Apri and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Col...
• January 8, 2017

For Birth Control "I started Apri a year and 4 months ago. When I first started, I was 175. I'm currently 210. My appetite has increased tremendously. It doesn't make me very moody, although I was depressed for a couple of months (maybe that could have been due to school). I've missed as many as 3 days and was still fine. My sex drive has decreased just a little, but nothing too major. My cycle is very regular and only lasts 3-4 days. I cramp, but not every cycle. Overall, it's decent."

• rag...
• December 29, 2016

For Birth Control "I started Apri after switching from a birth control where I'd only get my period once every three months. My partner said I was very moody during the first couple of months after switching, but I've since mellowed out. I've noticed my sex drive has decreased to being nonexistent except for during my period week. Other than the decreased sex drive, this pill works fine for clearing my skin and preventing pregnancy. I've noticed slightly heavier cramps than normal, but they're not unbearable."

• E8a...
• January 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I gave it a rating of 5 for its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy. I only do the withdrawal method with this. But the side effects are so awful. Possibly the worst I've had with any brand. It is quite potent, I'd tell you that. I get a lot of headaches, nausea, and stomach discomfort for a week into starting a new pack, decreased libido, and in the beginning, I'm quite dry, which is, uhm, I've never been an issue for me. I get so moody, stress is harder to deal with, I get anxiety attacks, I get so easily fatigued, and the combination of these two I just get so unmotivated to do daily activities. It's pretty bad. I'm changing brands on my next cycle. Maybe a milder combination OCP."

• Aan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 3, 2018

For Birth Control "I started taking this birth control, and almost immediately my skin started to break out, and it made my breasts extremely sensitive. After 3 months, my skin went back to normal, and my breasts increased from a size C to a DD. My periods were days shorter and much lighter, with little cramping. Although it completely destroyed my sex drive, and I got extreme depression and anxiety from it. I had never had anxiety before, and now it is so bad I have anxiety attacks regularly. It also caused a severe skin rash, perioral dermatitis all over my entire body."

• Cry...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 12, 2018

For Birth Control "I liked all of the physical side effects for the most part. Skipping the placebos as directed by my doctor allowed me to skip my period completely, and I’ve never had any spotting. I also haven’t gotten pregnant, which is great. I had zero weight gain (my boobs did go from a B cup to a D cup over the course of like, 2 months), and I haven’t gotten a single zit since. With all that being said, I’ve been experiencing some pretty severe emotional side effects that have led me to seek other options. Ever since starting Apri, I’ve felt like a different person, and the severe depression that came along with it is taking a serious toll on my life. I also have had virtually zero sex drive, which is horrible. I am currently looking for alternatives."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 30, 2012

For Birth Control "Apri was the first birth control I took (at the age of 24). I started taking it to prevent pregnancy, not for any other reason since my periods were regular and I rarely experienced any kind of cramps or moodiness. This pill changed that entirely. I started experiencing cramps around the time my period began. I noticed a considerable drop in my sex drive, which frustrated both me and my boyfriend. I also became depressed, my moods fluctuated from happy and positive to irritable to extremely depressed in a span of hours. I stayed on this for over six months before changing. I changed to Aviane and have noticed a vast improvement."

• Ano...
• March 18, 2017

For Birth Control "Apri did what it was supposed to do. But during the few months that I had it, I was very depressed and had dark thoughts. I would cry for a week straight for no reason. I also had no sex drive. It affected me and my relationship. Now I switched from it and feel much better. No weight gain or other side effects. Regular periods, lighter than before. Each birth control affects people differently, but this one was not the one for me."

• Anonymous
• December 3, 2012

For Birth Control "I have tried all other formulations of birth control pills without success. The only way I can describe it is that I feel clinically insane when taking birth control pills, and this was the last option to try. I should note the reason I went on it is because my body stopped having periods, I went over a year without any periods (I wasn't pregnant and was 23 years old). So I went ahead and tried it. I was not as crazy on this, and it cleared up my skin completely. After about 4 months, though, I completely lost my sex drive. Like from 100 to -100. After my periods regulated out, I quit taking it. Now, 8 months later, I am back to not having a period and just started taking it again the other day. This time around, I am feeling kind of sick."

