Apri and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 11, 2020

For Birth Control "I took Apri for 5 years. The first 2 years were great - light periods, skin cleared up, etc. However, everything slowly started to change. In 2018, I found myself constantly worried, feeling like walls were caving in on me. My anxiety climbed every day. I fell into a deep depression where I contemplated suicide. I started having violent thoughts - wanting to hurt those around me. Physical changes - gained 30 pounds in 2 years, skin started to get greasy. I would sleep 12+ hours and still not have energy. Mood swings. Crying daily - not able to control my emotions. I decided enough was enough. I stopped taking Apri immediately. It has now been 2 months since then - I no longer cry daily, my mood is significantly improved, and my skin is less greasy. My sleep schedule is learning to regulate itself, and I have more energy. Apri for the first 2 years was great. However, somewhere along the way, that changed. It's possible that in the time I was getting older, my inner body started to change and Apri just no longer worked for me."

• All...
• November 21, 2016

For Birth Control "I was switched from Loestrin 21 to Apri a few months back because my periods were irregular and my doc thought Apri would be better for me. I like that there's placebo pills in Apri because I was awful at taking 21-day packs. The first couple of months were a little tough adjusting to the higher dose of hormones. I was super emotional! But that's normal. I'm on month 5 now, and things are fine. I'm still a little emotional, but only 'cry at something dumb' emotional. Nothing I can't handle. My periods are light, and I barely have any pain. Close to no acne. My boobs seemed to have grown a bit, so that's cool. My sex drive seems to be a tiny bit lower, but I never had a crazy-high sex drive in the first place. My husband and I still have a healthy sex life. I might have gained like 5 pounds or less, but that might be because of my lazy ass and not the birth control. :) Best of all, I haven't gotten pregnant! I recommend Apri. Give it a chance and let yourself adjust to the hormones."

• Rhi...
• January 29, 2016

For Birth Control "I love this pill, I've been using it for over 4 years now. I had some pretty bad acne, and my periods were heavy and long. Now my face is pretty clear, and my period is still a little heavy, but it's super short now (4 days tops). I haven't put on any weight since I started taking the pill. My significant other and I haven't used a condom in over 4 years, and I haven't gotten pregnant, so it works!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2013

For Birth Control "This pill is a dream! I was so worried to go on birth control, due to all the scary side effects I always hear about! After two months, I have had none. I had really bad periods that would leave me very sick for days. I only get very light cramping right before my period starts. I haven't gained any weight. I actually lost weight around my waist, and I am already very petite to begin with. My cup size went up to a C from a B, and my light acne has become almost non-existent. I was lucky to find a pill that worked for me right off of the bat!"

• izh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 29, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking Apri since November of 2018. This is my first time ever being on birth control. During the first month, I was experiencing dizziness. I’m assuming because I would take the pill in the morning without anything on my stomach. When I switched my dosage to the evening (I’ve eaten by that time), the dizziness left. It’s very effective. My only issue is my weight. I’ve never had an issue losing weight, but I could gain weight rather quickly. It’s like I’m unable to lose weight. I’ve been vegan for almost a month now, and I haven’t shed a pound. I believe it’s due to this birth control. Since I do believe it’s due to that, I’m going to stop this brand and method. I truly wish I didn’t have an issue losing weight because it’s very effective."

• Anonymous
• April 4, 2010

For Birth Control "I have been on Apri birth control for 3 years now. I give it a 3 for the fact that it in fact helped me to get and regulate my period, at the very late age of 22. And that I am not pregnant. But I have worse acne now than I did when I was 13. I have gained a lot of weight on my hips and stomach. I have the worst mood swings, and my sex drive is completely gone. It has caused a lot of problems in my relationship since I started taking it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 25, 2012

For Birth Control "I haven't had a single noticeable side effect while taking this pill. No acne, no significant weight gain, no mood changes, no loss of sex drive. Not to mention it works wonders for your cycle: mine's extremely consistent, my periods are lighter, and my once terrible cramps are distant memories. Oh, and you also won't get pregnant. This is a great pill, the side effects some people report are probably an expected reaction or an individual bad experience. Highly recommended."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Apri 28 for about two and a half months now. For about the first two weeks of starting it, my stomach was so upset I couldn't really eat much food. But it did go away. My breasts did get bigger, and I gained a little weight, but also I've been working out, so I don't know if it's muscle gain or from the pill. Another thing is, my period either comes super early, like two weeks early, or a week late. I know it's probably just my body not used to the pill and it won't follow the pill's schedule until after 6 months of taking it. However, my periods don't really hurt at all now. But I'm just sharing my journey so far in case anyone else has been experiencing the same stuff."

