Ashlyna and Cramps: What Users Say

• Lar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2019

For Birth Control "I am on my last week of the pills. It’s a 13-week supply, with the 13th week being estrogen-only pills. I was expecting my cycle to pop up, but with only 2 estrogen-only pills left, I’ve only experienced slight cramping, no bleeding. The past few months, I haven’t had any bleeding, spotting, or cramping at all. I started the pills to delay my period because it was so unbearable. My doctor said with these, I’d get 4 periods a year. I can live with that. As of now, still no period, and I can’t say I miss them at all. These pills work absolutely great for me."

• Sap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2022

For Birth Control "My doctor put me on Ashlyna to try and help my periods. The first 3 weeks was fine. Week 4 hit and I started bleeding like a period (not breakthrough bleeding), along with having horrible mood swings, dizziness every now and then, cramps, and hot flashes, and from time to time passing big blood clots. After 2 weeks of this, I started to get concerned because I have never had this reaction to birth control before, so I called my doctor, she said to ride it out because all those were side effects of Ashlyna, and it will eventually stop. I did my best to ride it out, but I felt absolutely horrible. I didn't feel like myself. So I called my doctor back and told her she needs to give me something else because my body is having a hard time adjusting to this pill. So I finished my pill pack and she switched me to a different Sprintec. After a few weeks on the new one, I started to feel better. I had a 28-day period on Ashlyna. Everyone is different, but for me, I will never use Ashlyna again."

• Hea...
• April 4, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on this 13-week birth control for 2 years now and have had no issues. My first pack did come with some irregular spotting, however, after my second pack, the spotting disappeared, and I have a regular period every 13 weeks as expected. I've gone through 3 other varieties of birth control that left me spotting no matter how long I took them, but this birth control actually works for me. I have very painful cramps and a heavy flow, but it has reduced the mere 4 periods that I do have a year to very light and painless ones. The only downside is my insurance doesn't cover it, and it's crazy expensive, but I'm at least happy it exists at all."

• apa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 10, 2020

For Birth Control "I used to get extreme cramps, and I would get super nauseous while on my period. And they would be heavy and super irregular. So I got on birth control to get my period to be regular. I love only getting my period four times a year. I haven’t had any crazy side effects like weight gain. I do get mild mood swings, but I don’t think it’s because of the birth control. I highly recommend this birth control."

• Jay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2018

For Birth Control "My insurance switched me from Amethia to this. It's been a nightmare. Ever since I started Ashlyna eight months ago, I have spotted EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It's been like an endless period, cramps included. I'm switching back to Amethia, with which I never had much spotting. This birth control is AWFUL. Do not use it. You might as well use a regular monthly birth control and suffer a period once a month, because with this you'll have an endless period."

• Ria...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 8, 2020

For Birth Control "This pill did nothing but mess me up. My periods were out of whack and heavy. Did not help and do not recommend it. My period lasted 3 weeks from November to December, and now after being off of it for 3 months. I had one period in April, and now I have no period at all, just the side effects of still being on it. Cramps like I never had before the pill, late and irregular periods still."

• lee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2018

For Birth Control "I began taking this birth control to reduce my periods since I have bad cramps during my period. The first month went fine, no period. Once I got into week 1-2 of the second month, I have had my period for 11 days and counting (when my cycle lasts for 5 days without this medication). The cramps are worse being on this medication than not taking it at all. I wasn’t told about the side effects of this medication until I did my own research."

• Lea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2021

For Birth Control "I had a horrible experience on this medication. I didn't last more than 10 days on it. I was originally on Junel Fe, but I didn't want to get a monthly cycle, so my OB-GYN recommended Seasonique (Ashlyna). This medication made me gush! Nonstop heavy clotting, terrible cramps, loss of appetite. I lost so much blood over the past 3 weeks, after standing for a certain amount of hours, I would become lightheaded and dizzy. I stopped taking it 7 days ago, and I'm still bleeding and having cramps. Also, I've been having mild chest pain. I will do an EKG and chest X-ray tomorrow. I feel like this birth control is ruining my life, and I pray that I stop bleeding soon. Mentally, I am not okay at all, I feel so depressed and desperate."

• Cee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2022

For Birth Control "I started Ashlyna to control my heavy periods. When my doctor told me about this birth control and that I would only have my period every 3 months, I jumped on it. Now everyone is different, so this is my experience. I was on another type of birth control, and it worked great for 3 years, light bleeding for 4 days, and I was very regular, like clockwork. Then I noticed my periods started becoming heavy again, large clots, and painful cramps. When my doctor told me about Ashlyna, I switched to it. The first 2 weeks went fine. Week 3 into the first pill back, I started bleeding, cramps, major mood swings, and bad hot flashes. I have now been bleeding for 3 weeks and still going, still have the mood swings, cramps, and hot flashes, and I just don't feel like myself. Needless to say, I called my doctor and told her I am not taking it anymore, and I want to switch back to my other pill. I will deal with 4 days of heavy bleeding and cramping. Ashlyna is not the birth control for me."

