Levora and Acne: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• June 9, 2012

"I had every side effect listed... gained weight, pimples, mood swings... EVERYTHING. My period was never-ending, cramps made me cry. I was in bed for a week, no joke. My breasts... a simple hug hurt so bad. I got depressed taking this pill."

• Kaw...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 20, 2013

For Birth Control "To those of you experiencing side effects within the first 3 months-I would advise you to stay on it and see if the side effects subside. For the first 2 months or so, I had persistent crying for no reason at all (my boyfriend was unbelievably confused), but that went away after 2 months. Also, I had terrible, painful, oozing acne all over my face ever since about 4th grade, but after a few months of Levora, my skin is perfect. I have people constantly asking me what my secret is! My sex drive has stayed the same. I gained 20 lbs almost right away, but my pants still fit, so it's not a major problem for me. My only issue is with spotting and breakthrough bleeding. Going to the doc tomorrow to talk about that."

• WNJ...
• January 16, 2017

For Birth Control "I took the Depo-Provera shot starting from 16-20. I absolutely loved the shot other than not ever really knowing when my period was going to be. I actually lost weight on the shot, and my breasts grew larger than before. I had a great sex drive as well. I switched to the Levora pill simply for the fact that I knew I wanted to become pregnant one day and knew if I took the shot for too long that it might affect that. I chose Levora because I only have four periods a year (which is great!). However, I have been taking this pill for three and a half years, and I have noticed some negative side effects. I have been slowly, over time, gaining weight. I also never used to have acne, and I have some acne problems now. I also have a low sex drive and difficulty staying wet."

• Eid...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 14, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on the Levora pill for 3.5 years now. My breasts never got any bigger, and I got a bit of acne that I ended up getting medication for. My periods have been really light, as others are saying. However, I'm an athlete and have just been diagnosed with osteopenia (early onset of osteoporosis), and I'm only 22. Basically, the Levora has inhibited my calcium intake for almost 4 years, so my bones are becoming less dense. Getting off of the pill immediately."

• Miy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2019

For Birth Control "Being on Levora for 3 months. I’ve experienced a lot of acne, lots of weight gain, which is not good because I’m a diabetic. My period came late. I’ve suffered from depression, but these past 3 months, my mood swings have been off the chain. So unfortunately, I’m stopping Levora. Maybe try something different, because this is not it!!!"

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2011

For Birth Control "I got Levora at Planned Parenthood for free, and it's definitely the best thing I've ever gotten for free! I experience no significant side effects. Cramps are less intense than before, much more bearable and almost nonexistent, lasting only a few hours before the period-- and that's all. The first two months were a bit erratic with mood swings, but have since balanced significantly. Acne is unchanged and normal for me as a 17 y/o (which is why I also believe that this pill works tremendously better for me than other women); weight gain was minimal, only about 5 pounds, but my weight fluctuates usually between 120 and 130 now, whereas before the pill, fluctuation was between 116 and 120. I eat more than I used to, but this is intentional."

• LMa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 25, 2015

For Birth Control "Overall, this has been what I have used for two years now. The side effects have been on and off, more moodiness and emotional than anything. I have noticed my moodiness more than ever here recently. The pill is great as far as regulating my periods. I just wish I was not so emotional and sometimes even depressed. It does not just affect me, it affects others as well. As far as acne, it is not nearly as bad as far as huge zits I got when I was not on birth control, but I still get them, just not as big and as bad."

• Mai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 22, 2014

For Birth Control "My first experience with birth control was when I was 16, and I was taking Sprintec for protection. It wasn't exactly horrible in the area of side effects, but it gave me a great amount of acne. The acne was not too bad, it was merely extreme small and numerous bumps on my forehead, but it looked really bad when I applied make-up, as you can see the blemishes and bumps on my head in light. I immediately went off after two weeks. Now I'm 18, and I've been on Levora for 3 months now, and it is fantastic. It did give me a small smattering of acne and great tenderness in my breasts, but it's very adjusting, and my body has gotten the hang of it, as the acne has calmed down, and the pill has been doing its job of protection."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on Levora for about a year and a half now. I've come to the conclusion that this pill's side effects are awful. I get nausea, mood swings, stomach pain in the mornings, gained weight, increased acne. Not for me. However, I'm not pregnant!"