• Nur...
• April 11, 2014

For Birth Control "I've tried many different birth controls for about 3 yrs prior to taking Apri. I took Apri for my acne & birth control for 2 yrs & it worked great. I decided to stop taking birth control altogether about 1.5 yrs ago. My acne came back immediately, but my periods were lighter and I didn't have cramps while I was off of it. My dermatologist prescribed me Accutane for my acne, but I decided to try birth control again. I've been taking Apri for 4 months & my skin is basically completely clear. Maybe 1 or 2 when it's TOM. However, I've noticed recent weight gain (10 lbs in 2 wks) & increase in my appetite & cravings. My breasts are sore & noticeably bigger. I'm worried this is side effects from Apri. But 10 lbs is better than acne!"

• Anonymous
• August 25, 2010

For Birth Control "I started taking Apri about 7 months ago. My breasts got noticeably larger within the first few weeks, and I gained about 10 pounds, but I'm a thin girl anyway, so I gladly take on the extra few pounds and curves. I got prescribed this birth control because of my ovarian cysts, and since then, I have not had any problems with them. They've been unnoticeable, and my cramps don't even exist anymore. I love Apri, and it's affordable. Just what I need in this economic clash."

• Anonymous
• June 30, 2010

For Birth Control "Been taking Apri for about 2 1/2 months, and I've gained about 10 lbs. My sex drive is extremely low, and I'm really moody for no apparent reason. It's really interfering with my relationship. I also have been having chest pains, and I feel a heaviness in my chest when I wake up. When my period came on after the first month, I had really bad cramps. The only reason I gave it a 3 is because I have an irregular period, and it came on time while taking Apri."

• Lau...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 22, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Apri for about 4 years now. For the first 3 months or so, the mood swings and agitation were almost too much for me to be around some people. I did feel as though I gained some water weight, and my boobs went from a B to a D over the course of that time. My acne got a little worse before it got better. Now, with being on it for so long, I think it’s great for me. My skin is incredibly clear, I have control over my weight (at least it seems), and I can skip my periods with no issue. I do have some lingering anxiety and get agitated a little easily sometimes, but it very well may be due to just me as a person in general. Once I go off it later in life, I'm interested to see how the anxiety does. Overall, I really really like this and will continue to stay on it for a while. It’s great once your body gets used to it, but everyone’s different."

• Anonymous
• April 19, 2010

For Birth Control "First time on birth control and was nervous that I'd have the horrible side effects that I've heard about online and through friends. Went on Apri and have never had ANY side effects (nausea, weight gain, etc.). I think that the horror stories you hear are the exception, not the rule. My Dr. said that she's prescribed Apri for first-time birth control users for years and has never had any complaints about it. Got it for $15/month at first and am now paying $25 through Wal-Mart. Other than the disappointment in price increase, I think that I will be taking Apri for a long time."

• Mmi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2019

For Birth Control "Let me tell you... this Apri birth control pill has been something terrible. I was put on it because my hormones were messed up bad, and sometimes I had a period that wouldn’t stop for a month, then I didn’t have a period for like 3 months. So my OB-GYN put me on Apri. I also have PCOS. Anyway, I have terrible headaches, my sight has gotten terrible, made my anxiety worse, no sex drive at all, and the worst thing, I gained 40 pounds in like 6 months. This pill is straight the worst thing ever!"

• use...
• February 2, 2010

For Birth Control "I love Apri. I tried another birth control, and it made me so depressed, but on Apri, I feel just fine. The only problem is that in 18 months on the pill, I have gained about 20 pounds, with very little change in my diet and exercise. It is SO HARD to lose weight on Apri."

• Lov...
• May 14, 2013

For Birth Control "My experience with Apri has been great. I have been on it for about 5 years now. I do not get any of the side effects - no headaches, mood swings, weight gain, etc. I was recommended by 2 doctors to take 4 x 21 packs of Apri in a row, totaling 3 months of birth control, then stopping for a week to get my period. So this means that you only get your periods 4 times a year. This causes no health risks at all (unless you take it longer than 3 months in a row), and I have been doing this for 3 years with no side effects at all. I have spoken to 4 doctors about this, and none of them disagreed with this method. I was told to try it, and if it worked for me, to definitely keep doing it. *May not be for everyone, so please consult your doctor first*."

