. The only thing I've noticed is I'm a bit moodier, but I don't want blame that on Kariva since my relationship's going through a rough patch. Everyone's different, but Kariva definitely worked amazingly for me.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I've been on Kariva for 5 months now, and am looking to switch. I get my period the third week of pills for several days, and then again the fourth week as a full period. Both sets of periods I get come with cramps, bloating (and several pounds of weight gain, which disappears once my period is over), and moodiness. When I asked my doctor to switch initially, she suggested I wait several months, as sometimes these effects subside, but mine have not.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I've been on Kariva for 1 month and have had several side effects. My moods swing more so than usual, going from happy and giggly to angry and screaming the next. My abdomen is bloated, I am gassy to the point of severe pain, and I have had bouts of diarrhea and nausea. The first day of my period, I felt so awful! The pain was less than when I was not on birth control pills, but I had horrible gas pains, diarrhea, and I threw up. I will give Kariva another 2 months to see if I adjust to it over time. If I don't, I'm definitely asking my Gynecologist to switch me.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I have been taking Kariva for about 8 months, and so far I love it. My skin has cleared up, I have less cramps and far less moodiness before my period. Also, my periods are usually only about 3 days long when they used to be almost a week. I love this birth control! Also, I haven't gotten pregnant yet which is a huge plus. Only negative is I have gained about 15 pounds since starting Kariva (much of which went straight to my breasts). This weight gain could however be from the stress of college and a new boyfriend. Also, the first month I took the pill I would get incredibly nauseous everyday around 8 or 9 pm, but thankfully that subsided. Occasionally I will get this way on the first pill of a new pack but it is bearable. Overall, love it.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol): I have been on this for about 4 years now. This is a great pill, I have not experienced any side effects whatsoever. I do not plan on switching until I decide to have children.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I've been on Kariva for almost 5 years and absolutely loved it! No weight gain, but sometimes moody and have cramps but that's normal.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I've been on Kariva for about 2 months now, and just started my third pack a couple of days ago. I'm very happy with this BCP, though it's the first one i've ever tried. Usually I get pretty bad cramps, especially on the second day of my period. However, I've noticed that for the past couple months I only got mild cramps on the first day, and none on the second. Looks like I won't have to buy painkillers anymore! My periods have been lasting 3-4 days and before it used to be definitely 4+. I haven't experienced any noticeable weight gain. I do get the occasional moodswings but other factors contribute to them as well.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I had been on Kariva for 4 years. I had noticed that if I miss more than one pill in a given week I will have some spotting. One time I missed one pill but remembered the next day and had continued to take them as normal but had a week of not normal bleeding. Also very bad migraines. Did keep my periods quite light and regular though.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I started this in September 2010 and continued to use it until July 2011. Everything about it was great except for one thing, NO SEX DRIVE whatsoever. My periods were short and light, no weight gain or bloating, no cramping or mood swings, however the no sex drive didn't work for me. After being off of it for a month or so, my libido returned.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: My doctor suggested Kariva to me because I was previously on Ortho Tri-Cyclen (which made me extremely moody/emotional) and more recently Lo-Estrin (which gave me no sex drive whatsoever and made me completely emotionless). I was anxious to find a happy medium after going from one extreme to the other. I've been on Kariva for three months now. I've never been one to have any type of headaches of any kind, and after being on Kariva I experience headaches multiple times a day. I'm extremely tired all the time and I've gained weight in my breasts (I'm naturally a D and I've went up to a large DD). No sex drive, extreme mood swings, acne and increased appetite. I can't wait to get off this pill. Look for other options before taking Kariva.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol): This pill was AMAZING. I was on it for three months, no spotting or breakthrough bleeding even if I forgot my pill, I gained a little weight the first month but it was only about 2 lbs and dropped it by next month. I was underweight so it didn't bother me, I didn't break out, my mood overall improved, no or very little cramps, nothing some Midol couldn't fix. Which was why I went on the pill in the first place. My period came the same time every month and I went up about 1 cup size. The only reason I switched was because my mood swings on the placebo week were ridiculous but that's how I was before the pill so I don't think Kariva made me like that. Great pill, I highly recommend it!

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: At half-way through my third pack, I have been bleeding heavily for a week (compared to the first day of a regular period, but ongoing and with cramping). This is on top of having spotted nearly continuously since I started these pills two and a half months ago. I was going to hang in there to see if these reactions subsided after the third pack, but I am thinking now that I need to get off of them. I have also noticed mild weight gain as well.

Kariva (desogestrel/ ethinyl estradiol) for Birth Control: I tried this for several months and loved everything about it except the migraine headaches that I would experience about 2-3 times a month and nothing would help them go away. So not sure if it's the fillers that bothered me but I am contacting my doctor to get something different. I didn't gain weight, I didn't have mood swings and everything was fine except the headaches.