Ocella User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)

• Kel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 9, 2016

For Acne "I've been on a few different kinds of birth control pills. Nothing really worked the way I wanted. One brand lowered my sex drive, another brand made my acne worse instead of better. Finally, I ended up trying Ocella even though I was nervous because of all the talk I hear about girls getting blood clots. But I must say, this works. I have mild cramps for a day or so, and it's only off and on. My periods are lighter and usually last about 4 days. My face is the clearest it's ever been. I should have been on this brand in high school. Once in a while, I'll get a pimple. And it hasn't affected my sex drive. It's an A in my book."

• Moo...
• November 8, 2016

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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."

• Lov...
• February 1, 2021

For Acne "I’m 25 years old, and I’ve been on Ocella for 6 months. I would take my pill every single night at 9 pm to reduce any side effects. I’ve been on birth control as a teen for acne and thought I’d try it again for acne and pregnancy prevention. CONS: This birth control has caused my acne to worsen, headaches, sensitivity emotionally (I don’t cry easily, by the way, but with this birth control, I would cry easily), and lowered my sex drive. I gave it the benefit of the doubt to stick it out to see if my acne would clear up. In my case, the acne cleared up on my forehead but moved from my forehead to my cheeks. The acne Ocella has caused are red pimples that are painful but not cystic because they have a white head. I wouldn’t ever break out on my cheeks but mainly on my forehead and jawline. PROS: works well for skipping periods, no breakthrough bleeding. No nausea. No weight gain. Fuller breasts. Prevents pregnancy for my husband and me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 17, 2012

For Acne "I began using this birth control in January 2012 to treat cystic acne and to prep for beginning Accutane. My periods before this pill were bad, I had heavy bleeding with painful cramps. Once I began the birth control, they got lighter, and now I have absolutely no cramps! My face looks fantastic now, I only have the occasional zit. I can handle that since I used to have 20 at one time. I would say I started to notice side effects around May of 2012. I began having pretty bad headaches, usually every day when I wake up. I had a little bit of weight gain. The worst was how moody I began to be. I would really only like spending time alone. I also lost my sex drive completely."

• Amb...
• May 9, 2019

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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!"

• Bel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm still currently taking this drug, and there have been really no side effects other than an upset stomach if I don't eat when I take it, and it also makes me very touchy and angry. I used to never get raging mad, but ever since I've been on the pill, the simplest things set me off and I go mad without even realizing it's happening."

• Car...
• June 10, 2016

For Menstrual Disorders "I must say Ocella has been nothing short of a miracle for me. In just 2 months, my facial hair has diminished. I went from shaving, waxing, plucking EVERYDAY to not seeing any hairs on my face for 5 days now. My very heavy, painful periods are already normal, and I have lost 11 lbs. I have had no side effects. I hope this continues for the long term."

• Rik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I had high hopes for Ocella with all the good reviews I read, but no. Back story: I'm in my 30s, PCOS lean, and have already had to have a hysterectomy. This BC absolutely wreaked havoc on my stomach so bad that I've become intolerant to red meat. On top of all that awesomeness (sarcasm), it gave me horrible anxiety and turned me into an emotional mess. I've switched to Happy Hippie Go With the Flow supplements and have had WAY better results. Because I'm PCOS and experience PMDD, I've also switched to a low-carb diet and pair that with exercise, and I feel amazing. But eating red meat now has me praying to the 'porcelain god' for almost 2 days."

• Anonymous
• May 21, 2010

For Birth Control "I started on Yasmin, then switched to Ocella when it was released. I had no issues with it. It helped my cramps, shortened my period by 2 days, and helped clear out my skin. I gained no weight (but was eating very healthy and stayed active). I stopped taking it for 2 months to have surgery, got pregnant, and am back on it now. I have never had any moodiness, and it has helped with my time-of-the-month migraines I would get. I would recommend this to anyone. FYI, I started on this when I was 24 and am now 27."

• Anonymous
• October 21, 2011

For Acne "I got Ocella solely for the reason that I don't want to get pregnant, and I got it for free with my insurance. With starting my first pack, I was nauseous the first three days or so, but not so bad, I guess. Now I'm on my last week of my second pack, about to be on my third pack, and my acne has gotten a lot worse, unfortunately. I'm going to wait a couple of months to see if that changes, though, because other than that, I love it."

• Anonymous
• July 11, 2010

For Birth Control "I switched to Ocella after taking Yaz for 3 months. I have PCOS as well. Ocella worked wonderfully in clearing my skin, and it gave me a 7-day period (instead of the constant flow). That was a relief. But, I had bad side effects that caused me to ask for a change in medication after 3 or 4 months of using it. I didn't realize they were connected to birth control at first, but now it's obvious with timing. I get debilitating migraine headaches during the first few days of the placebo week (from hormone drop), and the week before my period I have severe constipation, which affects my body image (I feel unattractive). It also has me very depressed a week before, too. And this last month, I started spotting 2 weeks in."

• NoS...
• September 5, 2010

For Acne "I started taking this for acne, which Ocella cleared up really well (except for the period week, during which I'll get minor acne breakouts), but I must add that now I've been experiencing a huge decrease in my sex drive. I'm starting to wonder if I should get off of it just to feel like a normal sexual adult. This is just getting weird."

• Cal...
• January 15, 2015

For Acne "I have been on Ocella for about 2 months now. I originally was on Zarrah and had the BEST skin - my light acne cleared up within the first 2 weeks and remained absolutely flawless for almost 2 years. I ended up having a 2-week period - nightmare, I know. I went to my gyno who had then switched me to Ocella. I explained to her that I loved the way Zarrah affected my skin and didn't want to break out on a new form of birth control. I'm almost finished with month 2 and have been breaking out with whiteheads all over my forehead, along with a few painful zits around my face. I use Clarisonic every morning and night and eat healthy and workout. My moods are great and I lost a few pounds, but I may not continue Ocella for this reason... remaining optimistic!!"

• Pba...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 4, 2014

For Acne "Prescribed Ocella for PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), which can cause severe cystic acne that I had. Have been on it for 10 years. It was a miracle, acne is gone. To prevent the mood swings and acne flare-ups during the inert week each month, I had my OBGYN write a prescription for 3 months straight. Now I only have my period and mood swings 4 times per year instead of 12. Other pills caused anxiety attacks, I have felt most normal on this pill. The downside is I have no libido, but I am 40, so I guess I should expect some decrease at my age anyway."

• Bee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 23, 2015

For Birth Control "Not a huge fan. I started taking Ocella about 9 months ago only as birth control. It was my first experience being on the pill. Good: NEVER GOT PREGNANT! Meh: I went up a full cup size (C to a D, but I already have a small frame, so I didn't celebrate). Bad: It gave me terrible nausea, headaches, and migraines. I started having awful mood swings and felt like I was always lashing out. Period didn't change, I still had an extremely heavy flow for at least a week with little to no spotting before or after and said goodbye to too many pairs of cute panties. Worst of all, it brought a horrible bout of depression that I'm still dealing with. I recently switched to another birth control with lower estrogen, so hopefully it goes better this time."