Drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Bri...
• March 22, 2017

For Birth Control "I am almost 25 years old and have been taking Yaz or Beyaz for the past 4 years. I was diagnosed with endometriosis when I was 14 and have tried various other birth controls with no relief of my endometriosis. When my doctor prescribed Yaz, I was hesitant at first because of the commercials talking about blood clots but decided to try it anyway. Yaz and Beyaz have literally been lifesavers for me. I used to have cramps so bad I was unable to attend school or work. My periods would also be a full week long with heavy bleeding the entire time. Since getting on Yaz, I do still have some cramping, but it is manageable with Midol. My periods are now 3 days long, with only one day that's heavier. I don't have any complaints!"

• Br3...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 5, 2016

For Birth Control "I have only been on this for a month. I am one of the several of you ladies who are going through the agonizing trial and error for the 'perfect' birth control. Zarah seemed perfectly fine when it came to controlling my mood swings and not getting me pregnant! BUT, I have gained weight, and on my period week, my flow was very heavy and crampy, plus it lasted the whole 7 days... eww, I am not used to that. I also did take note of how it affected my sex life. I still wanted sex, but noticed I had a very hard time trying to orgasm. Sorry if that's too much info, but I personally like knowing how the birth control affects my sex life. I hope some of this info helps. Don't give up, ladies!"

• em0...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 16, 2014

For Birth Control "This was the first birth control pill I went on because I was having heavy periods and cramps, but also because I started having sex. Never really had too many problems, still had pretty heavy days for the first 2 out of 6, but at least they would come like clockwork. I did get super emotional for about 3 days a month, where almost anything would make me cry and where I would get the occasional extreme cramp. Overall, it worked pretty well for me, never got pregnant even though I had a ton of sex near the end (usually also had condoms) and managed to rarely miss a pill."

• kab...
• June 8, 2009

For Birth Control "I've taken Yasmin for probably the last 3 years, but I've been using other birth control pills for 12 years, and the pill I was using made me gain about 7-8 lbs of water weight. That's when my doctor put me on Yasmin. In a few days, I lost the water weight, I don't get cramps, no mood swings, my periods last for 3-4 very light days, and I only have them every 3 months. So if your doctor says you can take Yasmin, I highly recommend it."

• HAa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 26, 2021

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I'm a forty-year-old, single queer woman. I take Yaz for PDD, not for actual birth control. The first month on Yaz was completely horrible, my face broke out and flushed red and hot every night before bed. I had constant breast tenderness for a month, along with spotting and cramping. My PMS felt out of control. But once I passed the 1.5-month mark, everything evened out, and my terrible PDD and heavy, painful periods disappeared. I wish I had given it a try earlier."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2020

For Birth Control "This Yaz pill was effective in that it prevented pregnancy, but that’s where the pros end. This pill caused me to have a major depressed mood, leading to suicidal thoughts and constant leg cramping that sent me to the ER."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2024

For Birth Control "I've been taking Loryna for 2 months now, and it's honestly been the best birth control pill I've taken. I've tried the implant, shot, and patch before. The implant and shot made me lose 20 pounds, and the patch made me very nauseous and made me throw up constantly. So I said, let me try something else. I read many bad reviews on this birth control, but everybody is different. I'm happy I didn't let the bad reviews stop me from trying. The first week on this, I did have headaches/migraines, but they went away. In the third week, I did get cramps here and there. This pill boosted my mood during the first month. I'm now almost done with month two. I did notice that for one week straight, I was extremely moody during my second month of taking birth control, but now I'm fine. I take my birth control every night before bed."

• Tee...
• June 25, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on Zarah for about a year, and for me, it has done wonders. I suffered from acne to the point that on some days, I wouldn't leave my house. My acne is completely gone, and my skin is glowing. It's hard for me to forget to take it because once I look in the mirror and see the glow of my skin, I'm automatically reminded. I also suffered from severe cramping to the point of fainting and vomiting before BC, and I have not experienced any cramping since I started taking Zarah. My period does, however, still last 5-7 days, but it is very light, which makes it nearly unnoticeable. My period is also regulated and always comes on schedule. I recommend it for anyone with skin conditions, irregular periods, and bad cramping."

• Kva...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 20, 2020

For Birth Control "I liked how clear this pill, Nikki, made my skin, but that was really the only positive. I experienced headaches, very heavy periods with bad cramping, and bleeding between periods (at times as heavy as a normal period!). I thought maybe my body needed time to adjust, but after 8 months of feeling like I was bleeding all the time and always in pain, I switched birth control. I love how clear my skin was, but it's not worth it."

• Anonymous
• December 19, 2009

For Birth Control "I have been on Yaz for about three years now, and I love it. I have experienced a great decrease in my PMS. I was a monster before starting Yaz, and now I'm normal, with occasional periods having slight mood swings or cramps. My boobs have grown, and my acne has subsided. I get a few pimples every now and then, commonly when my period comes. I do get some bloating, but if I take something like Midol, then I have none. I'm able to know exactly when my period starts. I have only experienced one occurrence in 3 years of using Yaz, of spotting when not missing a pill. I haven't noticed any weight gain due to the pill. The only thing I am worried about is the scare of blood clotting lately."

• mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2020

For Acne "I have been on Nikki for a month and just finished the first pack. My acne has gone to how it was last summer, but I think my body is still getting used to it. I am a teenager, and the only thing it did for me was give me a slight stomach ache in the first week a couple of times. Also, I haven't had my period for two months! When I was supposed to have it, I had bad cramps, but no blood. I will post an update when I finish the second pack."

• Yaz...
• June 8, 2018

For Acne "Definitely would recommend to people with the same issues!!! I started 5 months ago. I used to have cystic acne all over my face, particularly cheeks and neck, with painful periods lasting a week (endo?). Acne wise: First 3 months, skin started getting worse. Everything was worth it though, as when the 3rd month ended and I started my 4th packet, my skin cleared up almost overnight. Still get a few pimples here and there, but nothing like I used to. Period wise: started my first pack on my period, resulted in a month-long period. Then skipped my period to see if that would end it, but it resulted in another month of having my period. The only reason why I rated this a 9 is because of this, but it is most likely my mistake or due to an underlying health condition. After the 2nd month, I didn't skip my period, and my periods after that have been 3 days long and have only needed a liner. Really light pain, nothing like before. No change in mood :)"

• Nic...
• January 29, 2019

For Birth Control "I moved on to Yasmin because I was looking for a pill to sort out my cystic acne. At first, my skin cleared up and my boobs got much bigger (which I loved). After a few months, though, I started to feel exhausted and nauseous most afternoons. I felt like I was pregnant, and it just didn’t let up! I also started to get horrendous period pains that resulted in black/dark red discharge for days at a time! I had multiple tests done at the doctors, but he couldn’t explain my symptoms. Then, however, the worst side effect of all kicked in... hair loss! This was extreme, every time I touched my hair, I would pull out clumps! I stopped taking Yasmin straight away, and it took about 3 months for my hair to stop falling out. I think I lost about 1/3 of my hair in total, and it was one of the scariest times of my life. For anyone who is suffering hair loss, stop taking Yasmin, and IT WILL STOP and IT WILL GROW BACK! Stay positive, it’s never as bad as you think it is."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 4, 2019

For Acne "I've been taking Yaz for a year now, and it's extremely great. It worked wonders for me, cleared up my acne. The only problem I still have is that cramps have not been decreased, and it shortens my period sometimes. Other than that, it's great. I gained a couple of pounds, which is good because I was a little bit skinny (got booty and all these things now, lol). I would recommend this to anyone."

• Sen...
• August 20, 2019

For Birth Control "I am 30, UK size 12/14, and have PCOS. To control my hormone imbalance, extreme bloating, and period pain, which at times would make me faint, I've been prescribed Yasmin. I took it for over 3 months, and for some time it was a relief because I could live a life of a normal person. The bloating was less, my hair wouldn't fall out as much, but most importantly, the painkillers I took to control the period pain would actually work. HOWEVER, what happened later was a lot scarier!!! I had 3 hemiplegic migraine attacks with stroke-like symptoms!!! The last one caused face numbness, followed by mind confusion and body being paralyzed for 3 hours. In the hospital, they’ve told me that what I had wasn’t a stroke but a severe form of hemiplegic migraine (the headache kicks in later), caused by Yasmin!!! I've stopped taking Yasmin, and I’ve never had an attack since. So think twice!!! Dealing with a problem by taking Yasmin might open doors to new problems!!!"

• mrs...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 4, 2019

For Birth Control "I took Yaz for 5 years (age 25 until now) and just stopped a month ago. PROS: didn't get pregnant, super clear skin, didn't gain weight, and didn't bloat (peed constantly due to the diuretic effect). CONS: my periods were heavier than before I went on the pill, I never had cramps before Yaz but got them during all 5 years on it, my hair started thinning to the point that my ponytail now is about 1/4 the size it was before I started Yaz, and my mood swings were unreal. I feel terrible for my husband, friends, and family for having to deal with me. I feel much better since being off the pill and am just hoping my hair grows back!"

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2019

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "1st time using birth control, and I’m taking it for PMDD & heavy/painful periods. About to finish my 1st pack. I was scared when I first started the pill - lack of emotions, no focus, irritability, a bit of stomach upset. Mood was the worst - I was swinging high and low & felt like I was on a roller coaster. I already struggle with depression/anxiety, so the birth control was worsening my mental health. HOWEVER - I think my body has adjusted to it now & I’m feeling a lot better. My mood is stable & I feel like my focus is back. Been spotting brown & it’s beginning to turn into blood now, but pretty light. I’ve had minor cramping, but it’s nothing compared to before. It’s crazy to have my period so light & not painful. Giving the 3-month trial period a chance to make sure this is a good med for me. All I can recommend for other people is to give it a chance. You can always get off it if you need to...don’t judge the pill based on negative symptoms you have in the first few weeks."

