Jolessa for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 3)

• jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 25, 2014

"Since getting a tubal ligation 10 years ago, I have had heavy periods. Over the years, it has gotten heavier and more painful. I got anemia and so fatigue at least 2 weeks before the period, and then my cycle would last at least 9-10 days. So basically a week out of the month I was semi-normal. The beginning of this year, I barely found out you can take birth control to stop your period. Obviously, I jumped on that and got a prescription for Jolessa. Started it and my period still came as usual but wasn't that heavy. Then for the next 2 months, I had spotting every day... but then the 3rd month maybe 1 or 2 days of breakthrough bleeding because I forgot to take a pill. Now, after 10 months of taking Jolessa, I don't have a period at all."

• Kai...
• March 28, 2012

"I just started my second month of Jolessa. A month ago, I weighed 105-115, depending on the week, I guess. Now I weigh 140 pounds! I also am getting acne on my shoulders and sometimes my face, but I wash it multiple times a day because it is so oily! My skin has also been extremely irritated. I have never used lotion, my skin has never needed it, and now it is extremely dry and itchy, and recently I started getting bumps on my arms, like underneath the skin. Cramps are horrible around the time I am supposed to have my period. I haven't had my period or spotting since I started, however, if you miss a day, you will get it! I have been extremely up and down with my moods."

• Tee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2018

"The first month went smoothly. The second month is when the side effects started. I had a dark brown (not the usually dark post-period blood) but brown brown discharge and terrible headaches. After two weeks of this madness, I stopped taking them! I read on other sites that this has happened to numerous other females. It was gross— I’m never taking this again! I still have the headaches two days off the pill."

• Unh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 9, 2018

"Reason for medication also includes irregular menstrual cycle, bilateral breast pain (ongoing), menstrual migraines. Years ago; I was on the brand name Seasonelle and had minimal issues. When my insurance changed at 23, I tried Jolessa due to the brand name being $235 (circa 2012). I remember having terrible mood swings, weight gain, acne, so I stopped taking it. Fast forward to 2018, I asked my doctor to try BC again due to irregularity and breast pain. Since the name brand drug now costs $435, I was forced to try Jolessa again. I have bled for 26 days straight and have stopped taking the pill. There has been no “trade-off” as far as my symptoms being reduced. I have had cramping, breast pain, headaches, and excessive bleeding. I do not recommend this generic medication."

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2010

"I absolutely love this birth control. I have always had really terrible periods that lasted for several days, and I'm only 16. My doctor told me the best thing to do was use birth control, and I picked this one. I am so glad I did: no spotting, no cramps, some weight gain, but it comes off, and my breasts have grown a little. I'm starting the second pack soon, and I hope the next pack will be as good as the first!"

• Jus...
• March 20, 2017

"So I'm this person that hates birth control, as in hate them to the core. But since we have one child and wanted to wait to have another, and the latex on the condom was getting me sick all the time, I decided to look into BC. My doc suggested Jolessa because I have painful cramps. The pill was great, no spotting, no periods at all. I mean, I had nothing, and it never killed my sex drive like the depo. I had some bad side effects: nausea, a little headache, but the worst of all was the weight gain, 20 lbs in 3 months. I mean, I work out 5 times a week, eat healthy like I'm told, but the scale keeps going up. I can't do this anymore, I'm going to try another one. Been told Jazmin helps with weight loss, so I may give that a shot, but I can't stand the way I look."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 24, 2023

"This medication is horrible. I've had really bad anxiety and panic attacks constantly. I've never had this bad anxiety before, and I am definitely not going to take it anymore. I've also had headaches and a lack of appetite. I was restless and couldn't fall asleep. I wish I never would have taken this at all. I also was bleeding constantly. I have read that your body has to get used to the medicine, but with all the other side effects, I just couldn't take it anymore. I also have had a very low sex drive because of it and have mood swings. Hopefully, I can get back to normal soon because I am miserable. Please don't take this medicine, I hate it."