• San...
• February 11, 2018

For Birth Control "Since I started the second pack, I’ve been bleeding and have horrible cramps for 12 days now, and I’m bleeding really heavy, which I never did previously, before a few days of my period, and that was it. I’m still taking the pills, but so far I’m still bleeding. I’m not impressed with this pill so far. I’d rather go back to having a normal period every month than this!!!"

• All...
• May 4, 2018

For Birth Control "Was on it for about 2 months, and during that time I had mild cramping, weight gain, and bloating. As I continued it, I began to notice terrible mood swings, increased depression, increased anxiety, and migraine headaches. I wanted to try and stick it out for a few more months to see if the side effects would gradually go away, but I honestly don't think it's worth the increased depression and mood swings. I do not recommend this."

• Cec...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 13, 2019

For Birth Control "Ashlyna was my second birth control. I was on a monthly one, but I have such miserable cramping during my period that I would get sick. My doctor recommended Ashlyna so the frequency of my pain would be decreased to 4 times a year rather than monthly. However, I'm extremely disappointed. She told me to give it some time... so I made it through the first three months and spotted just about every week; along with the spotting was some slight cramping. I've decided to keep trying with it... I'm going on a year on this medication, and it has done horrible for me. I can last about a month to a month and a half with no period now, but then I'll have it for a month straight with miserable cramping the entire time for the last month. Then I get to the actual week I should have my period, and it's heavy with awful cramping. Along with all of this, I've noticed changes in my energy and weight... sadly, not positive changes. I'm about to go to my doctor to be taken off."

• Cri...
• November 14, 2018

For Birth Control "25-year-old here. I have been taking Ashlyna for close to a year now to help with my iron deficiency. Let me say this: I absolutely love getting my period every 3 months. That is the biggest pro of this BC. In addition, my period has decreased to 3-4 days now (during the first 2 batches, it was around a week of bleeding a lot). Now for cons: 1) I have definitely noticed a decrease in my sex drive. My vagina has never been so dry during intimacy, and I have become very upset and frustrated with this. 2) CRAMPS. I get random cramps during the months that I don't have my period. These cramps become more frequent and painful the closer I get to my period date. I also get sudden and painful cramps when I am becoming aroused in intimacy; this has NEVER occurred until I began to take this BC. Additionally, during my period, I have 2-3 very, very heavy days where the cramps are the most painful."

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2018

For Birth Control "I switched about 3 months ago from the generic Lo Seasonique (3-month pill) to Ashlyna because of certain side effects. At first, I was happy with this pill because those previous side effects went away almost instantly, but for the past 3 days on the placebo, I've had the worst cramping and heaviest period I've ever had. I went to the doctor a month ago for a checkup and also noticed I've gained 10 pounds...I've never gained weight on a birth control pill, safe to say I'm officially done with Ashlyna."

• Lau...
• April 30, 2018

For Birth Control "I am a dumb person and stopped taking birth control because I have PCOS and don’t have a period or anything unless I’m on birth control. I started dating this guy and wanted to get back on birth control, but didn’t want to bleed every month, so my doctor recommended Ashlyna. It was fine for the first month, and then around the middle of the second month, I started bleeding a little. I bled for over a month straight and had horrible cramps, even though I had never experienced cramps or any period symptoms before. I also went through like 10+ super plus tampons a day and had to wear pads at the same time. After I bled for so long, I was told to double up on the pill to stop the bleeding, but I ran out early and my insurance wouldn’t cover me to refill. In order to avoid that from happening again, my doctor suggested for me to stop taking anything for a week, and then start a generic pack. Now I bleed every month, but it’s better than the alternative."

• td5...
• May 9, 2017

For Birth Control "First off, I'll start by saying that not everyone is the same, so this BC will obviously react differently to different people. Buying birth control is simply a game where you have to try them all to find one that truly works how you want. So I'm on my 2nd week of this, and so far, so good! I've had no bleeding, very mild cramps, nothing that I can't handle. My main reason for being on BC is obviously not to get pregnant, but I have ALWAYS had ridiculous periods. Most of the time, I pass out at least 1 time during my cycle due to cramps, so the cramps I've experienced while taking this haven't been nearly as bad as the ones I've experienced. So overall, super excited about that. Packaging is kinda bulky, but I have a big purse, so no worries!"

• Rhi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on this birth control, Ashlyna, for close to 3 years. I discontinued use 2 months ago. A couple months after starting this birth control, I started having severe panic attacks where I would blackout daily. My mood swings were insane. My depression was at an all-time low. I was miserable, but I didn’t think a birth control could be causing all this. My periods were painful and made me nauseous, which isn’t normal for me. I didn’t experience spotting, but when I tried to skip over my placebo pills to avoid a period, I still bled. Since I’ve been off, my mood has improved tenfold and my periods aren’t painful or heavy."