• Anonymous
• August 21, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been taking Levora for a year now, and it's been working great! I have been with the same guy for a year, and we do try to use protection, and I haven't gotten pregnant! I have had some side effects when I first started using it. I always wanted to eat, my acne was terrible, and I was always crying. The crying was from my face breaking out so badly. After like 4 or 5 months into the pill, my acne cleared up, and the cravings went away, my face has been clear ever since!"

• Tin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 4, 2022

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for 8 months, one year after nursing. I had one normal period the last 4 months, I have not had a cycle but have all the symptoms when I get to the inactive pills. No bleeding, but all the symptoms is scary because I should have had one by now. My PCP says it takes a while to regulate, but I was regulated before I took them and all other pills. I don't know why I was switched. I'd rather go back to Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Levora has caused me to have acne again and mood swings like no other. My sex drive is almost nonexistent, so my hubby isn't happy. I have an appointment to switch to something else. I'd rather have baby #5 than keep doing this."

• LLa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been taking this birth control for three months and have had an absolutely horrible increase in acne. I never get acne, maybe a few spots on my chin every now and then when I'm stressed. This medicine caused my entire forehead to break out and then led to my entire face. Do not take. I look like I fell in an ant bed, and I'm embarrassed by my skin."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 15, 2012

"I have been on Levora for 5 years to regulate my periods. It has regulated my periods, and I have a very light flow for 4 days a month. Unfortunately, I have gained 40 pounds and went from a B to a D cup. I also recently saw other people's side effects and realized many of my issues are from Levora: severe migraines, acne, needing to eat everything, mood swings, depression, etc. I am not pregnant and was happy with the pill besides the weight gain. Now that I've realized the other issues could be from this pill, I am switching to Mirena next week."

• Omg...
• August 17, 2016

For Birth Control "Levora is the only birth control I have ever taken, so I had nothing to compare it to. My acne has cleared up nicely, but I have not noticed any change in breast size. My periods aren't much better than what they were, except now they're on time. I haven't gotten pregnant, but every month I worry at the slightest symptom I probably get from these pills. I have noticed crazy emotions, as well as crying a lot more."

• Khl...
• December 6, 2015

For Birth Control "Does the job. Have been on it for just over a month. Some side effects, but nothing too crazy. Dealt with mood swings and nausea the first week or so, but went away. Sex drive remains high (lol, it's important). Only serious drawback is that I am craving food literally EVERY SINGLE minute. Went from 117 lb to 135 in just 4 weeks..... wtf. Oh. And my skin has gotten worse... I started getting acne around my forehead and upper lip. Hopefully the appetite and acne problem goes away as I get more used to the hormones."

• Anonymous
• February 21, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been on Levora for 2 years, it definitely works in regards to being pregnant. My appetite has not increased too badly. I have only gained about 5 pounds. Levora seems to keep my acne in check. My periods are a lot lighter. The only problem I have is my sex drive is pretty much non-existent. It's become such a problem that I will be switching birth controls."

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2011

For Birth Control "I was on this pill for almost two years. It does work as far as not getting pregnant, however, my experience at first was it didn't make a huge difference. Then, 6 or 7 months into it, my sex drive went down, along with being very, very dry. My moodiness increased drastically. I would cry one second and then get angry with my husband over anything and everything. My skin has gotten a lot worse, I broke out in places I never had in the last week. So now I am on Yaz."

• Anonymous
• October 5, 2014

For Birth Control "The first week of taking the pill, I felt very nauseous. By the second week, I was extremely moody. I'm towards the end of my third week, and so far so good. I don't have any more nausea or moody swings. I feel like my sex drive has stayed the same. Although there is a problem, I don't know if it's the pills or my period, but I noticed I have broken out a little more than usual. I'm hoping this will go away after starting my second pack."