• Anonymous
• February 25, 2010

"I love the fact that I only get my period a few times a year. I was on the name brand version of Jolessa, Seasonique, for 6 months, and when I would get my period, I would have terrible cramps...even when I wouldn't get bad cramps before being on birth control. I would spot a month before I was supposed to get my period. My twin sister started taking Jolessa and told me to try it. I love it. I rarely spot, and if I do, it's a few days before I'm scheduled to get my period. I highly recommend it."

• hyp...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 14, 2015

"Finished my second pack and had a much better experience. I left a rather bad review after the first, because of the almost constant bleeding. However, after finishing the second pack, I have a much better review. Only spotted lightly once and had a short, although heavy for two days, period on the white pills. JUST GET THROUGH THE FIRST PACK! It gets better, I promise."

• Anonymous
• April 9, 2011

"I've been on Jolessa for a year now, and I love it. I was put on the pill due to my severe leg cramps/pains during my period. They were so bad that I would be absent from school for 3 days every month. The first 2 packs of the pills I spotted for 2 of the 3 months, mostly just light, but sometimes it got heavy. But once I started my 3rd pack, everything was great. I didn't spot at all, and when I did get my period, it was very short and light. Plus, no leg pains at all. I really like this birth control."

• Ano...
• December 19, 2018

"Horrible experience with this birth control. Had intense cramping start within the first week, and it has only gotten worse. It’s a constant dull aching pain with waves of extreme stabbing pains all day, every day. After 8 weeks, I am calling it quits. Also, I started my period after 4 weeks... it was strange. However, I did not experience any weight gain as many others have... overall, would not recommend at all. Stay away!"

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 29, 2018

"I wanted a BC that stopped my periods, and this did it for me, so I'm happy about that. The downside is weight gain. I gained about 10 pounds over the past year. I exercise daily (personal trainer), and I eat healthy. No matter what kind of diet 'cut' I do... nothing changes. Also, my hormonal acne is insane. My skin consultant offered a routine to help me minimize my breakouts, but even still, they happen. So while I no longer have a cycle and cycle pain, I have an extra 10 lbs and hormone acne. Guess you get to pick your poison."

• Med...
• April 4, 2012

"I've been on Jolessa for 2 months now. I've been spotting for a month straight. My doctor put me on Motrin 600, 3 times a day for 5 days, and that was supposed to help stop the spotting. It did make it lighter, but after the 5th day, I had really bad cramping, and spotting went to a heavier flow. I'm going to try and hang in there because the pills did increase my breast size, which is great for someone that's 31 and wearing 34A. Hoping the spotting would stop soon since I start my 3rd month in a couple of days."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 26, 2018

"I have been taking Jolessa since October 2016. I have only had a few months this whole time that I did not spot or bleed heavily. I have bad cramps during my period and clotting while on this pill. I noticed that my sex drive is much less, and I am drier during sex. I was not like this before I started taking this. It does prevent pregnancy. I am not sure if it is worth taking anymore. I recently found out I have a corn intolerance, and microcrystalline cellulose is in this pill. My skin is super dry, and I did gain weight. Some of these symptoms could be perimenopause since I am 45. I did read that it is supposed to help prevent those symptoms, but it has not for me."

• ver...
• May 31, 2011

"I have been on birth control for over 16 years now. I started with pills at 18, then Depo shot for 5 years, and now back to pills. I was on Seasonique and was okay. I switched gyno, and to help with copay, she recommended Jolessa. I tried it and have been on it for almost 6 months now. I have been PMS'ing since I started. Breasts are constantly sore, severe mood swings, headaches, and not to mention 10 pounds weight gain. I have always exercised and eat right. I am definitely switching!"

• Anonymous
• April 27, 2016

"Do not take Jolessa. I have always been 126 lbs, 6 months after taking Jolessa, my weight is 132 lbs. My period got worse after 3 months of taking Jolessa. It lasted 12 days and was a very heavy period. I do not recommend these birth control pills."