• man...
• October 25, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Apri for a year and was recently put on another, then forced back due to a recall. I was so sad to be put back on Apri. While off for 2 months, my weight had gone down, and my sex drive went back to normal, and I had energy again. Now back on for not even a month, and everything is getting messed up again. It's not the pill's fault, but you may notice weight gain, feel sluggish, and a lower sex drive if your body reacts to this the same way I do. :( It's time to figure out something else... My body and relationship can't go through this again."

• Cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 29, 2020

For Birth Control "My doctor switched me to Apri because the birth control pill I was using before is no longer available. I’ve only been taking it for a little over 1 month, but I’ve already had 2 migraines. I’ve never had a migraine before! Also, my face is covered in acne, and I’ve gained 5 pounds. My self-confidence has never been so low. I’m very unhappy with Apri :("

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2018

For Birth Control "I was switched from Junel to Apri because of breakthrough bleeding. While that has been fixed, Apri has some pretty serious negative side effects for me. My mood is completely unstable and swings terribly, and my anxiety is uncontrollable. Sex drive is basically nonexistent. Other than that, no weight gain, acne, lighter periods, and less painful cramping (my cramps were unbearable before)."

• Ash...
• April 9, 2015

For Birth Control "Highly recommend, no weight gain or mood swings compared to other birth control pills I have taken. Everyone is different, but I give this birth control an excellent review because of the experiences I have had with others."

• apr...
• January 24, 2021

For Birth Control "I like this Apri birth control pill a lot! I was quite surprised running across all these negative reviews. I understand everyone has a different experience with Apri and is affected everyone differently. Personally, I’ve had no problems, although it’s only been a few weeks of being on it. If anything, my mood swings (from when I was BC free) have gone down DRASTICALLY. I feel much more chilled out and content. No cramping, headaches, etc., but slight anxiety. I have noticed a little weight gain, but this is something that isn’t that big of a problem for me or detrimental. I was initially taking Depo, which caused me to bleed every day straight for 3 months (the same amount I normally would at the start of a period, except EVERYDAY) and suffered from cramps from time to time and nausea. My doctor switched me over to Apri, and so far I have little to no complaints. My skin has been consistently clear and I don’t feel fatigued."

• miu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2017

For Birth Control "I've posted here a few months ago, and it's an update. I'm starting the 4th pack now, and almost everything I was complaining about went away! During the first few months, I've gained around 10 lbs, my boobs became much larger (that was super uncomfortable, because they're large anyways), I felt a little depressed and tired (nothing I couldn't handle though, I've been living my normal life). I couldn't work as hard as I wanted. Now I've lost all the weight I've gained, and I am me again. Feels like magic. Also, my tastes for food changed a bit. Something I loved does not taste good to me anymore, it's strange but fun to experience."

• Anonymous
• September 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on Apri for almost 5 years. I was originally put on it for acne, but it's also been very effective as birth control too. My partner and I don't use any other form of birth control unless I'm on conflicting meds. My periods are regular and predictable, usually 3-4 days. I've gained weight, but I don't think Apri was the cause. Overall, Apri works well for me and I've had no issues with it."

• Mar...
• December 11, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm 19 and have been on this pill for 4 months now and have realized many changes. Some pros are that my acne has cleared up and excess hair slowed its growth rate, but the cons outweigh the pros. I have terrible mood swings, headaches, and nausea when I never had that before. My sex drive is nearly non-existent. My periods are more controlled, but they are very heavy and leave me very tired. I have gained 15 pounds in 4 months despite getting 2 hours of exercise almost every day. I thought this pill would help my hormones level out and help my depression, but it has made my relapses far between but much more intense when they happen. Overall, it gets the job done, but if you can, try a different pill."

• Sal...
• September 22, 2017

For Birth Control "My doctor put me on this BC 3 months postpartum, and I've decided to stop taking it after being on it for two months. I've bled the entire time being on this pill, mood swings, dark thoughts, very emotional, nauseated all the time, the bloating is so uncomfortable (prior to starting this pill I had my waist back and almost a flat stomach, but now I look like I'm a few months pregnant again!) I have no drive, low energy (I'm sure from bleeding for 2 months), I just want to eat all the time, I've gained weight, overall this BC didn't mesh very well with my body. I'll be going back to taking Enskyce again, which I took for 3 years with no issues."