• Too...
• December 22, 2015

For Birth Control "I was placed on this BCP prior to having IVF, this has been the worst 2 weeks ever. I feel so bad for my husband. I have been moody, had crying spells, decreased sex drive, and constant spotting. I cannot wait to stop taking this pill."

• Yea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 25, 2019

For Birth Control "Please do not use this pill. I was on it for a year and had yeast infections monthly. I took it for birth control, and the yeast infections prevented me from ever having sex anyway. Also, my sex drive became nonexistent, my breasts hurt, and my period emotions fluctuated so badly. I've never seen anything like it before. (On the upside, I didn't have any side effects with weight or acne, but the lack of sex drive and year-long yeast infection really damaged my quality of life.)"

• Fle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2019

For Birth Control "Once I started Apri, I had headaches at first, but after adjusting, they went away. My primary concern was that it completely erased my sex drive. Not just decreased, but totally eliminated. No desire and totally dry. This pill has driven me to try an IUD (which I never thought I’d do) just for the sake of avoiding trying another pill. I’m giving it such a low rating because completely eliminating my sex drive was ridiculous, and when I got off of it, it took a very long time to come back. Don’t take this unless you want to throw away an entire year of your dating life."

• I...
• March 23, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been taking Apri for about 2 years now, and I am definitely a fan. I had awful acne before, and it all went away after a few months of taking the pill. I have cramps and a little acne right before my period starts, but it's usually no big deal. My sex drive has decreased slightly, but I won't let that put a damper on my nights. I, unfortunately, forgot my pack of birth control when I traveled home from college and missed four pills, so now I am stuck waiting until my next pack starts up again. My mood has become wild this past week, not to mention getting my period again because of getting off of the pill. My acne has also been a huge problem since getting off of the pill. I strongly recommend the pill, just don't stop taking it."

• dec...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 22, 2017

For Birth Control "Apri has been my first and only birth control experience; it has been pretty fine, but I'm considering switching to see if there's anything that works better for me. Pros- ~Little to no acne! (better than before I was on it) ~Light periods of 4 days during the sugar pill week (prior to the pill they used to be 6-7) ~My boobs inflated a little, went up a cup size ~No weight gain! (managed to lose 10 lbs- that was through diet & exercise though) ~Minimal cramping Cons- ~3-4 really heavy days of bleeding during the 2nd week regularly. Maybe it's just a me problem, I don't know. ~Have been super depressed, anxious, and moody, but who knows if the pill is the cause or my life in general ~Sex drive dropped a ton ~Blood pressure rose ~Slight nausea during period"

• Kik...
• March 15, 2018

For Birth Control "It made me put 20 pounds on! I have had the worst cries of my life, and my sexual drive for my partner is almost gone. Hunger issues: I am always HUNGRY, and the cravings since a week prior to my period are the worst. And cellulite everywhere, even in my arms where I never had any. I am changing it right away."

• Anonymous
• January 12, 2012

For Birth Control "I just switched to Apri a few months ago because my insurance would not cover my other generic birth control. Literally, within 2 months, I put on about 15 lbs without changing my diet or exercise routine. I have been trying to get the weight off, but it seems impossible. I also have had worse acne and have been tired quite a bit. I also have lost my sex drive. To me, I would rather live my life feeling better about myself and have a better sex life than to be on this. To me, the cons outweigh the pros."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2018

For Birth Control "My doctor believed I might have endometriosis, so first I was put on the Depo shot. I gained 10 lbs in a month and a half! I bled for three months straight. So I went back to my doctor and she put me on Apri. I was excited to hopefully stop bleeding and potentially lose the weight I gained. I stopped bleeding for a week and I’ve been going on bleeding for week five now. Not spotting. Bleeding. I am super nauseated, extremely moody and emotional, unbelievably hot and sweaty, crazy tired, and have zero sex drive. Oh, and how could I forget my cramps?! Which are crippling and leave me literally crying on the floor. I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow, and I can’t wait to change to hopefully something better."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2018

For Birth Control "I am on my 2nd pack. I switched from Triquilar because I was having breakthrough bleeding and feeling depressed. I’ve been going for tests for stomach troubles, and I have found since being on these I’m nauseous daily, so I started taking them before bed, and it has helped somewhat, but I usually go to bed queasy. I have had awful diarrhea, which I think may be from my nausea and stomach issues, that has subsided some since I started taking it at night. I have never had much sex drive, but I blame that on birth control in general. I have noticed my boobs look bigger, but I have a bit of weight on. I just can’t control my appetite and just want junk, but again not sure if it’s the pills or not. My depression seems to have subsided somewhat, but it’s Christmas, so time will tell. The worst has been my stomach issues and diarrhea. I have a referral to get my tubes tied because I just want to feel normal again."

