Alesse and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Alesse twice, this time for 2 months so far. I've had no problems at all. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome, and it's fixed my period so far. My complexion is getting better, I've had no unusual depression or anxiety, and I haven't gained additional weight."

• jul...
• August 9, 2013

For Birth Control "I'm 20 years old and have been taking Alesse for 2 years now. It has done wonders for my period, no cramps or bloating, the period is so much lighter and manageable. I haven't had any acne problems or weight gain. My moods have been affected, but I believe it's only around the time I get my period. As for the tenderness of my breasts, I only feel it if something accidentally hits them, other than that, the pain isn't noticeable or disturbing. Another plus is the pill is extremely small and easy to swallow, I hate taking pills. I definitely recommend this pill."

• Amy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2012

For Birth Control "I just finished my first month on Alesse, and I am SO pleased! I used to avoid hormonal birth control because of recurrent yeast infections and weight gain, but with Alesse, I have no problems! I feel like myself again! It's hard for me to review the contraceptive effect on me since I was told to wait a whole month before having 'unprotected' sex. But so far, so good. No weight gain, no infections, no nausea, but sometimes my breasts hurt a little. They didn't get any bigger though. I sometimes feel crampy in the last few days of the month, but nothing severe. I take it with no stop in between because my PMS and period were too intense. I'm in love with Alesse!"

• HTa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 16, 2020

For Birth Control "This pill was the worst. I broke out in acne all over my body. My breasts were so swollen and tender, and the bloat never, ever, ever went away. Ever; don’t even ask about the weight gain. The only thing it did was avoid pregnancy. DO NOT TAKE THIS. Find another pill."

• 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."

• Joy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 12, 2013

For Birth Control "My doctor switched me from YAZ to Alesse to help with the weight gain that YAZ gave me (20 pounds in 1 year), and I hate this birth control. From the first month of using it, I was an angry beast, it was way too much. Second month, I noticed that I lost a little bit of the weight, but I noticed I would start crying for no reason often and become depressed. My doctor told me to stick it out for 3 months. Third month, I am still an angry beast, as well as extremely irritable for extended periods of time. Mind you that YAZ also caused some of these symptoms as well, but on Alesse it was tripled."

• 1Ow...
• November 2, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been using Alesse for a year now, and I have great skin, although I did have clear skin prior to Alesse. I have gained 10 lbs. I haven't been able to pinpoint what is wrong with me, so to speak, and after reading all of the reviews, I feel I have FINALLY targeted the issue. I have always been sensitive, but I have been EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL this past year, crying at the smallest things. I have been so emotional that I am currently suffering from depression. Yes, I did not get pregnant, but I don't believe this pill is worth the side effects!"

• How...
• October 8, 2017

For Birth Control "Personally, I have had so far a great experience on Alesse. I've been on it for just over 6 months now, it has helped with acne and regulating periods. I haven't noticed any weight gain at all, and my periods are super light. I, however, just recently started having sex, and overall I am a nervous person about getting pregnant, but so far, all good! *fingers crossed*"

• kik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking Alesse for about 4 months now and have been noticing major changes in my body. I didn’t think to associate it with my birth control until recently. After looking at the reviews, I know now that this has been the cause. I have experienced major weight gain recently – between bloat, water retention, and swelling of my ankles. Besides that, my mood has also changed when I just cry for no reason at all. I was taking the generic version of Tricyclene-lo prior to this and will be switching back next month. I did, however, notice that my periods were much lighter – only positive review that I could give."

• vtt...
• January 6, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been using Alesse since April of 2016. It works as a contraceptive, and my skin is clear, my moods are in check, my periods are much lighter now, and it is also the first contraceptive that I have used. However, I have noticed lately that I'm hungry ALL the time. In fact, food is all that I think about some days, which has caused me to gain almost 20 lb in the past near year I've used it. I'm not sure yet if this is due to the pills or if it is due to stress or something else, but otherwise Alesse works."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2014

For Birth Control "Up until this past fall, I hadn't experienced any negative side effects while taking the pill. Then I started having anxiety attacks, feeling depressed about everything, rapid weight gain (25 lbs in 2 months despite living at the gym), extreme irritability, heavy bleeding (3-4 super tampons every 2 hours) halfway through a pack, intense cramping, new and powerful migraines, and horrible skin. I've been off of it for 2 months now, and I feel worlds better. I still have bad skin, and although my anxiety is manageable, it's still there, but at least I can get out of bed, and the headaches have slackened. I'm looking at other options now because abstinence is difficult."

• kat...
• October 17, 2017

For Birth Control "Alesse was the first birth control that my doctor had put me on. I had no side effects and was confused due to all of the complaints I had heard about taking birth control in general from my peers. I began to wonder if there was anything better than Alesse, and that is my biggest regret. I took Lolo as well as Tricera Lo, and both of those helped me realize what side effects and tolls some birth control pills can have on women. I was breaking out in cystic acne, my breasts hurt, I had gained weight, my appetite was immense, etc. I went back on Alesse, and lo and behold, my skin is at its best, I have ZERO side effects, and most importantly, it prevents me from getting pregnant."

