Ocella for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• November 11, 2009

"I started out on Yasmin but had to switch to Ocella since I have no prescription coverage. Between the two, I was on them for over 2 years. In that time, I gained 20 pounds. After I switched to Ocella, while I was taking it, my moods were level, but the first day without the pill, I felt completely out of control of my emotions and on an emotional roller coaster to the point of having to leave work a few times, which is not me at all! Once I got my period, it was better, but I didn't look forward to the next month. After a crazy month of breakthrough bleeding, emotional ups and downs, and feeling like I was going crazy, I asked my doctor to switch me to something else. My sister had the same symptoms within a month or two, and so did friends."

• YP2...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 24, 2021

"Favorite birth control of all time! I originally switched to Ocella when my insurance quit covering Yasmin, and I’ve been on it for 10 years now! After 10 years, I started having some brown spotting, so I may start to look elsewhere, but virtually no problems with anything on this pill. It makes me feel “normal.” I’ve had a really good experience with this pill! Period very regular and light, no mood swings, acne, or weight gain!"

• Jsz...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 9, 2017

"I have been taking Ocella for about a year now. It has controlled my breakthrough bleeding, but the last few months I've been experiencing extreme mood swings, depression, anxiety, anger/rage... I don't know myself. Friends/family notice too. I am stopping this pill today. I have a call in to my OB. I feel like I'm going crazy!"

• Anonymous
• January 6, 2010

"All my life, I have had severe acne. I've probably tried any and every cream, drug, wash, etc., that is out there, and nothing has ever worked. So, when I got engaged two summers ago, I decided to go ahead and start birth control about 6 months before the wedding to see if THAT would work because I'd heard it did. Well, Ocella has DEFINITELY eliminated my acne, that part has been wonderful. But I've experienced a huge decrease in my sex drive, and more bothersome than that, I have been getting migraines at least three times a week regularly since I started taking it. Also, I have learned now that it is geared more toward treating PMDD, which I don't have, and therefore is a higher dose of hormones, which I don't need."

• Kat...
• February 25, 2014

"I have been on Ocella for a year now. I used to take Yaz, which is in the family, and loved it. I have definitely gained weight and am having a hard time losing it. My moods are fine, I don't feel sick at all. I actually feel very normal. The downs I found, besides the weight, are that I have zero sex drive, and I do get chest pains."

• Anonymous
• September 29, 2012

"I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and I have tried a lot of different birth control. I used this particular formulation for about a year. Unlike the others, I did not bleed through this one. I did, however, cry at everything! I cried when I saw cute kids playing, when Kelso did cute things for Jackie on That '70s Show, and when I got good grades on tests. Everything made me cry. Also, my breasts were tender all the time, and I never wanted sex, but that has been the case for all 7 years of birth control. I did not notice any substantial weight gain."

• wyl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 1, 2018

"Every woman's body is different, so every person has different side effects. The worst side effects I ever had were from Nexplanon (severe depression, weight loss, anxiety, horrible acne, no sex drive), so I decided to switch back to the pill, and Ocella was free under my insurance. This is the best birth control method for my body! No depression, no heightened anxiety, cleared up my skin 100%, I gained my much-needed weight back, and I got my sex drive back! Unfortunately, you won't know how a birth control will affect you personally until you try it out, but this is my favorite one!"

• bb8...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 13, 2013

"No significant weight gain, no cramping during period, period lasts for a shorter amount of time, no heavy bleeding (no spotting, either). Overall, I'm very happy with Ocella. I'm 24 and have been taking it for 5 years. At this point, I'm not even sure how my body would react to not being on birth control since it has been so long."