• Ela...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2024

For Birth Control "I usually don't write reviews, but I thought I should as I read these before starting my first packet and found a lot of negative reviews which completely scared me. Although I know everyone's body is different, Yaz completely changed my life. I started taking Yaz as I was experiencing frequent breakouts and PMS leading up to my period, as well as terrible cramps and nausea during. For years, it was such a struggle for me, and it got to the point where I would be completely out of order for the first day or two of my period. No pain medication helped! I couldn't be any more thankful for Yaz as I no longer experience any of these symptoms. I find that my mood is much more stable throughout my cycle, and I hardly experience menstrual cramps anymore. Additionally, my skin has cleared up significantly. Although I have not tried other birth controls, I do not have any negative side effects to comment on."

• Anonymous
• December 26, 2010

For Birth Control "Yasmin kept my skin clear and my period 'normal' for years. As soon as I stopped it, life became disastrous again. My face was oily and broke out. I had coarse facial chin hair growing constantly. Periods were heavy with cramps I had to take 800 mg ibuprofen for. I started taking them again after 6 months off. Upon resuming, in the first month I had no significant change in acne or facial hair. The second month, slight breast tenderness, and my face was less oily. Breakouts are less but not gone yet. There is less facial hair. Into month 3, breast tenderness is gone and improvements in skin and hair continue. This pill is great for women with PCOS like myself. I should have never stopped using it in the first place."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 20, 2018

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "My period used to be 7 days, with 3 really heavy days where I would have to change a S+ tampon out every 4-5 hours and had cramps that would double me over and send me to the bathroom with diarrhea. My breasts would become sensitive and swell, and I would just feel generally disgusting. I only had 1 week/month to actually enjoy life without period-related issues. Now, the only time I cramp significantly is the first couple of days of it, but even then not much. I also might get a single pimple. My period averages 5 days, and a regular tampon is sufficient for at least 4 hours even on the heaviest day. It took about 4 months for my body to start getting used to it, and now it's been 7 months and I think I've fully adjusted. The only negative side effect that I've noticed is that I have to take it at exactly the same time every day or I'll spot until my next period. I may be able to take it an hour late once, but I once took it a couple of hours late 2 days in a row, and I spotted every day for the next 3 weeks."

• Anonymous
• April 28, 2010

For Birth Control "I've tried just about every birth control in the book. Depo was by far the worst with over 15 lbs weight gain in a year, horrible acne, and leg cramps. Loestrin24 wasn't far behind with chronic exhaustion, zero sex drive, and depression. Ortho wasn't bad, but I did experience weight gain (about 5 lbs in a year). Yaz is by far my favorite, and I can say that both before having my first child and after. Yaz stabilized my pre-menstrual mood swings. I think it actually increased my sex drive post-pregnancy. I've had no weight issues and no acne problems. I think all the commercials about Yaz's side effects are bogus - every birth control is going to show correlations with some disease or another. I'd recommend Yaz in a heartbeat."

• Anonymous
• August 15, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been on Loryna for 3 months. There were no symptoms up until the second pack, I had heavy mood swings, got really mad at little things, and became very impatient. I had never had period cramps before birth control, and when my period comes, I get painful cramps, lower back pain, and headaches. People started noticing why I wasn’t “being myself.” I’m switching because I feel miserable. But my skin looks so healthy. You can’t base your experience with birth control on all of these reviews because everyone will react differently."

• JO3...
• December 1, 2015

For Birth Control "I was on this birth control when I was a teenager and felt great. I had since been diagnosed with endometriosis and had to stop birth control for treatment. When I finished the 6-month treatment, I had to start birth control again. I tried a bunch of different birth control pills to try to minimize bleeding and pain. I had issues with acne, depression and anxiety, weight loss, breakthrough bleeding, severe cramping, painful sex, and a million other things. I asked to be put back on Zarah and should have done it years ago. My skin is completely clear, I have no depression and anxiety, it did not change my weight, there is no breakthrough bleeding, severe cramping, or painful sex. I feel 10 times better than being on no birth control. The best!!!"

• Hao...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 4, 2013

For Acne "I stopped taking Gianvi two months ago, and wow, was that a mistake. The first period I had was absolutely horrible. It was super heavy, lasted a long time, and my cramps were really bad. It has really messed up my hormones as well. I get so mad very easily, and I feel like a crazy person with emotions that I'm feeling that I never felt before. My breasts shrank a lot, and my acne has come back. So, I started taking Gianvi again a few days ago so I can get back on track to normalness! I don't want to wait for my body to adjust without it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this pill for about 2 months now, and my period has been going for 15 days and counting. It’s been a constant heavy flow with cramps out of this world! This medication is very concerning because I am overall a very happy person, but I have gotten severely depressed within the past month to the point where my mind is uncontrollable with bad thoughts. I do not recommend this product to anyone."