• Ano...
• January 19, 2011

"I am halfway through my first pack, and so far I love it. No bleeding or nausea. No weight gain. My gynecologist suggested I take birth control because I'm a wreck when I get my period-terrible cramps that nothing helps, loss of appetite, extreme fatigue. Hopefully, I'll have a lighter period (my period lasts 5-7 days) when I finish the pack and no cramps, fatigue, or headaches."

• Anonymous
• October 14, 2009

"I've been on Jolessa for about 45 days now. My insurance wouldn't approve the original brand, which my RN mother-in-law says is better, but I've read about other women spotting on Seasonique too, so it's probably more personal experience. Light spotting at least every few days, and I still got a period even after my first month, which lasted about 10 days as opposed to my short, but very painful ones. On the plus side, I didn't even know the period was coming like I usually do: no severe cramps, mood swings, PMS, etc. On the downside, I have zero sex drive. But overall, I feel very 'calm' with less anxiety. Not sure about weight gain, perhaps a few pounds, but I'm making an extra effort to eat better and exercise."

• Do...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 18, 2016

"I have always been 110-112 lbs, and then after starting Jolessa, almost immediate weight gain of 7-8 lbs even though I am still just as active and eat very healthy. My sex drive is non-existent now since these awful pills. The only reason I went on them in the first place is to get my period every 3 months. Well, it took me at least 7 months for that to happen because the first few months I still got my period every single month, and the spotting lasted for weeks at a time. I also have no patience anymore and can easily snap when this would have been totally out of character for me. I am switching back to my previous birth control this month finally."

• Ks0...
• May 2, 2011

"I took Jolessa for a year. Everything was fine, and I loved not having my period every month. After a while, it did make me gain 5-10 lbs, and I had acne towards the end of the year. I had to change to a different birth control. I hate that I had to leave Jolessa behind, but I can't stand the acne or the weight, even if it was moderate. Just try it for yourself, 4 periods a year is very nice."

• Anonymous
• November 2, 2011

"I am very happy with Jolessa. I switched from Seasonique due to the cost difference. I had a little spotting when I switched brands, and that is all I have had. The only side effect I notice is a slight increase in breakouts, but nothing too bad. I would recommend it to anyone looking to have fewer periods a year!"

• aun...
• July 10, 2011

"I started this birth control because I hate my period. I was on it for about a month and a half, and I felt horrible. I had serious mood swings, making me so mean and a totally different person. I also had terrible cramping and a loss of libido. I was taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen for acne and thought that this would keep my acne at bay. Um, no, I was wrong, I broke out everywhere! So I decided to go back to my old birth control, and I am back to normal again."

• Ilo...
• January 20, 2018

"I was put on Depo after having my first son. Never been on birth control before. Gained about 15 pounds after having him and couldn't shake it. Switched me to Jolessa and gained another 40 pounds. Before I had my son, I was 120 lbs. Now on Jolessa, two years later, 190. Exercise, diet, cut out soda and alcohol, dairy, and sugar. Nothing. Nothing will make the weight drop. Going to stop taking this soon. I would rather have a period every month and use condoms than feel like this."

• Cat...
• January 13, 2018

"I would not recommend this at all. I’m a healthy 18-year-old. I took Jolessa to stop painful periods, and I was only on this for a month before I stopped. I stopped taking it because it gave me a pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I would highly avoid this birth control."

• Sar...
• February 24, 2018

"I was on Depo for 10 years and had to stop because of demineralized bones. I enjoyed not having periods for those many years. The doctor said to try Jolessa. I was on it for 5 years. I always had bleeding 2 weeks before it was due in the pack. And slowly my hair thinned out on my scalp. It took me forever to figure out why my hair was coming out rampantly. Yes, it was 5 years of hair loss. Not even the dermatologist was sure what was causing it because all my blood work came back normal. Shortly after stopping Jolessa recently, I noticed little baby hairs growing on my hairline, which I am so thankful for. I believe I may just be sensitive to birth control hormones or the synthetic hormones they use. So I'm choosing to use the cervical cap with contraceptive gel."