Kariva User Reviews & Ratings

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 3, 2021

For Birth Control "So I was on this Kariva pill for YEARS. Like 6 or 7 years. I never realized what this pill did to my mental health until I got off of it. I was ALWAYS tired, always had brain fog, and was always crying. I had ridiculous mood swings. I just hated how I was. I always felt awful. My sex drive was way low too. Coming off of this pill was the best decision I’ve ever made. Believe the negative reviews."

• ano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 3, 2015

For Birth Control "I felt inclined to write a review after reading all the bad ones on here. I have been taking this birth control for almost 4 years now. Firstly, my skin feels and looks amazing and has never been better. My sex drive has not been negatively affected by taking this medication. I highly recommend this birth control for girls looking to increase their breast size (even though I am sure you are perfect the way you are!) I went from a C cup to a full DD. I didn't have any nauseous symptoms with this pill even taking it in the morning on an empty stomach. My period is not heavy either. Don't be afraid to try this medication, it could work for just like it did for me."

• SarahB
• August 23, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Kariva for about five months. It is my first experience with the birth control pill as I am getting married on September and wanted to be regulated by the wedding. The first couple of months, I experienced mood swings, headaches and weird appetite. However, my side effects have leveled out. I no longer have any side effects. In fact, it has cleared my acne up some. My periods have never been bad but they are now only about 1-2 days long. I would say my cramps may be a little worse, but since the period is shorter it evens out. I have not gained weight from this pill. In fact, along with diet and exercise, I have been able to lose weight while taking this pill. I would recommend Kariva."

• mhmp
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 30, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on many types of birth control before and I have never left a review no matter how good or bad, but this pill literally was destroying me mentally. I was on this pill Kariva a little less than 2 months and had to stop mid month because I could not handle the anxiety and depression anymore. I'm a sensitive person but wow this pill made my not able to function. I cried ALL the time. I didn't want to go anywhere. My anxiety was a level I never experienced before. At first I was like cool this pill doesn't make me hungry....later I realized yeah I'm not hungry because I'm so anxious all the time I couldn't focus on eating if I tried. It did it's job at preventing pregnancy but the emotional state it put me in was so not worth it!!!! Please be careful taking this pill. I know it effects everyone differently."

• ABano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2013

For Birth Control "I was on Kariva for about 6 months and gained about 15 pounds. It regulated my period just fine but I had to go up like 2 pants sizes and had to buy all new bras. I used to be a size 0-3 (depending on brand, usually around a 2 though) but went up to a 5-7 on Kariva. Once I switched to Apri, my breasts stayed about the same size but I lost all of that bloated water-weight that I had on Kariva. On Kariva, I was sooooo bloated every single day and it was miserable. I was all squishy and plump and considering I gained all of my weight on my stomach, wearing anything other than sweatpants felt horrible. DO NOT RECOMMEND."

• Beware...
• June 9, 2015

For Birth Control "Beware this drug! I experienced the most horrendous mood swings and extreme anxiety while on this drug. The side effects took a while to develop but once they did it was truly unbearable. I had no idea why my personality was changing so drastically. It was truly terrifying. I wasn't making the connection between this drug and my highly elevated emotions. I told my Dr. on a whim about my terrible anxiety/mood swings and he immediately took me off of kariva. Within a week I was feeling back to my normal self. It has now been 4 months off of Kariva and I have not had one mood swing or case of anxiety. I would never recommend this drug to anyone. As far as I'm concerned, it should be taken off the market permanently."

• cait
• February 25, 2012

For Birth Control "I went on Kariva because I was told that it helped with acne along with being an effective birth control method. I've tried several other birth controls (including Nuvaring, Tri-Sprintec, etc.) and had VERY intense side effects from them. I finally happened upon this miracle that evened out my mood swings, gave me a shorter lighter period and gave me clearer skin than I've had in 10 years. I have ZERO complaints about this medicine."

• MECFl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2013

For Birth Control "I was prescribed Kariva after another birth control became too expensive. I was afraid to try it out since there were so many negative reviews, but I am happy to say that this is a magical little pill (So far). I have not experienced any weight gain, moodiness, or low libido. My acne cleared up (I'm 27 and have always battled with acne) for the most part. The only drawback is some mild discharge, but nothing to worry about. I LOVE this pill! "

• Anonymous
• October 21, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been on this medication for about 5 to 6 months. And it works great for birth control. Even if you miss a pill or too by a little bit, you're still protected and it doesn't effect your period. But ever since I got on the pill, I'm not myself. I'm constantly depressed, and get bad mood swings. And my I have literally no sex-drive what so ever."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Kariva for a months now after switching from loestrin (which gave me insane mood swings and heavy discharge). My skin is good, periods are light, cramping is limited and mood is normal. But, my boobs have gotten bigger and I do notice that I have gained some weight in my upper thighs and hips."

• hdp
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I took Kariva for about 9 months. The positives include that my period was extremely predictable & it didn't last too long. It didn't affect my weight & my acne cleared up. But, the negatives outweighed the positives by far. I had experienced the worst mood swings I've ever had,I became anxious & cried multiple times a week (yet before Kariva, I was not an avid crier & was able to keep my emotions in check). I was more sad and emotionally unstable than I had ever been, and I had absolutely no motivation to work or to push myself to be happy. I noticed a small change in my mental state with the first 2 months of taking it, but thought it would level out. I kept taking it because it kept my period more regular than other pills. I switched birth controls 2 weeks ago & since I've stopped taking Kariva, even after 2 weeks, I have been the happiest & calmest I have been in months & am only realizing now just how emotionally & mentally unwell I was."