• Abe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been taking this pill for almost a year now. I've tried two other different brands prior to this, but due to insurance issues, I had to switch to this. It has been my worst experience with birth control! I've gained about 10 lbs since being on this pill, even though I work out and eat healthy, I can't lose the weight. My period is very irregular, I have awful cramps, and my acne came back. But I think the worst side effect is that my sex drive is non-existing, which is affecting my relationship. I will be going off this pill soon, and would rather pay more than keep taking it."

• Anonymous
• January 5, 2011

For Birth Control "I took Yasmin for a few years but found out Apri was a cheaper alternative, so I tried it. I used it for about four years. My breasts grew from a 34B to a C. I put on 5-10 lbs. No skin issues. If I missed more than a day, I got severe cramps, but they went away as soon as I was back on schedule. However, over time, I lost my sex drive. It was at zero. Too much estrogen causes that. I was also recently diagnosed with fibroids. They are actually very common and mostly harmless, though they can cause slight pregnancy problems. They also grow because of excess estrogen in the body, and Apri is estrogen-based. I quit Apri immediately, hoping the sex drive will come back and my fibroids will start to shrink a little."

• Isu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2016

For Birth Control "My main reason for using this type of birth control was solely for pregnancy prevention. I've never had any problems with my periods or acne. I've experienced the worst side effects possible. I'm constantly moody and sad, I have heavy long-term periods, a face covered in acne, low sex drive, hair loss, spots on my skin, and sensitivity to most soaps and lotions. I'm overall disappointed with this pill and can't wait to start a new type of contraceptive. Granted, I haven't gotten pregnant, but we use condoms, so it's hard to judge anyway."

• jab...
• February 17, 2010

For Birth Control "I have been using Apri for 5 months and have not had any weight gain and no decrease in sex drive. I have, however, experienced harsh emotional side effects. During the week of my period - as soon as I hit the 22nd day - I am just ridiculously emotional. I am irrational and will cry at the drop of a hat. I'm worried about this having put me into a state of depression and am going to speak with my doctor soon about it. This puts my boyfriend in a bad position because he never knows what to do and feels bad but gets frustrated with my being so irrational. I'd be cautious taking it if you have ever had any experience with depression, cutting, etc."

• Rio...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 5, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Apri for about 4.5 years, and everything was fine. I had a little acne here and there, but nothing bad at all. Then, all of a sudden, my boobs started hurting immensely for months, and I had no sex drive. I literally thought I was pregnant sometimes because of my symptoms. I switched off Apri, and I have now been on Giavani for a little over a month and have had no significant symptoms, but my sex drive is definitely back and no more boob pain!!"

• kel...
• March 13, 2011

For Birth Control "I've been on Apri for over a year. It was recommended by my doctor to slow down my heavy periods. It's done a great job doing so, but now that my periods are under control, I now use Apri for birth control. In the first month, I gained 12 lbs just around my love handles, and my breasts grew a whole cup size bigger. I'm not as interested in sex anymore either, and I'm definitely more sensitive and moody. This pill definitely helped my periods and has kept me from getting pregnant, but does have some side effects."

• Anonymous
• June 20, 2011

For Birth Control "I've been on Apri for about 6 months now and switched from Necon. I can predict my period to the day and get no cramps, and it only lasts 2-3 days. I've seen a little weight gain and loss of sex drive, and I do feel as though I'm a little more emotional."

• Mar...
• July 27, 2011

For Birth Control "I was on Marvelon for 2 years and then switched to Apri after losing my 'student' status and therefore needed a cheaper pill. I've been on it for 4 months, and although my periods are regular, the side effects are horrible. I have noticed frequent headaches, at least a 15-pound weight gain, and ZERO sex drive. I eat healthy and started exercising, not realizing why I was gaining and keeping all this weight. It's not going anywhere. The zero sex drive is NOT like me and has affected my relationship. All of these side effects have been occurring since being on Apri. It may work for some people, but I'd gladly pay the extra for Marvelon in order to have these effects go away."