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

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2016

For Birth Control "Worst pill. Went on it for around 5 months, and it made my life a living hell. Almost immediately, I experienced an annoying, impossible-to-get-rid-of weight gain. Went from a B cup to a D/DD cup, depending on the time of the month. I also experienced some serious bloating around my stomach and could not get rid of it. Around the same time, I also became incredibly moody. As the months went on, this only got worse. Along with my moodiness, I became anxious, depressed, and found that my libido had disappeared completely. Ultimately, I felt as if I had become a different person completely and decided to toss my remaining packs. While my weight and mood went back to normal, my libido took forever to reappear, and I still feel it's not the same."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 14, 2013

For Birth Control "At first, I really loved Yaz. There was little to no weight gain, it didn't make me have any mood swings. I've been taking it for 7 months, and for the last 4 months, I've noticed a decrease in sex drive, very, very little lubrication, and I haven't gotten my period for the last 3 months... which is a scary thing. On top of that, I started bleeding during intercourse. Each month, I went to the gyno to see what was wrong, I took a pregnancy test there each month, and every test came out negative. I got looked at and got other tests done, and everything came out negative and normal. I've now been very tired and irritable lately, and the doctors still don't seem to know exactly what's wrong, which is very stressful. I'm now switching to NuvaRing."

• Fra...
• May 11, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been using Yaz for almost two months, and I won't be continuing with this pill. Almost immediately after I changed from Qlaira to Yaz, I noticed my anxiety levels rising. I'm not one to constantly worry and have always had this joy for life, but not since taking Yaz. I don't even feel like waking up and doing what I love. My sex drive is very, very, very low, and I'm very dry down there. I'm very moody and fight with my fiancé on a daily basis. My breasts have gone up an entire cup size, and they are really tender. I have severe abdominal pains and nausea. I cannot wait to start a different pill."

• Nat...
• January 4, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on Yasmin for 10 years, yes 10, and I am finally getting the guts to change contraception. My periods themselves are a complete breeze, light enough, minimal cramping, but the gap between the last pill in my pack and my period actually coming is horrendous. As a teen and in my early 20s, it made me really down, but just for a day. One day felt like the trade-off for not getting pregnant, and I accepted it. Now it's crippling migraines that affect my ability to function, along with no sex drive. Fear of pregnancy, bad doctors, and lack of education kept me suffering for years. Know your body and stand your ground. It might work for some, but know when it's not working for you!"

• KCa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 9, 2013

For Birth Control "I switched to this after taking Yaz for years due to cost. Under the Affordable Health Care Act, BCBS offered me Gianvi for free, whereas I had to pay $50 for Yaz. After 6 months, I'd pay anything to switch back. Since going on Gianvi, I've seen considerable weight gain (some attributable to lifetime changes), but I now experience uncontrollable bouts of anger that near the level of rage. My sex drive is virtually non-existent, and my skin isn't nearly as clear as it was on Yaz. I switched back as of today. The only upside... after dealing with my increasingly awful personality for the past few months, my boyfriend is still around. Guess the Gianvi was confirmation that man really does love me!"

• Lan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 15, 2020

For Birth Control "I live in Korea, and had to switch from my Ortho Tri-Cyclen in the US to Yaz here in Korea. I went to a doctor to talk about it, and she suggested Yaz as it was fairly close to what I had been taking in the States. I got it for 6 months, and now that I'm nearing the end, I am thinking more seriously about finding something else. The biggest side effect for me is the decrease in my libido. I went from desiring intimacy with my fiancé almost every day to never, within a month of starting Yaz. It was an extreme loss of sexual desire that I am 100% sure was due to Yaz. I also gained a few pounds and have not been able to lose it. I did start to notice more extreme mood shifts towards the end of each cycle as well. Feeling depressed, fatigue, and anxiety every 4 weeks is tough on me. I am nervous about switching to something else because I have only ever taken Ortho Tri-Cyclen pills, but Yaz is just not for me in the long run."

• Loz...
• January 27, 2020

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "Loryna has helped my PMDD somewhat. I also have cut meat mostly and am very active and limit drinking. My issues with this are breast pain, constant bloat. I thought I had a sensitive gut before, but have issues where my pants sometimes don’t fit by the evening. I drink tons of water and limit inflammatory foods, but it still doesn’t help. I bleed randomly. Right now, I have 5 pills left before the white pills and am bleeding. I spotted for a week before that. This happens without rhyme or reason. My skin looks good, but to be honest, I take good care of it. I am sure it’s contributing, but habits are too. The headaches I get on this medication are terrifying and sometimes last three days. I felt so validated finding this forum because I thought something was really wrong. My libido is significantly lower, and it’s difficult to achieve arousal. I never had an issue with that before. The worst: my blood pressure is now elevated. I just asked my doctor about an alternate treatment."

