Ethinyl estradiol / ethynodiol and Mood Swings: What Users Say

• AbN...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 15, 2018

For Birth Control "I loved Zovia 1/50. It was the only pill I found I could take that didn't make me hormonally insane. I had zero to little mood swings, I used it to skip my period every month with no spotting, and it didn't affect my skin one bit. My only small complaint was it made me very hungry, but I could eat healthy snacks and be fine. However, they have discontinued the Zovia, and Kelnor 1/50 is literally what nightmares are made of. (Kelnor is also more expensive for me?!) It makes me cry over Facebook videos, I cry randomly sitting at my desk at work. I'm telling you. It's awful and nothing like Zovia. I've been spotting pretty much continuously since I was forced to switch to the Kelnor, also. I would just recommend looking for a different BC altogether at this point."

• Anonymous
• October 12, 2011

For Birth Control "I started taking Zovia about 5 months ago, and I could immediately tell the difference after the 1st month. I started gaining weight, my breasts got even bigger than they already were, and they were constantly tender. My periods went from 3-4 days to 7-9 days with horrible cramps. My face became very oily, and I started breaking out. I have never had a lot of acne or breakouts, but after starting this birth control, it got bad. I have been an emotional wreck and cry all of the time, and I'm normally not like that. I think I had every bad side effect a birth control can have, so needless to say, my OB has called in a different birth control! Hopefully, if you decide to use this birth control, you don't have any of the side effects like I have."

• Kel...
• August 21, 2013

For Birth Control "Zovia cleared my acne and helped regulate my period with no pregnancies. However, it caused huge mood swings around my period. I was very irritable and sometimes depressed. Also, if I didn't take the pill at the exact same time (or within an hour), I spotted."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been on Zovia for 4 months. I quickly gained 10 pounds, even though I work out 4 to 5 times a week and watch what I eat. I have gone from a B cup to a C cup, and I have developed horrible mood swings. I also experience bad acne about 4 days before and after my period."

• sar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 20, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for 3.5 years, and it is my favorite thing ever. My periods are extremely light, I almost never have cramps or mood swings, and the only weight gain I experienced was welcome and came in the form of a cup size. I haven't had any problems during that time of the month or otherwise, and overall, I think this is just a very nice, happy pill. I always use condoms because I'm paranoid, but I'm scare-free also!"

• Mar...
• March 26, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on this birth control going on 8 years. Never any weight gain or physical issues, but the occasional mood swings and PMS. Can't say if I've had an increase in appetite. But totally worth it. Haven't gotten pregnant!"

• Anonymous
• September 27, 2011

For Birth Control "The good aspects of this pill for me were no weight gain, no loss of sex drive, and my breasts got a bit bigger. However, I could not continue into my 4th month on Zovia because I had such intense mood swings that I drove everyone around me crazy. I had to switch to a different pill because I was on a constant emotional roller coaster: crying, being angry, feeling depressed, hopeless, and paranoid that my boyfriend was cheating on me. I felt like I was losing my mind, and my boyfriend and I almost broke up over it. I became a completely different person, and it only became worse as I was on the pill for longer. Hoping another pill will work better!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 22, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been on Zovia for 11 months. The first 3 months I had a lot of mood swings from crying to anger, anger to crying, and happy to sad. It was the most difficult 3 months of my life. I still have mood swings but not as much as in the beginning. It did make me gain weight but prevented me from getting pregnant."

• Anonymous
• December 5, 2012

For Birth Control "I recently switched to Zovia from Ortho Tricyclen. It's definitely doing what it's supposed to. The side effects that I've experienced since switching are slight weight gain (even though I'm active), B to C cup size and some tenderness, nausea, and mood swings (and my boyfriend agrees with me -- this is the WORST side effect). What I do like about Zovia is that it cleared my face up and made my periods EXTREMELY light and short. I think I like Ortho Tricyclen better, but only because I didn't have any side effects with it."

• hai...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 19, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on Zovia for about 3 years now and I've about had enough. Yes, it has been so far amazing in preventing pregnancy or whatever. But the side effects are no joke. The weight gain is horrible, for example, if I eat regularly without the birth control, I weigh 130 pounds, but if I'm on the birth control eating the same, I weigh almost 150 pounds. IT IS RIDICULOUS. My mood swings are so bad. I'm so sensitive and emotional, and I wish I would've read reviews on the birth control first because, before your period, if you think PMS is bad, try being on Zovia while you're on your period. NOBODY will want to be around you. Anyways, not everyone is the same, but that's just my experience."

• Via...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 16, 2012

For Birth Control "This is my first birth control. When I first got on, I got acne really bad on the side of my face, and also I got cramps really bad. But now, about 3 months later, that does not happen anymore, and it keeps my face pretty clear, except when my period is about to start, I sometimes get a pimple or two. But what I did notice is that I have really, really bad mood swings every time my period is about to start. I don't know why. Just try it for yourself!"

• Lon...
• August 18, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been very happy with the results: no unplanned pregnancies, consistent weight, very little mood swings, no acne, etc. I'm over 30, used Zovia for over 10 years, and no big complaints. For a period of time, my insurance didn't cover this formulary, so I switched to another, and while on that, I noticed severe mood swings. As soon as I found out Zovia was covered again, I requested my doctor put me back on it, and I felt much better immediately. However, the last few months I've noticed the week prior and during my period craving a lot more sweets. I don't know if they've made some changes to it recently or if it's an increase in stress or my age influencing hormones & metabolism, but I don't feel the same."

• Be ...
• June 21, 2017

For Birth Control "This birth control made me extremely emotional! I'm 32, and my life was fine before I got on this pill only 2 months ago. I started flashing out on my boyfriend and have even gained about 5 pounds. I'm finishing the pack and moving on to something else. Meds are not supposed to decrease the quality of life."

• Anonymous
• January 27, 2012

"While taking this pill, I became an emotional wreck, my face broke out, had spotting between periods, cramps got worse, and developed fibroids. The list goes on."