Alesse and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• Lor...
• September 29, 2014

For Birth Control "When I first began birth control years ago, they put me on one that made me so moody, depressed, killed my libido, and changed my personality, it felt. I went back to my doctor and tried several different pills, and eventually, I tried Alesse since it was low dose and I didn't have any negative side effects! I was always regular, but I have always had bad cramps. This cut them back and made my periods short. I didn't get any unusual acne or weight gain. If anything, I lost weight. And it not only increased my libido, but it made my orgasms very strong and last longer. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but I just loved it! I got off it after my divorce, but I will never use any other pill again. I've tried too many, and this one is for me."

• da9...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 1, 2012

For Birth Control "I am 20, have been using Alesse for about 2 years now. Good: no pregnancies, lighter, predictable periods with no cramping whatsoever (HUGE plus), no weight gain. Bad: I am completely insane on this pill, extreme mood swings, never happy, always in a lulled state of lazy depression, brought to tears by every and anything, constantly tired, no motivation, really low sex drive. Horrible: my skin is at a point where I don't even want to step outdoors and be seen by people! Worst breakouts I have ever had, and perpetual yeast infections. The yeast infections, laziness, and diminished sex drive basically erase the need for a birth control pill anyway. Very unhappy."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2016

For Birth Control "Just quit Alesse after 4 months. I tried to tough it out, but it just wasn't working. I was always hungry, then I would eat and feel constantly nauseous and bloated. I had no energy and felt tired, always wanting to eat sweet stuff. Didn't really gain much weight, just water weight around my hips and boobs (those were constantly sore as well), such bad mood swings and depressed and anxious often. Got lots of headaches, acne got worse (cystic acne on my chin, back, and chest), and lower sex drive. This is my first day without birth control (period will start in a few days), and I can honestly say that I feel so much better, which is weird because Alesse is 'ultra low dose hormones.'"

• Cle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2020

For Birth Control "When I started taking Alesse, the only side effects were feeling a bit nauseous for the first few days. I’ve now been on it for a month and a half, and I’ve noticed increased mood swings, sadness, and irritability that I never experienced before taking Alesse. I’m also starting to experience a bit of depression (not sure if it’s related to birth control). I’ve gained a bit of weight and feel bloated, appetite has increased majorly. At times, I also feel like my sex drive is lower. I’m going to continue until the 3rd pack, if I see no improvement, I consider switching to a non-hormonal birth control."

• Col...
• February 5, 2019

For Birth Control "I started this BC about a year ago. The start was okay. Soon after starting it, I experienced no sex drive. Now I experience in-between period bleeding that can last what seems like forever. Like I have been mildly bleeding for 12 days and counting... all because I took it two hours after the scheduled time. Mood swings. Mild depression. Getting off this ASAP!!!"

• Kay...
• April 13, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Alesse for about 3 years, including the time I decided to have Mirena put in (then promptly removed a month later) and tried the patch for about a month. Neither Mirena nor the Evra patch, despite how easy they are to use, compared to Alesse. I also tried Tricyclen Lo for about 6 months, but my doctor switched me to Alesse after I complained of stomach cramps and constant bloating, which Alesse seemed to fix. THE PROS: no weight gain, no facial acne, no weird side effects like unwanted hair growth, no pregnancies, and a period that is fairly short, light, and always on time. THE CONS: acne on my back, mood swings and depression, low sex drive, and quite painful menstrual cramps. Overall, I like it and would recommend."

• Sno...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "My periods have been getting very heavy as I've been getting older (just turned 40). I was told to start the pack on the Sunday I started my period, so I was on my 3rd day. Every day since then, I've been bleeding various amounts, and some days have had mild cramps. Hoping by the second trial pack this stops. One week of heavy periods is better than every day of the month bleeding. My libido is lower, but not sure if that's the medicine or the fact I'm bleeding daily :("

• Kat...
• January 30, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on Alesse for 8 years. This birth control is great for preventing pregnancy and regulating my menstrual cycle. It also helped my menstrual cycle be lighter. Unfortunately, this birth control does lower your sex drive. I went off it, and my sex drive came back full force and plan to go off it permanently."