• Ffi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 3, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Yasmin for nearly two years, but I've noticed my sex drive has gone, and I get moody a lot more. But it didn't make me gain any weight. I'm going to change pills when I go to the doctor's next."

• Dan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 31, 2019

For Acne "I’ve been on this Nikki pill for 11 months, and it completely cleared my hormonal acne around my jawline. My oil production has decreased as well. No nausea or headaches, the only side effect for me is that my sex drive is nonexistent. Such a love-hate relationship with Nikki..."

• She...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 15, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking this for probably 8 months from NuRx, and I’m finally making the much-needed switch. I had my daughter about 2 years ago and thought my increasingly crippling depression and no sex drive were just because of stress. Then I talked to my doctor, who said that’s very common with this birth control, and she doesn’t even like to prescribe it because of this! I will say my periods have never been so regular, but it is really frustrating. If I don’t take it at the same exact time every day, I’ll end up having another week-long period. But based on other reviews, I’m glad I finally decided to do some research. Everybody is different, so maybe this will work great for someone else, but definitely not me!"

• AMA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2022

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I don’t ever write reviews, but I need to help some girl who is potentially going through the same situation as I was 4 months ago! I was very on and off about whether or not I wanted to try Yaz, as I had heard good reviews but then very horrific ones about blood clots that scared me so bad. I went to the doctor's twice in one week as I was having the worst panic attacks due to me thinking I would get a clot. However, I tried again, and the first 2 months I was quite short-tempered and very tired, and my skin also got worse. However, I persisted, and the only negatives now, 4 months in, are that I do tend to get tired more often and sensitive to sad things, along with a lower libido. But the pill has completely gotten rid of my PMS, and I feel so much more level-headed and calm. I also don’t get severe sugar cravings like I used to and have actually lost some weight. My skin is clear, and my periods are pretty much gone in 3 days! (Also no pregnancy.)"

• Mor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2020

For Birth Control "I have my tubes tied, and I suffer from PPMD and PTLS. I went back on birth control after not taking any for 4 years because I wanted not only extra protection from pregnancy but to get my period symptoms under control. I told my doctor that I used to take Yazmin, so she recommended Nikki this time around. About 3 days in, I started breaking out in pimples in places I normally don’t get them, like on my forehead and around my nose... (I only get acne on my jawline right before starting my period). I am now 3 weeks in and am suffering from HORRIBLE depression, so much that I am suicidal at this point. My sex drive has been nonexistent, and for the life of me, I can’t get wet. This BC has caused a huge strain on my mental health and relationship. I’m only 3 weeks into taking Nikki, but I am going to stop taking it right now, not another pill down the hatch. Terrible and wouldn’t recommend."

• Bri...
• June 4, 2015

For Birth Control "Confident with relying on it as the only form of birth control. Breasts got bigger but gained no weight in the stomach/thigh area. Loss of sex drive in the first month, but after that, it went back to normal. I love this pill, no mood changes at all. Cleared my face and works amazing."

• Kik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 5, 2021

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I thought it would be useful to update you about my life on Yaz (see September 25). I decided to quit Yaz after my mood being greatly affected. I've always been an anxious person, but I believe this medication made me paranoid and extremely emotional. I would literally cry watching my toaster do its thing. My libido dropped off completely as well. This, for me, was a shame, since once the 3-month mark had arrived, I felt like everything had fallen into place: no acne, no mood swings, stability, weight was going down, etc. However, after month 5, everything shifted, and my body just seemed to not like it anymore. I was SO paranoid. I was even sure someone had installed cameras in my apartment, lol. Anyway, it’s a shame I couldn't continue in it because it did help a lot with the acne and the hair, but those really are minor when you compare it to not being able to leave your place."

• 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!!!"

• Myy...
• March 16, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on Yaz for about 3 weeks now, and I am an emotional wreck, but all birth controls that I have been on have had me like this. My face is clearing up, I think, and my hair is growing, but my emotions get the best of me. I feel like a crazy person, crying one minute and fine the next. I get upset over the smallest things, and I hate it. Also, my sex drive is super low. This sucks, honestly."

• 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."