• Ala...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 27, 2018

For Birth Control "I came to Ashlyna from Depo, which also gave me horrible side effects. Ashlyna has given me abnormal spotting daily for months. I get killing migraines that last for days, even with medication. I originally gained 20 lbs when I first started taking it. I've been on it for a year, and I'm done. I get horrible mood swings and cramping like I've never had before. I no longer get periods at all, but still the spotting and horrible pain. I have no sex drive whatsoever. I have had 2 bacterial infections while being on it, I never once had one before. This sounded great at first, but it honestly isn't worth it if I have to be in pain all day."

• iod...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2018

For Birth Control "This birth control started off fine, but after a month of being on it, I had awful dark brown discharge that eventually turned into bleeding. I bled for nearly two months and then started my period and had a much heavier flow and major cramps and bloating. I also became more prone to migraines and extreme headaches after drinking any amount of coffee. However, I didn’t gain weight on this pill, nor did I have any nausea problems. When I was on my period while on this pill, I did feel foggy and dizzy at times. My doctor took me off this pill after 3 months."

• epe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2017

For Birth Control "So I'll start off by saying that I used to be on Camrese (another generic of Seasonique). I used to get through my second month of pills, and then I would spot for almost the entire third month up until my period. Period weeks were short and sweet, but a downside was every couple of months I would randomly get heavy cramping in the middle of the night. I am on my first pack of Ashlyna, and so far it's been great. I am currently on my period week and only spotted for two days before my placebo week. I do get a little emotional, but it's the holidays too. I should be jumping for joy, but since this is my first pack, I don't know how to feel that I've still only been basically spotting all week. I'll have to see where I'm at after a few more packs, but so far so good."

• Gin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 12, 2021

For Birth Control "I started using Ashlyna about a month and a half ago to help with my endometriosis and lessen my periods. I have been bleeding for 14 days straight now, a month and a half before I’m supposed to have a period. Severe cramping. The bloating and weight gain are insane. I’ve gained 10 pounds since I’ve started this birth control. I eat healthy and work out, and every time I go to the doctor, I have gained 2 pounds... I wouldn’t recommend this. It makes you feel bloated, gross, and cramps worse."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2019

For Birth Control "Ashlyna is my first contraceptive pill. My doctor recommended this for my painful period cramps, etc. The first 3 days was ok. Slight cramp, nausea, and dull headache, but on the 4th day, the pain has intensified. So after 15 days, I decided to stop. It was effective in the sense that it stopped my period, but the nausea and cramping almost every day was worrying. The worst of all side effects is the headache. Pain, needle, excruciating headache on the right side. Now, 1 week after stopping taking the pill, I am still experiencing the headache in the same intensity as the first time. I am someone who almost never had headaches, and having to suffer this almost a month now is disconcerting. I’ve been taking 600 mg ibuprofen every 2-4 hours because the pain is so intense it’s affecting my day-to-day activities. I’ve been regretting being on this pill. It’s supposed to help with my cramps, but instead, I had cramps every day worse. I developed this headache that doesn’t seem to go away. I need to go see the doctor about this."

• Ali...
• June 3, 2019

For Birth Control "So I started this pill to help reduce the ovarian cysts that I was having develop. It has definitely worked at making them get smaller, and they are almost completely gone. Every other birth control I’ve taken has all made me horribly sick and caused my period pains to be so bad I would pass out from the pain and vomit every morning. It would get to the point where I had a period that would not stop for 3 months, and I developed an even worse case of anemia than I had before. With these pills, I am not scared to take birth control anymore. I’ve taken these for a year now and have never once had any complications. I notice that when I miss a day, my period will start immediately, but it’s not nearly as terrible as before. I love that these work in a three-month interval. If other birth control pills are not working for you, I highly recommend trying these. My only complaint would be the price for these pills, as they are $130.00 at my local pharmacy because I do not have insurance."

• Inp...
• January 17, 2017

For Birth Control "I started taking Ashlyna for bad cramps. Within 4 days, I had horrible bloat and gas pains. I stopped the pill after 4 days. This was 5 days ago, I am still having stomach issues and just got my period again after finishing it a week ago. This is a heavy one with horrendous cramps. Not worth it."

• Aus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 25, 2018

For Birth Control "This was the first birth control I ever tried since my periods were never regular. I had very little side effects until halfway through the first pack. I started bleeding pretty heavy for 5 weeks straight with cramps. I thought because my body was getting used to it to just keep taking it and it would get better. Again, on the second pack, almost exactly the same time as the first, I'm bleeding again. I went to the doctor to change it, and now I have to finish this birth control. Most likely, I'll be bleeding all the way through, but instead of taking the sugar pills, I'll be starting the new pill. I'm going to take Vyfemla, which is a higher dose, and see how that goes. Other than the bleeding I've experienced, this was a great birth control. I just need more predictability and regularity in my cycle."