Ashlyna and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Lol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I was taking Lo Seasonique with no issues for 2-3 years until I was switched to Ashlyna for insurance and pharmacy reasons. It is the same hormones, but Ashlyna is stronger. The first 3-6 months were seemingly okay until I started bleeding/spotting randomly at any time in the pack (not on placebo pills), mood swings/depression became an everyday thing, and if I did not take the pill like clockwork and was off by even 4 hours, I would get breakthrough bleeding. Not to mention the weight gain, 20 lbs in 6 months. I would not recommend."

• 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."

• Bra...
• April 2, 2021

For Birth Control "I use this birth control on and off for the past 3 years. Mostly because I want to skip my period, but when I start getting the bad side effects, I stop taking them for months. The worst side effect is the anxiety and weight gain. I feel like I always am hungry, 2 months of taking them, I’ve gained 10 pounds. It makes me crave stuff like when I was pregnant. The other side effect is that every time I'm finishing a pack (when I’m supposed to get my period), I have the worst PMS symptoms. I get dizzy and tired and want to vomit. It’s just the worst 3 days. Last time I stopped taking them for 2 days, I had my period on and off for 4 weeks. I’m getting off this pill today after reading the reviews consistent with my experience."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 22, 2019

For Birth Control "After getting my IUD removed, I wanted to switch back to the pill due to complications. I didn’t get nausea with this pill like I have with others, which was nice. It did cause me to gain about 15-20 pounds. I also had a low sex drive with Ashlyna, being a young woman who had always had a very high sex drive, it was really weird to me. I also got pretty bad acne with this pill, painful hard bumps. It did its job as far as preventing pregnancy, but personally, I didn’t like it due to side effects. Every woman is different, it might be worth a try."

• Bri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 23, 2022

For Birth Control "DO NOT TAKE, I’ve gained 26 pounds in 6 months, spotting soon as you are an hour or 2 late taking this pill, mood swings, and my anxiety is through the roof. The worst experience EVER! It cleared up my maskne but was not worth it!"

• 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."

• Kst...
• September 26, 2017

For Birth Control "I have 2 uterine fibroids, and my periods are really heavy. I was put on this to manage the heavy bleeding. I have been using this for a year. The spotting has been horrible! Over a month straight of spotting. I always spot one to two months before I am supposed to have a cycle. My Dr. says to stay with it, and it will stop... and a year later... still spotting. Not to mention the weight gain! I have gained 15 pounds within the last year! I hate it. I will be switching to try a different one."

• Ste...
• February 22, 2018

For Birth Control "I'm a 31-year-old female who started this BC mainly for easier periods as my tubes are tied. My periods are so heavy that I bleed through a thick pad and super or ultra tampon every hour. At first, Ashlyna seemed okay. Well, now I'm on my third package set of it, and today is the day I quit these pills! With my first pack, I bled the whole damn time. My period 'placebo' week was horrific, more than my normal horrible periods. I ended up going to the ER because I bled through over 80 tampons in a week. One week. And I was clotting so badly. My GYN said hang on, it'll get better. Well, after 6 months of being on it and literally only having one week of no spotting the entire time, I'm done! Here are the side effects that happened to me: weight gain of at least 15 lbs in 6 months. Always exhausted. No sex drive. I also have never had a yeast infection or bacterial infection until being on this medicine. Everyone gets affected differently, so this is just my experience."

• kc1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for 5 and 1/2 months. The first pack was alright, I had a little breakthrough bleeding for about a week, but it stopped, and then I had a very nice and light period when it came to the end of the pack. However, since I have started my 2nd pack, I have been on my period nonstop since week 4... it is now week 11. Another fun side effect I found is that I have gained a ton of weight. Needless to say, I'm switching birth controls."

• Ang...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 12, 2021

For Birth Control "Been on this for around 3 years and am finally realizing it is most likely the cause of my weight gain, hot flashes, depression, and unexplained dizziness. Going to stop taking this as soon as possible and see if I start feeling normal again."

• 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."

