Desogestrel / ethinyl estradiol and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2017

For Birth Control "I was switched to Viorele from Azurette about 3-4 months ago. Azurette was amazing. Light periods, no cramps, no acne, no mood swings, no weight gain, and did not mess with my libido whatsoever. It worked with my body perfectly. Since I've been put on Viorele, I've had the WORST mood swings and bad depression. My boyfriend has even noticed that I never want to do anything anymore and am on the verge of crying/having anger episodes. I have not been myself since I've been on Viorele. I was on my period for literally the first 2 months of taking it. I also have had NO sex drive, which is also affecting my relationship. I know different medications affect differently to each person, but I wanted to share mine with this medication."

• D32...
• June 15, 2015

For Birth Control "I have endometriosis, and my doctor wants me to continuously use this with 3-4 breaks per year to minimize the endometrial growth. I had terrible nausea and bad acne in the beginning, not to mention I spotted for a month straight and then bled a period flow for another month. Taking this pill before bedtime helped with the nausea. I've been taking this pill for 4 months now and have gained 5-10 lbs, the acne is still bad (I'm 34 and no longer had it before Apri). Oh, and my libido is nonexistent since taking this medication. I figured it wouldn't happen to me since I had a very strong libido, but it is now gone. I'm going to ask my doctor to change this medication."

• Sam...
• May 30, 2017

For Birth Control "Love it! Been continuously dosing without breaking for menstruation for almost two years due to extremely difficult/painful menstrual cycles, emotional trouble, etc. This pill smoothed all of that out! Spotting for a few months once going on, but rarely have issues now. Cleared up my skin perfectly. Two downsides: total libido killer (I feel like a robot sometimes), and a bit of weight gain. The weight gain actually didn't happen for the first year, so I'm not totally certain that the pill was the cause. Maybe it was the pill mixed with extremely stressful past 6+ months and overeating from stress. I'll gladly take emotional normalcy and no dependence on painkillers in exchange for the downsides!"

• Amy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on the Isibloom pill for 4 months now. I've experienced swollen breasts, low libido, pain during intercourse, I'm hungry more often, especially when going to bed. So I wake up starving, but no weight gain so far and no more cystic acne. I don't get my period, but I do have cramps/bloating sometimes."

• Amy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on the Isibloom pill for 4 months now. I've experienced swollen breasts, low libido, pain during intercourse, I'm hungry more often, especially when going to bed. So I wake up starving, but no weight gain so far and no more cystic acne. I don't get my period, but I do have cramps/bloating sometimes."

• Kts...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 17, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for about 9 months now. I have combination skin, and I am prone to acne. I had cleared up and then broke out very badly within the first 3 months until my body got used to it. I now only get a few breakouts a week or so before my period, but they are all cystic acne along my jawline. I have absolutely no sex drive on this medication, I am constantly always dry now, and my emotions are out of control. I never understood girls when they said they got emotional on their periods, except when I was on this birth control pill. It was bad, like very bad. Like severe fighting with my boyfriend because I would get so heavily emotional and explode. I will be switching birth controls yet again very soon."

• ren...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 4, 2020

For Birth Control "Kariva did improve my acne, but as far as anything else, I wouldn’t really recommend. Really put a toll on my emotions and made me have either bad bursts of crying randomly or just be angry for no reason. Didn’t really mess with my weight, though, but did lose all sex drive completely, which was awful as well."

• cyb...
• May 16, 2013

For Birth Control "I'm glad to have read these reviews because now I know why I'm hungry all the time! I think about food all the time. I have never been that way. I'm a healthy eater and gym junkie. So, I have gained weight, lost any sex drive (but I'm not active anyway), and am a little irritable. But besides that, I have no other problems. I'm using it for surrogacy, so they have me on my second pack in a row to skip my period, which worked perfectly. The last pill did not stop it. Why can't I be one of the people who have lost weight on it?"

• pea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2019

For Birth Control "I haven’t been on Isibloom for very long, but so far it's the best birth control I’ve ever been on. I don’t get cramps anymore, my periods don’t last as long as they used to, it doesn’t cause nausea and indigestion like my last one did. I'd like to know if it affects my mood because I haven’t been on my meds, so if anything, that’s probably why. And best of all, it doesn’t cause vaginal dryness or decreased libido like my last birth control did. So I'm pretty pleased with it, and hopefully, all the positives continue as I continue to use it."

• Anonymous
• August 5, 2009

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been taking Apri for about 2 years now. At first, it was great. My periods were manageable, extremely predictable, and only lasted a few days. I gained about 10 pounds in the first 5 months, and shortly after, completely lost my sex drive. Recently, my periods have been getting longer, as they used to be, and cramps are coming back as well."

• You...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 26, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on Apri/Desogen for over 10 years. The only side effects I experienced were tender breasts around my period, a decreased sex drive, and right before my period, usually a week, I would get very sad and upset about stupid little things. I never had that problem before until I hit the 5-year mark on taking this pill. Besides that, no weight gain (but I exercise regularly and played sports through high school and college). Good things were my periods were lighter and shorter, cramps were minimal (which is why my doctor put me on this pill, I had awful cramps when I was younger). I didn't really change my skin. I still have the constant little breakout before my period but nothing drastic like I hear some women have."