• eh2...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 14, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Gianvi for about 2 years and have recently gotten off of it. The first 5 to 7 months, I felt quite emotional/anxious, I also went up about 1 cup size, and my skin was perfect. However, it did prevent pregnancy, so I'm thankful for that. It also decreased the heaviness of my cycle. And it was free with BCBS! About 1.5 years in, I began noticing that I had vaginal dryness and my libido was super low as well. Since I was so dry, sex started becoming very painful, and it seemed like no amount of lube could help. It has been just over 2 years, and I have decided to get off Gianvi for a few months to see if my problems disappear. So far, it has been about 1 week, and I feel really good. To anyone reading this post, I suggest you always listen to your body and find an understanding provider who can help you create a plan that you both agree on. Good luck!"

• eh2...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 14, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Gianvi for about 2 years and have recently gotten off of it. The first 5 to 7 months, I felt quite emotional/anxious, I also went up about 1 cup size, and my skin was perfect. However, it did prevent pregnancy, so I'm thankful for that. It also decreased the heaviness of my cycle. And it was free with BCBS! About 1.5 years in, I began noticing that I had vaginal dryness and my libido was super low as well. Since I was so dry, sex started becoming very painful, and it seemed like no amount of lube could help. It has been just over 2 years, and I have decided to get off Gianvi for a few months to see if my problems disappear. So far, it has been about 1 week, and I feel really good. To anyone reading this post, I suggest you always listen to your body and find an understanding provider who can help you create a plan that you both agree on. Good luck!"

• ann...
• October 23, 2016

For Birth Control "The only good things about Zarah 28 were that it helped me not get pregnant, my acne cleared up slightly, and my boobs grew. But ever since I started the birth control, my emotions have been out of control, and I haven't felt like my true self. I gained 20 pounds, my sex drive decreased significantly, and I've felt depressed ever since. The only way to express any of my emotions anymore is to cry, and it drives me insane! I do not recommend this drug, and I have recently decided to quit the drug and not switch to a new birth control to see if I become the happy person I used to be. I will post a new review after a few months of stopping the drug and talk about results."

• Anonymous
• November 16, 2010

For Birth Control "Amazing pill. I took Yasmin for 5 years with no side effects except low libido, which is why I eventually switched pills. Overall, light, short, cramp-free periods. Worked great for me, no PMS at all. And the best part is I never got pregnant, very good. When I wanted to get pregnant, I was only off Yasmin for 1 month before conceiving my son. All in all, it was a great pill."

• sad...
• February 24, 2020

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "This pill was great for the first couple of months. My acne cleared, which was a problem due to my PCOS, and my periods were finally regular. I could feel these mood swings coming on, but I felt like a demon. This all hit me full force after I passed the third month. I was irritated at the smallest things, zero libido, it was an out-of-body experience. My self-esteem plummeted to where I never wanted to even look at myself, severely depressed and anxious, which I have not struggled with in the past, and gained 15 pounds out of nowhere. I couldn’t go an hour without crying. One day I almost had to pull over while driving because I couldn’t breathe. The way these hormones hit me was a nightmare, I am never ever going back to the pill. I’ve done too much trial and error for this, it’s not worth my mental health/state of mind. One week off of it and I feel like myself again, thank goodness. Avoid Gianvi if you want to keep your brain the same!!!!"

• Cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 20, 2018

For Acne "Month two and my skin has cleared up by 80 percent combined with prescription face wash. I was looking at Accutane as the next option because I have tried everything including a vegan diet! However, it was cystic acne that was on my cheeks and around my mouth, which is very hormonal. I am 23 years old, and this started getting bad around 21-22. I have always hated birth control pills because of weight gain and side effects. However, I have gained no weight and do not have that bloated ring around the belly or waist. I also no longer have sleepless nights before my period. This has solved skin issues and sleeping issues for me without bad side effects. My breasts did increase in size, but for me, that is not a negative side effect. Sex drive has gone down, but hey, I am in grad school, and it helps me stay more focused on my studies...lololol. Overall, please ladies, give this a try. If your acne is hormonal, it's the only thing that saved me from having to undergo Accutane!"

• BCA...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 15, 2020

"YAZ was honestly a terror for me. It gave me the worst yeast infections of my life, made sex dry, painful, and unpleasant. It made me so emotionally high-strung and anxious. I felt bloated and insecure the entire time I was on it. I would not recommend YAZ to anyone, the only positives were that it cleared up my skin and I didn’t get pregnant while on YAZ. But considering all the other birth control options, I would never take YAZ again."

• Ean...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2019

For Birth Control "Personally, wouldn't recommend Yasmin. Two weeks of taking it, and my sex drive has disappeared. I have experienced bleeding, extremely tired and fatigue, and now I'm off it. Sex is excruciatingly painful."