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2018

For Birth Control "If I could give this no stars, I would. This is my second pack, and I thought it would be different than the first pack. My first 5 weeks in, I started spotting, then my period came on for 22 days. I finally just stopped taking them and restarted them later that Sunday. It stopped my period from coming on, and my period came on when I got to the placebo pills. I started the second pack and was hoping that my body had adjusted to them by now. But the second pack, and 5 weeks in, I have started spotting again. I have decided to just stop taking them altogether. I have literally gained about 15 pounds in less than 5 months, and the cons of these pills outweigh the pros (of only getting your period every 3 months)."

• Nes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2018

For Birth Control "Wow, this birth control was the worst kind I have ever been on. From my previous experiences, I’ve never actually had a birth control that made me gain weight (although it wasn’t excessive), it was still something I didn’t want to happen. And that’s for someone who eats clean and works out almost every day. Besides this, my emotions were bouncing off the wall. I think by far the worst side effect was the constant breakthrough bleeding, which is why I ultimately decided to change. Do not take this pill, please look for other options."

• 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."

• Owl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 31, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been taking this since July of this year. I just finished my first pack and started my second. I don't know if it's just coincidence or not, but I haven't liked the side effects I have experienced. 1. Weight gain - overeating. 2. Constant spotting - daily for over a month. 3. More irregular than I was before. 4. I keep getting bacterial infections. I have not had any problems with infections at all until I started taking this."

• Lot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2016

For Birth Control "I am currently on the last week of the 2nd month of the Ashlyna (Seasonique) brand of this. As far as periods go, I haven't had any bleeding, and this is working great for that. However, since I've started this brand, I have gained a ton of weight. I am on other medication for depression, but I've been on that for over a year, so the birth control definitely isn't helping. I would make sure to take into account weight gain this may cause before deciding on this particular brand."

• 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."

• Lin...
• December 16, 2020

For Birth Control "I started this birth control in February, and I experienced spotting for about 2 weeks. Then I started to bleed 1.5 months into it and didn’t stop until I started the next pack. This still happens every pack, and I’ve gotten used to it, but I plan on switching not only because of this. Also, after 4 months on it, I started to realize I became very emotional (which I used to never get upset or rarely cry), and I would go through depressive episodes that lasted about a week where I wouldn’t want to leave the house and would just cry for no reason. I also gained 10 lbs since starting this, but this was over quarantine, so not for sure if I can directly say it was the birth control. I get headaches 2-4 times a week, which I used to never get. My boobs grew two sizes. My acne got a little better, but not really. It did lighten my period, which was nice because I used to have the heaviest period where I could only make it 45 mins in an ultra tampon. Overall, I do not recommend this birth control."

• Bre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 10, 2018

For Birth Control "Oh my goodness! I loved this birth control. I’m used to extremely heavy, gruesome periods, and this definitely tamed them down. Love the period every 3 months. HOWEVER! I have gained over 30 POUNDS in the 5 months I’ve been taking it. I have never ever been this heavy. I do not overeat, I don’t even eat very much. My doctor said it most definitely is from this birth control. I’d rather be overweight than pregnant, but I’m switching immediately. I’m 30 and have been on birth control for 15 years. I have never experienced weight gain from birth control before. Bye, Ashlyna!"

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2018

For Birth Control "The pros for me are that I have not had a cycle since taking Ashlyna. The downside is I have put on a lot of weight and have no sex drive and am very moody. I'm switching because this weight gain is too much for me to bear."

• Cwi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 29, 2024

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Ashlyna for a little over 10 years now. It’s been great. I take it religiously and not once had a pregnancy scare. I have zero side effects; no acne, weight gain, spotting, or bloating. I get my period for 3-4 days every three months. The only complaint is the packaging sucks and has sucked for years. Just have to press the pill through the foil with only your fingernail to make sure you only pop that pill out and not rip the package. Other than that, I will forever recommend this birth control!"

• Bla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 5, 2021

For Birth Control "Been on Ashlyna 8 months now, and I’m just not happy with it. I skip the placebo pills in order to skip my periods. I decided this after talking to my doctor, and she recommended Ashlyna. The first few months went as expected: breakthrough bleed, lots of hormonal acne, a little weight gain/bloating... all common when switching BC pills. I accepted this as normal. However, I’m at the 8th month mark now, and the side effects are still present, mainly random breakthrough bleeds that never seem to end, which is so frustrating! I’m in the process of switching to my previous pill, Junel Fe 24. I didn’t have major problems with that pill, and it totally took my period away."