• Kan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 11, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking Kariva for irregular periods after being on another pill. At first, it was fine because my periods were lighter, but after a few weeks, I started getting terrible cramps, bloating, and my acne got awful. It also completely changed my mood, and my sex drive is absolutely non-existent. Will definitely be switching."

• krs...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on this dosage of birth control for years (started off on Reclipsen to Apri to Emoquette; all are the same, just generics), and I've had no serious side effects! This BC has helped clear my skin so much over the years, and it has shortened my cycle to maybe 4-5 days. I also have minor cramps, whereas before they were apparent. I've experienced no weight gain or crazy mood swings; however, I have noticed my mood is slightly more robotic/zombie-like-basically very mellow. My only issue is that it has also decreased my sex drive by A LOT. Almost non-existent at times! Overall, I've had more benefits than bad side effects."

• 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."

• mar...
• October 17, 2013

For Birth Control "I am still trying to find the right birth control for me, but this is not it. I was an emotional wreck, constantly crying, fighting with my boyfriend, and had no energy whatsoever. Only pro is it made my bleeding become normal again, also had zero sex drive, and my breasts did not grow like all other pills have made them."

• 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."

• Evi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 22, 2019

For Birth Control "I liked the pill because it prevented me from getting pregnant, but I had no sex drive! Horrible, it was causing a lot of issues with my marriage. I had very strong cramps, and my periods lasted 5 days. I stopped taking it because I honestly felt dead down there."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 16, 2019

For Birth Control "Switched from Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo to Mircette for the lower estrogen dosage, but Mircette made me have ZERO libido. Even the thought of anything sexual made me go UGH. Whereas other BCPs gave me anxiety and depression, this made me feel absolutely nothing. It's like I was on antidepressants. Made me feel robotic with no emotions whatsoever, so I just decided to get off hormones altogether and got ParaGard, the copper hormone-free IUD. It's good for 10 years. I've had the IUD for 5 years now and love not having to take a pill or keep switching after your body acclimates to the drug and then you have to switch. Beware of the hormonal mood swings if you get off hormones though! It's a double-edged sword!"

• att...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 5, 2015

For Birth Control "I would like to add my experience with taking Azurette. I have taken it for 4 years, and it is honestly a great option. I had normal period flows before getting on birth control (7 days), but severe cramps. Azurette completely relieved me of cramps, and my periods were lighter (3-4 days). Here's why I can't give it a 10: I do feel more moody - not bursting into tears every other day, but slightly more snappy/angry/sensitive to things that otherwise wouldn't bother me so much. I've had to learn to control that, but it's annoying. Sex drive over time has decreased - but I'm also a lot more stressed since starting my career (I'm 26). Lastly, I decided that worrying about daily pills is also annoying."

• Tan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2018

For Birth Control "Worst birth control ever! Takes away your sex drive completely, and even when you stop taking it, sex drive is still off. I read a review about a girl who had this symptom for years after stopping. I hope that isn’t my case. It’s been four months since I've stopped taking this and still dealing with it. I do not recommend! If it were up to me, Cyred wouldn’t even be sold anymore."

• 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."

• col...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 14, 2018

For Birth Control "Been on this birth control for about a year and a half and never really had any notable side effects until about 4 months ago when I started to notice something was different. My acne came back and was worse than it was before I even started the medication, I’m always stressed and have the worst anxiety, constant migraines, mood swings, complete loss of sex drive, depression, bloating and cramping, loss of motivation, you name it, I’ve gotten it as a side effect. More recently (these past couple of weeks), I’ve been constantly nauseous and have been throwing up almost nonstop. It’s been so bad I’ve had to call out of work. I do not recommend this birth control. DON'T TAKE THIS."

• Anonymous
• March 18, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been experiencing headaches, and before using Ortho-Cept, I rarely got headaches. I've also experienced dark spotting for two weeks leading up to my period. I'm very moody now and am very easily frustrated. I get tired as early as 8 at night now (before the pill, I could stay up until 2 a.m. if I even went to sleep) and am no longer a morning person. I'm hungry more and am gaining weight, but luckily in the right places. My breasts are noticeably growing. My libido has also increased, and I'm not pregnant, so it's working okay."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• February 24, 2011

For Birth Control "I used Kariva for three months and have been off it now for two weeks due to insurance problems. It did not cause me any weight gain. My periods, which were usually 7-8 days, were down to 4-5 days, and the bleeding was lighter. Also, much less cramping and feelings of nausea during my period. I didn't notice until after I stopped taking the pills, but they definitely lower your sex drive. You will still enjoy sexual activity, but just not crave it as much as you usually would. Other than that, I haven't had any other problems with this pill. I used it as the only form of birth control, and it prevented pregnancy even in the first month."