Balcoltra and Bleeding: What Users Say

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2020

For Birth Control "Started Balcoltra about 4 months ago. I was so scared with all the bad reviews, but my gyno put me on it, so I went with it. Other than a little breakthrough bleeding, I haven't had any major side effects. I noticed the cramps during my period lasted a little longer the first couple of months, but now on month 4, I can say that my period is shorter and lighter than what it used to be. No acne, no bloating or weight gain. I'm happy with it!"

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2021

For Birth Control "I was switched to this birth control to help regulate my periods and help with breakthrough bleeding I’ve had with another pill. I haven’t been on this pill for a week, and for the first few days, I kept telling myself that I need to continue this birth control at least 3 months because maybe my mood will level out. It has not. I have become extremely depressed and unmotivated. I was not struggling with depression before the pill, and I was generally in a happy mood. However, I did suffer from depression in my early teen years. I have been on this pill for 5 days, and I am already having suicidal thoughts. Because of this, I have decided to quit taking the pills. There is no reason I should have bad thoughts about myself and my body and my existence this much from one pill. It has also made me lose my appetite, and I cannot sleep."

• hel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m on my second month of taking this BC. My gyno put me on it to help shrink an ovarian cyst I have that’s close to rupturing. So far, I have noticed somewhat of a decrease in cramps. Thank goodness because those cramps were the worst pains I’ve ever felt, and I would consider myself a person who has a very high pain tolerance :/ But on the other hand, I have been bleeding/spotting for about 3 1/2 weeks now after I had my full 6-day period. I’ve experienced abnormal mood swings, increased anxiety, worsened depression, and insane random crying sprees over the smallest things or just nothing really at all. At this point, I think the pain is a better option than how crazy this pill has made me feel."

• Yaz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2020

For Birth Control "Horrible. Experienced terrible mood swings and increased depression and anxiety, plus cystic acne that I never experienced before this pill. I’ve also been constantly bleeding for the past 4 weeks because of it, wouldn’t recommend at all."

• Roa...
• March 4, 2021

For Birth Control "This was my first birth control I've ever taken. I was prescribed this due to abnormal bleeding I had prior, and it was supposed to “regulate” my period. It worked for about 4 weeks, and I started bleeding again. When I tell you I've become depressed! I was bleeding for about 4 weeks, HEAVY! Heavy blood clots. I went to the gyno to get switched, and they told me this brand is designed to make you bleed compared to other birth control, which stops your period! Overall, this is the worst birth control, I wouldn't recommend! I kept cramping, it's just ridiculous."

• gan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2020

For Birth Control "I am not even kidding when I say this pill, Balcoltra, made me bleed for 3 months straight. I’m three days into a new pill, and I’m STILL BLEEDING. I was bleeding through ultra tampons in less than two hours. Not to mention, it’s insanely expensive. There are better options, I promise."

• bir...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 2, 2019

For Birth Control "I switched to Balcoltra because I was experiencing breakthrough bleeding on Sprintec and Tri-Sprintec. At first, Balcoltra was great -- had NO breakthrough bleeding or side effects for the first 3 months. For some reason, at month 4, I started experiencing breakthrough bleeding again, as well as lots of gastrointestinal problems, bloating, mood swings, acne -- you name it. It was very frustrating, but my doc encouraged me to keep with it for a few more months. During these months, the pill was very inconsistent. Sometimes, I'd have a great month with no breakthrough bleeding and short periods. Others, I'd have every side effect in the book. I also gained about 5 pounds, but that could be for a number of reasons, even though I eat very healthily and work out 5 days a week. I've finally decided to switch off Balcoltra and try something else."

• Bal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2021

For Birth Control "I have lost count of how many birth controls I have been on at this point to manage my period pain. I will generally skip my blue pills and start a new pack to avoid my period symptoms, as recommended by my doctor. This birth control, however, has caused SEVERE cramping and bleeding. I am on my third month of this pill and am currently up at 4 am writing this review since the pain woke me up. This has nowhere near made a dent in my normal pain, if not made it way worse. I have taken multiple pills over the past ten years, and this is one of the first times I’ve experienced this kind of pain so early since I am now only three months into taking it. I have a consultation for endometriosis surgery in May, so ladies, if you are having similar symptoms of endo, I suggest staying away."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2023

For Birth Control "Not worth the stress. I’m in my second month of taking this birth control. I was put on this to help shrink an ovarian cyst. So far, I’ve had nonstop bleeding. I’ve been bleeding/spotting for a month straight, literally. I normally have a cycle of 4 to 6 days, so going from 4 to 6 days to a whole 30 days nonstop is insane. I’ve experienced abnormal mood swings, weight gain, increased anxiety, depression, random crying, and acne for no reason. I get off work, shower, and get right in the bed because I’m so depressed, and I have no reason to be. My life is great, I’m a mother, wife, and business owner, but taking this birth control just has me feeling depressed. Having acne as a side effect makes depression even worse. Now I’m depressed and feel ugly. Ughhhh."

• Kai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2021

For Birth Control "I was put on Balcoltra by my OBGYN to see if it would help reduce an ovarian cyst. I started the pill on the first day of my period and took the 21 active pills in the packet, ignoring the 7 placebo pills. I ended up bleeding for about 30 days straight, starting from the first day of my period. It was the worst. It has now been 30 days since I took the last Balcoltra pill, and almost 3 weeks since I finally stopped bleeding, but I definitely don’t have my libido back. Not even close. I’m hoping in the next 2 months or so that will be back to normal. Also, I haven’t yet gotten to check if it even helped with the cyst. Never doing that again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2022

For Birth Control "I was on it for 2 weeks. I ended up having shortness of breath, and I was still bleeding. I decided to go to the doctor, and I found out I have clots in my lungs and legs from the birth control. I’m 24 years old, and they found fibroids also. They can’t get them out, so I have to have a hysterectomy. WORST BIRTH CONTROL EVER."

• Jes...
• July 27, 2021

For Birth Control "At first, I felt that it definitely helped, light to normal bleeding, minor cramping, and my period start day was always on the same day of my pill pack and lasted 3-4 days max. I did have a week-long panic attack when I started it. Recently, I’ve been noticing some changes in myself mentally and physically. For instance, I’ve always been a bit paranoid, a big hypochondriac, moody, and short-fused, but for the past 2 years, I want to say it’s been pretty excessive, my stress level is horrid. I have never had anxiety, and I’ve recently been so anxious. I have noticed that I have been getting recurrent yeast infections since starting this. Another thing I have noticed is my start day has changed from the first placebo pill, now it’s the fourth. Along with this, it’s starting to last longer, about 5-7 days, with bad cramps and heavier bleeding. My skin has been having cystic breakouts. Lastly, I feel like this prescription has made my lower abdomen extremely bloated, not just during my period."