• Abcdefg
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 1, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Kariva for a year and 4 months. I switched to it due to unwanted side effects of an IUD. Some pros of Kariva are that it’s super reliable (never had a pregnancy scare), and it did lighten my period. The negatives far outweighed the positives though. The cons were: extremely low sex drive, dryness, extreme weight gain, and increased anxiety the week before my period. I love the effectiveness of this pill but can’t stand the side effects. Switching soon and can’t wait."

• SHano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2019

For Birth Control "I just started my third month of Kariva. I switched from Junel Fe 1/20. Before, I would get insane mood swings and depression. On Kariva, my mood is balanced as long as I take it at exactly the same time every day. I haven’t noticed any weight gain or change in my sex drive. I had a horrible migraine the first day I took it; after that it’s only happened one other time. My periods last 3-4 days and are light. The only side effect I can’t stand is that I can’t sleep. I have trouble falling asleep and, once I do, I wake up throughout the night. I’ve been dealing with that for two months and I’m trying to hold out and see if it gets better because it is a great pill otherwise."

• Clw
• March 5, 2013

For Birth Control "I have tried 5 different birth control pills and Kariva has been a lifesaver. I had cysts in my ovary and Kariva shrunk it and now it is gone! I have been on Kariva for 12 months and my skin is porcelain-like, no pimples, lost a few pounds (I've been going to the gym, so it might not even be the birth control), and my mood stayed consistent. I'm switching to either the patch or the ring this month though because my sex drive has been awful for the past 4-5 months, and it's driving me (and my boyfriend) crazy! Zero sex drive and dryness are my only complaints."

• Anonymous
• January 6, 2010

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."

• Feral...
• February 25, 2014

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "Periods now occur on-time, every month (sometimes I don't have one, but generally I do), whereas before I never knew when it was coming and went as long as six months without one only to have the bathroom looking like a horror film for weeks on end when it finally came. My facial hair hasn't gone away, although I have noticed the stuff that grows back isn't as bristly."

• Icka
• January 23, 2019

For Birth Control "DO NOT TAKE. The hormonal rage, hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings, night sweats, insomnia, THAT'S JUST TO NAME A FEW side effects. We won’t even address the hemorrhoids, breast pain, vision problems. I’d rather be pregnant."

• Shells
• August 24, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Kariva for almost 3 weeks now and the first week or so my body definitely had to adjust to the hormones. I was getting hot flashes, burning up at night, fatigue, nausea and easily agitated/emotional. At the beginning of this week I feel like I'm finally adusting. What I don't like is my vagina is so dry when normally it's wet all the time, and my sex drive has diminished quite a bit. Like others have said, this is taking a toll on my relationship. Guys have to be so patient while we deal with this crap! Overall though, this is the best birth control I've been on. My skin is looking great too! I'm going to stick this out for a couple months but if my vagina continues to be like the Sahara, I don't think it's worth staying on."

• Anonymous
• April 13, 2011

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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 5, 2012

For Birth Control "I started taking Kariva when Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo became too expensive for me. I have been on Kariva for the past 4 years. Positives: predictable 5 day periods, no acne, less moodswings. Negatives: weight gain (20 pounds), NO libido whatsoever. I was able to deal with the side effects for 4 years(my poor boyfriend), and now I've had enough. I've stopped taking it, immediately lost 5 pounds, have a great libido again, and find it easy to track my period with P-Tracker app. "

• Anonymous
• September 5, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been on Kariva for three months now. It has been the first birth control I have tried and it seems to work in the area of birth control as I have not become pregnant. However, I have had my period for eight days every two weeks and finally figured out that my depression systems may have been caused by it; I've been terribly moody, depressed, and cry way more often than normal once I started taking Kariva. Sleep disruptions, loss of appetite, and lower sex drive have also been symptoms I've experienced."

• Anony...
• August 11, 2013

For Birth Control "I wanted to share my experience with Kariva because I've been on it so long, 11 years. Pros include no weight gain, minimal mood swings, minimal bloating and shorter periods. Also some contraceptives can cause complications with getting pregnant when you actually Want to but this pill was effective when I used it and caused no issues when my husband and I decided to have a baby and stop using the pill. Took me two weeks to get pregnant. The only bad thing was awful debilitating migraines I dealt with for years that only stopped once I got off this pill. But it got me this far and I liked it better then a lot of other options."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 19, 2014

For Birth Control "Been on Kariva for 2 months and it has its good and bads.. BAD: I have never experienced such bad mood swings in my life. I have little patience, i get extremely mad and aggivated very easily, i can be happy one minute, then CRAZY another minute. So be aware of the horrible mood swings. Didnt do anything for my 7day period. I break out a week before my period. GOOD: it does prevent you from getting pregnant even on the first month."

• EWano
• May 19, 2011

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."

• CGano
• April 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking Kariva for 6 years now for painful periods. I only take ibuprofen for 1-2 days now during my period as opposed to 5. My bleeding went from heavy to moderate and period went from 8 days to 4-5, but that’s about the only benefits. Over time my side effects have gotten much worse to the point I’m considering stopping usage. My sex drive is non existent and sex has become very painful over the years due to dryness. I keep up with my annual gyno exams and we’ve concluded that the pill is to blame. I never had a single yeast or BV in my life until taking this medication, and now they’re a yearly occurrence. I also have noticed more mood swings and I’m much more emotional than I used to be. At this point Kariva is very negatively affecting my relationship and I wish I would’ve tried other alternatives to fix my painful periods before jumping on birth control. There’s an underlying reason behind painful periods and taking birth control is just masking the problem."