• Ano...
• March 7, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this birth control for about 2-3 years, I would say. It is great for preventing pregnancy, but it has made my period weird. It stopped my period for 5 months and stressed the hell out of me. I do feel incredibly tired taking this pill, and my sex drive isn't as high as it used to be before this pill. I'm deciding I'll probably be going off this pill."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2018

For Birth Control "Feel like vomiting every day, nausea, worsening period cramps, weight gain, vaginal dryness, decreased sex drive. I’m 18 and have been taking it for 3 months. The side effects are only getting worse and worse the longer I take it."

• Sar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 14, 2018

For Birth Control "Took Alesse for about 9 months. The only good thing is that it made my period less painful, but besides that, it gave me bad headaches, completely lost my sex drive, and made me irritable (mood swings). Most recently, it caused me to have depression, which I had never experienced until now. So I stopped taking it and felt like my normal self again within 2 days of stopping it."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2015

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I've been on Alesse for five months now, and I had every side effect. Crazy acne (I've never had until I started taking Alesse), mood swings, weight gain (I was 120 lb before starting Alesse and not five months later 145 lb - I am a petite woman, and I don't eat very much, my food intake and exercise have not changed, thus, the weight gain is depressing), chest pain, swollen breasts, and no sex drive. The pro about Alesse is that it regulates. I had regular periods for five months. The only reason I was put on birth control was to maintain my polycystic ovarian syndrome. I'm 23 and was diagnosed with PCOS last year. I am now switching to a new birth control (Tri Cyclen Lo), and hopefully, this one is better. Fingers crossed!"

• Pup...
• September 4, 2019

For Birth Control "I started Alesse 28 in December of 2018. I was put on it by my doctor to help regulate my excruciating periods (so bad I'm on prescription painkillers). The first 3 months, they were still just as bad as ever, causing me to miss classes, my acne, however, cleared up. Since then, they have caused me mood swings, depression, worsened anxiety, and countless baby scares. My periods are light and short, but still very, very painful. I would not recommend unless you enjoy scaring both yourself and your boyfriend every few months with random and confusing unwarranted pregnancy scares. Side effects also consist of sleepless nights, leg cramping, migraines, a non-existent sex drive, and nausea, which is great. I've been lucky not to have weight gain, but the bloating is absolutely terrible, it starts early and lasts all day. Definitely going to ask my doctor about switching pills or just going to tough it out, I would recommend painful heavy periods over this any day."

• Ell...
• March 22, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on Alesse for almost 11 months. My first time using birth control. For the first 6 months, I was fairly happy with it and did not experience any side effects that I noticed at the time. Now, I am considering going off the pill because, for the last few months, I have had a very low sex drive and gained 30 pounds since starting Alesse. My job has been very stressful, and I have stopped working out regularly, so those things are a part of it, but I think going off the pill would be beneficial for me and could help with losing the weight."

• Jup...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2021

For Birth Control "Oh my. Yes, this pill definitely was not for me. When I started, I got really bad spotting, I also got incredibly bad migraines. I’ve taken it for three months, and it put me in such a bad depression. Everyone around me was noticing it, and it has caused a lot of problems between me and my boyfriend. I haven’t felt very motivated or excited, and it really got rid of my sex drive. This was not it for me. I honestly wouldn’t recommend it for people who already have depression or anxiety, for me personally, it just made things worse. I’ve stopped it now, and already I feel a difference. Don’t take it!!"

• tor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2018

For Birth Control "I started taking Alesse 2 months ago when my other brand ran out. It has been horrible. I gained 15 pounds (the most I've ever gained in a short time span). I am horribly moody, and I get extremely nauseous about 3 hours after taking the pill. The nausea lasts for hours too. Even if I take the pill before bed, I feel sick the next morning. I have absolutely no sex drive since starting, and I'm constantly bloated. I do not recommend using!"