• Ren...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2020

"I was on Ocella when I was 16 for about three months. In those three months, I became severely depressed, I was uncontrollably angry and sad every day of my life, I gained 20 pounds, and I became a recluse. This might just be a unique experience for me, but please talk to your doctor before you have your mind set on this birth control. It barely helped with my cramps, which is the reason I was taking it. I don’t think, in my opinion, that it was worth it. It took two years for the effects to wear off."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2021

"If you have IBS or any issues at all with your stomach, I do not recommend this pill. Not only was I severely depressed, moody, and anxious more than I had ever been in my life, but I also had terrible bowel movements, stomach pain, and pelvic pain. I could not eat anything normally for 3 weeks, and I've been off the pill for about 2 months now, and my stomach is finally just now regulating. Everyone is different, but this pill was the worst mistake for me. (I was only on it for a month)"

• col...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 18, 2017

"I started taking this pill because everything else gave me cystic acne. At first, I loved this pill, besides the fact that it gave me terrible mood swings and no sex drive. I tolerated that part because it seemed like I was losing lbs and increasing my bra size, which I was happy about. But about a year into it, I started going through periods of what seemed like depression, lasting about 3 months at the longest. Two years into it, I'd gained about 10 lbs in 3 months (without any lifestyle change), and NOTHING I did would help me lose the weight. Finally, I decided to stop taking it 1 month ago, and I already lost 5 lbs, am 10 times happier, and my sex drive is back. Didn't get pregnant, but not worth the long-term side effects."

• Jon...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 5, 2019

"I started taking birth control before I married my husband. I was extremely worried because I have depression and did not know how the pill would affect me. My doctor told me to expect some nausea with the first month or so of taking Ocella, and for that first month or so, I definitely had some nausea, but after that, I have been fine. My acne has cleared up, and I haven't had any unexpected mood swings. The only negative I saw was weight gain, which made fitting into my wedding dress a little more difficult, but it wasn't too extreme. The positive was that I went up to a C from an A in cup size. I have been on Ocella for almost a year and have had a positive experience overall. Especially before I took Ocella, my periods have always been long and painful. Now on it, I have noticed that my periods have progressively gotten shorter, and I have had a lot less pain from cramps."

• ale...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 5, 2015

"Pros - much lighter period - shorter period (4-5 days) - almost no cramps - no pregnancy scares - clearer skin Cons - really sore boobs all of the time - high blood pressure - lost a lot of hair and my hair is about half as thick as it used to be."

• Moo...
• November 8, 2016

"Did what it was supposed to do, i.e., I didn't get pregnant and I was sexually active the whole time I was on it. Also, I don't believe I had a single zit for the whole year and a half I was on it. Nice! However, I experienced a lot of very annoying headaches while taking Ocella. They were stubborn too, wouldn't go away if I took an Aleve. Also, weight gain definitely happened. I went up 2 full cup sizes and 'filled out' in general. I would say about 8 lbs or so. (With little to no change in my diet/lifestyle.) Also, I feel that Ocella increased my anxiety and depression. It also affected my sex drive and level of lubrication. Everyone's body is different, hard to say if symptoms were from Ocella or unrelated."

• Anonymous
• July 19, 2010

"I've been using this birth control pill for about 5 months now, and it's great! I do get the occasional discharge and sometimes moody. It made my breasts bigger, but kind of sensitive. My acne has really cleared up after using so many different things out there to treat it. I recommend Ocella; it really gets the job done."

• Str...
• April 21, 2015

"I started taking this when I was 17 years old (now almost 22), and ordinary antibiotics weren't helping my acne problems. Before, I had unpredictable periods (often skipping once every several months for no reason), painful cramps, and a period lasting up to 7 whole days. Now I have a 99% clear face, a regular light medium period lasting 4-5 days, and NO cramps! I am not sexually active (never have been), so I'm not sure how effective it is for me actual birth control-wise, but my sex drive is much lower. I may end up finding a new brand once I get married later this year because of this side effect alone."

• Rae...
• May 7, 2016

"I used Ocella years ago, and it was great at first. My cramps weren't as painful, or etc., but then I started getting severe stomach pain, and guess what? I found out I had gallstones due to Ocella and had to have my gallbladder removed when I was 20, and I'm 25 now. So if any ladies experience stomach pain on the right side, you might have gallstones due to this pill."

• Xxy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 11, 2015

"I've been taking this for the past six months, and I'm so ready to ditch it! Yes, it cleared up my acne, but I've gained almost 10 lbs and cannot get rid of them! I've tried exercise and changed my eating habits, but no success. It's also made me really irritable and tired. Thankfully, I'm meeting with my doctor next month!"