• jaz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 21, 2016

For Birth Control "Levora made me have my period constantly. It was useless for me as far as birth control goes because I didn't want to have sex on my period. I thought I had a cervix infection, so I went in, and they told me to stop taking my BC pills for a bit, and after two days of not taking them anymore, my period stopped. I was also constantly breaking out with cystic acne, which had never happened before Levora."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 20, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking Levora, my first birth control ever, 9 months ago. Although it is effective in doing its job, preventing pregnancy, it comes with a lot of side effects. I’m 20 years old and weighed 125 pounds prior to taking Levora, and now I weigh 145 lb! I gained weight tremendously. Mind you, my diet stayed just about the same, and I’ve actually INCREASED in activity and exercise, but the weight just keeps on piling on. I’ve noticed my forehead broke out terribly and has small bumps all over it - tried changing my hair products, makeup products, washing my face with cleanser every day, and even started drinking more water. Nothing worked, and it’s safe to say it’s the pill that’s causing acne all over my forehead. I’ve also noticed I’ve become an emotional wreck, the smallest things make me cry, and my husband has to deal with me being a crybaby 24/7. I’m definitely switching to another pill because Levora’s just terrible."

• Anonymous
• June 12, 2011

For Birth Control "Hasn't caused many problems for me. May have made me get more pimples than usual, but nothing horrible, no bad breakouts, etc. My sex drive is still healthy. My weight is easier to maintain, and there has been no hunger increase. Also, my periods are a lot shorter, going from about 3 days of moderate-heavy flow and 3 days of spotting 'pantyliner' flow to about 1 day of heavy flow to 1 day of 'pantyliner' flow and can always be predicted within 2 days after I stop taking the hormone pills. I really don't have much to complain about this pill."

• Anonymous
• September 15, 2011

"I started taking this pill to help with my very painful periods. It did help them become more manageable, but the side effects made me decide to stop taking it after 3 months. My acne got very out of control. My face was completely covered in big, painful red zits. Also, my hair got very greasy. I would wash it every morning, and by 2 pm it would look dirty again. Other than that, it was fine. I didn't gain weight, no nausea, and increased sex drive. I tried to make it work because everything else was okay, but in the end, the acne just got too bad for me (but I tend to have acne-prone skin anyway)."

• Anonymous
• July 7, 2012

For Birth Control "I was on Levora for 2 months, and when I started taking it, my period was a month late, but I had some breakthrough bleeding. I would also get nauseous late at night. I did break out just a bit, and my sex drive increased. I stopped for a while and started again, and have been on it for a month now. This time my sex drive is lower, and I tend to get dry during sex more often. I'm an emotional wreck. I'm depressed and have lots of anxiety. And I'm always angry or crying. And I'm always hungry and craving things. And my breasts are slightly sore. In the first couple of weeks, I gained weight, then in the last two, I lost weight. But both experiences were different. It does its job of preventing pregnancy, though."

• tol...
• June 10, 2011

For Birth Control "I was put on Levora about 5 months ago due to painful and strong periods. Since I have started to use Levora, I have found that my periods have decreased some in regards to flow (yah!), and it has greatly helped me with my cramps! Before taking Levora, I would have to take a pain pill about 2 times a day for the first 2-3 days (needless to say, not good for your health). Overall, Levora has helped me a lot. As for any issues, I haven't faced any at this point (acne is about the same, no increased weight or appetite, etc.)."

• Anonymous
• October 16, 2009

For Birth Control "I have been on Levora for 2 months now. I was on Ortho-Cyclen prior and was switched due to changes in my daily medication regimen. About 1 week into starting the pack, I noticed that I am ravenously hungry all the time. It is similar to when I was pregnant. I've also suffered from increased acne on my face. This could be from stress, but I've never had a problem until starting Levora. Probably the most distressing side effect I've experienced is a marked decrease in my libido. Suffice to say that I enjoyed my intimate moments prior to starting this medication. Now sexual encounters are uncomfortable (vaginal dryness) and few and far between. Complete change from where I was. The 'big O' is harder to achieve, too."