• Lou...
• October 8, 2019

For Birth Control "I think I've been on Alesse now for 3 or 4 years... can't really remember now. Prior to that, I was on a couple of other higher dose hormone pills since I was 19; 31 years old now! I started this pill because of the lower dose of hormones. I was struggling with depression and anxiety at that point and thought the pill may be affecting that. I still have periods of depression and anxiety, but I can control it better. My skin has changed though... I have super sensitive skin with painful cystic acne. It's not a lot of spots, but they are painful and stay for a really long time. I've had weight gain, but I don't know if that's more me or the pill. I've decided to come off the pill, which I'm kind of nervous to do! It's more about the fact that I've been on it for almost 13 years and I want to see what I'm like off of it. Right now, I would say that I would go back on it, because I don't find the side effects that bad, but we'll see in the future after I've been off it for a while."

• lis...
• January 31, 2016

For Birth Control "First time using Alesse. Been gaining weight like crazy, my mood swings are all over the place, my period has been starting a week early, so now my period lasts about 2 weeks. This pill is definitely not for me."

• Gab...
• May 3, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Alesse for 2 months now. I feel extremely tired all the time, even after drinking coffee, and usually coffee makes me wired. I constantly feel bloated even when I haven't eaten anything. Then when I do eat something, I feel like I'm about to throw up. I've noticed that I've gained a little bit of weight, especially around my tummy/hips. My mood swings are all over the place (I'll cry and get cranky over the dumbest things ALL THE TIME). Definitely would not recommend this birth control and plan to go off it ASAP."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 15, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm 24, and this is my first ever contraceptive pill. Taking it for a month now. I don't have a problem aside from gaining weight, and I'm emotional, but not this much since I started this pill. I'm happy that my acne is slowly fading, my cramps are not as severe as the last one I had, and I don't have a problem at all. I've noticed that my breasts are gaining some extra fat too. Lol."

• Cat...
• November 1, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for a year, and I think I'm gonna stop taking it. Honestly, not really happy with this pill! For someone who had relatively clear skin, I got the worst acne from using it! Like little bumps all over my forehead and painful zits on my jawline and cheeks. Tried every possible skin care line and couldn't understand how I went from clear skin to a face full of acne... and now some acne scars too. Finally pinpointed it to Alesse being the cause. Also pretty sure I gained some weight while on it. Definitely don't recommend it!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 4, 2021

For Birth Control "I've been on Alesse for 6 years, and I had no negative side effects at first (aside from gaining weight), but then I became severely depressed, and my face broke out in cystic acne. I feel completely numb on this pill. My self-confidence is terrible, and I'm never happy even though I have so many things to be happy about. I just feel dull, and I feel like I have no personality anymore. I took a break from this pill last year and felt like a completely different person. I had my confidence back and overall had a sense of mental clarity and happiness, but went back on for the sole purpose of preventing pregnancy. The positives are that I've never had any pregnancy scares, and my periods are very light and regular, but the impact it has on my mental and physical health isn't worth it anymore. If you're looking to start this pill, I would just say be careful and pay attention to the way you feel. It took a while for me to realize that this birth control was the problem."

• VPg...
• June 4, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been using Alesse for about 2 years now. It was the first BC pill that I was prescribed. I was hesitant to use hormonal contraceptives because of mood swings and spotting. However, with Alesse, I experienced neither of those side effects. I can't say it made my skin any clearer. I don't have severe acne, but it didn't clear up my pimples. One side effect I did experience was weight gain. I am normally about 105 pounds, but on the pill, I gain about 3-4 pounds. I just feel very bloated. However, when I stop the pill temporarily (the week of my period), I go back to my regular weight. I realized I could manage this by just watching what I eat, and I exercise a bit more. Overall, I am pretty satisfied with Alesse!"

• Aly...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2016

For Birth Control "NOT WORTH THE SIDE EFFECTS!! Seriously. My GP gave me Alesse because she had some packets that were sent to her for free. I thought, 'Hey, why not' and took them. Well, the second month was the worst. Gained probably 10 lbs because I was constantly hungry. Became lethargic, and it made me more depressed. That went away in the third month. Then the acne started. As someone who was on Accutane and had relatively pimple-less skin, this pill brought up old wounds. Turns out this pill, which is often prescribed to treat acne, is one of the worst BC that causes acne. My skin is now 10x more oily, and I have painful zits on my cheeks, chin, and lips. Also, my boobs have gotten bigger, which I hate. The pill also causes me really bad cramps, and my period was off."

• 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."

• 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!"

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Alesse for 2 months now, going on my third month. This pill is not so bad, no weight gain, acne, or mood swings. But I'm experiencing chronic fatigue on this pill, when I am on my period week, I feel so much better. Everything else is really great, but I'm not sure how much longer I will stay on this. I can't live my life with exhaustion, it makes me lose desire for things I normally love. Coffee fixes it a little, but it is still there. I would rather have the old me back, or maybe switching my birth control? But it's a good birth control other than that (you will find nothing perfect out there)."

• Ami...
• December 3, 2010

For Birth Control "If you're looking for a birth control that's easy on your body in the sense that you don't get mood swings, no weight gain, good sex drive, etc., you might like Alesse. If you're looking for all that as well as an acne treatment, BEWARE (especially if you have adult acne)! My doctor put me on Alesse because I was looking for a birth control and an acne treatment (I had moderate adult acne on my cheeks). The first three months, I thought I was in heaven. No mood swings, no weight gain, clear skin, etc. Then, approaching my period in the fourth month, I woke up with six acne cysts on my chin, jaw, and lower cheek. I had never had them before. Still getting pre-period cystic breakout, onto Diane 35 next month."

• 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."