• Anonymous
• May 24, 2011

"Have been taking Ocella for 4 months, and at first, the only things I noticed were positive; it cleared up the mild adult acne that I had developed around my jawline, and my breasts seemed to get bigger. Then, I began to notice more negative than positive. First, I've gained 6 pounds in 4 months with little change to my diet. Second, I experience spotting between periods. Third, I am ten times more moody than I was before, which is strange for me because I am always pretty stable and happy. Last, I've been feeling very bloated and maybe a little constipated. So overall, the pill is doing the job, and I'm afraid to get off of it because I don't want to start breaking out, but I also don't want to stay on it and continue to gain weight."

• Amb...
• May 9, 2019

"This birth control has overall worked very well for me. I originally started birth control for acne and extreme cramps when I was 14 (I’m 26 now) and had first tried Tri Cyclen Lo, which gave me a 3-month period, and then tried Lo Estrin Fe, which gave me a lot of cystic acne on my neck. Ocella, I think, helps my acne by balancing my hormones (I’m high in testosterone) and has made my cramps nonexistent. My period now only lasts around 3 days and is very light. The only downside is I think it’s made me gain about 10 lbs since restarting it after a few-year break at 22 (I’m 26)... but weight gain may be from age as well."

• Anonymous
• March 25, 2012

"I started out on Yaz and Yasmin. I have been losing my hair ever since. Suddenly, I was switched to Ocella with no warning. I experienced the most beautiful skin and 2-day periods, but the hair loss did not stop. I was tested for PCOS, but that's negative. I have not experienced nausea, headaches, and definitely no decrease in sex drive. My PMS has always been terrible, and that hasn't changed either way. I asked my doctor about the hair loss and was told that it could not be the birth control. Unfortunately, I lost my job and my insurance. I was without birth control for 4 months. During that time, my hair started to grow back. I am now back on Ocella, and my hair is still growing back. I am 30 years old, I have been taking Ocella since it came out. I'm a fan."

• hnm...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 13, 2012

"Pros: Periods were lighter, cramps hardly existed, not pregnant. I got on the pill for these reasons. So, yes, it worked for that. In addition, I lost about 27 pounds. However, CONS: I was SUPER depressed, and that depression hit hard. I've always been a happy, outgoing person, but Ocella made me upset at random times, and now that I'm off it, my period is heavier than before and the cramps are worse. I've also gained weight since going off the pill. I'm 18, 5'7", 189 lbs. I would not recommend it. Of course, there was the noticeable decline in sex drive, but that didn't bother me much."

• Cou...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 30, 2012

"I have used Ocella for years and have not had any major problems. The most I have felt is some breast tenderness close to my period, which I have always had, and sometimes some mild nausea my first 2 days or so on the pill during the first active week. I am happy with the effectiveness. I had irregular and very heavy periods that would last 11 days. This medicine has given me light and regular periods, normally lasting 5 days. I haven't experienced any emotional side effects or severe physical effects."

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2011

"Ocella was the first contraceptive birth control I tried, and I thought I was going crazy because of its side effects. As a generally happy and healthy woman, I was so confused and lost as to why I'd suddenly turned into someone that couldn't stand to get out of bed. I cried ALL THE TIME. It could be the tiniest of things that would elicit tears, but it was constant. I shut almost everyone but my boyfriend at the time out, and was so depressed I didn't even know what to do. This lasted 6 months before my mom forced me to stop it, of which I am very thankful. Ocella made me a different person, sure, it did its job in keeping me from getting pregnant, but the girl it made me into is not worth that protection."

• Azu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2018

"Out of all the birth controls I've taken throughout the years, Ocella has been an absolute blessing! I started taking it a little over a month ago. Since then, I haven't experienced any bloating or my usual hormonal acne breakouts! My skin hasn't looked this great since elementary school (and I'm 25)! The only side effect I have experienced is I'm a little more frustrated near my period, but it's so worth it! 10/10 would recommend!"