• Sam...
• January 21, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on Alesse for two years. For the first few months, I didn't experience any side effects, but after that, I was an emotional wreck with no sex drive. After those side effects subsided, I began breakthrough bleeding a week before I started my sugar pills (this lasted a year), which was frustrating. I am now off the pill and am going to be trying something new. I did not personally experience any acne or weight gain, but the emotional side effects were daunting."

• Tif...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 12, 2018

For Birth Control "Worst birth control I have ever taken by far. Took it for 3 months (gave it a fair shot). Broke out in the worst cystic acne of my entire life. Zero sex drive. Prone to sadness. Can't wait to start a new pack of something else. Not for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 11, 2021

For Birth Control "My doctor put me on Generic Alesse after I had experienced some bad side effects on YAZ (low sex drive, low mood). I have been on it for 9 months, and my skin has gotten really bad. I have zero other side effects, but my acne is horrible to the point where I am embarrassed to leave the house. I tried every topical treatment for the acne to no avail. I am engaged to be married, and now I have to find another pill to try and clear my skin. This is not something I thought I'd be dealing with at 28. :("

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm just finishing up my 3rd pack of Alesse! Before starting Alesse, I read a lot of reviews to know what to expect, but for me, it's been really good! I'm 18, about 105 lb, and the most I was concerned about was getting bad acne on this pill. For me, I've had clear skin my whole life and didn't want to make it worse. The first week of taking this birth control, I broke out on my forehead and it really freaked me out. It all cleared up within a few days, though, and I haven't had worse acne than before taking the pill. My only side effect is my sex drive has gone down quite a bit, I didn't really think about this one until I had it for myself. Also, I'm very dry, but nothing that lube can't fix! My boobs have grown about a cup size too, haha."

• Ali...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2017

For Birth Control "I switched to this pill after taking progesterone only, and I almost immediately regretted it. I was moody and nasty, gained 10-15 pounds within the first two weeks of taking it, started to become depressed, and it completely reduced my sex drive. I also had mild acne before I started taking it, and it developed into cystic acne within a week and didn’t clear up. I’ve been off it for over a month now, still have the cystic acne, but my mood and sex drive came back up. I hated what happened to me on it so much that I stopped taking it after the first month because, to me, trying to finish the 3-month trial wasn’t worth it. There are other options."

• Lex...
• September 28, 2015

For Endometriosis "My doctor prescribed me this birth control to help with the pain of endometriosis as mine was getting to be very painful. The first couple of months were rough: nausea, vomiting, terrible mood swings to the point of crying at commercials! I stuck with it though and eventually leveled out. It really helped with my periods and the pain to the point that I went from calling off work for periods to barely noticing them! They lasted 4 days and were not heavy or terribly crampy. BUTTTT... I have been on it for about 2 years and now I am getting side effects again in the form of terrible headaches every day, zero sex drive, and terrible cramps during and in between periods. Also, my periods have gotten heavy again so I am going off it."

• SJa...
• September 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on birth control for just under 10 years and am still taking Alesse. The first 3-5 years were TriCyclen Lo, but then I got my period for over a month straight, and my doctor recommended switching to Alesse. The first day I took it, I felt incredibly nauseous. This went away after a day or two. During my time on this medication, I rarely experienced spotting, my periods were very light (about 2-3 days long, never required more than a regular-sized tampon), and while I didn't have bad acne in high school, I did get fewer zits while on both TriCyclen Lo and Alesse than I did in high school. I am about to try getting a copper IUD, though, because I've been experiencing some depression, anxiety, and low libido, and think they could be caused by birth control. I may also have gained some weight, but not sure what that's attributable to."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 18, 2018

For Birth Control "Side effects: no sex drive, lump on my breast, weight gain, and fatigue. I've been on Alesse for 6 years! My dad's girlfriend was also on it, and she said it made her fatigued, and she got off of it and felt so much better. I am now trying Tri-Cyclen Lo and hoping it will help."