Lutera and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• Kar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2020

For Birth Control "I'm on my 3rd pack of Lutera, and I haven't gotten pregnant, but I suffer from anxiety and depression, and these pills have absolutely increased that by 10. My sex drive has plummeted, and I’m unmotivated to the extent that I stay in my bed several days in a row. I’ve also been experiencing a lot of abnormal bleeding. Keep in mind that it is only my third month, and everyone is different. The pill does the job of me not getting pregnant, but I am more concerned about my mental health at this point."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2016

For Birth Control "I started taking Lutera 3 months ago. I have to say, I was tremendously reluctant to try this birth control after reading some of the horrifying reviews. My main concern, if I'm being honest, was weight gain. I lost 60 pounds by eating healthy and exercising, but I am someone who gains weight rather quickly, so it was definitely a concern for me. Here's a little backstory: I've been on a few birth controls from ages 14-25. I initially began taking birth control to help with my cramps. I decided to take a break after being on it for 10 years. In the past year, I have been experiencing excruciating cramps to the point where I was vomiting and calling out of work. I'm a pain-tolerant person, but my cramps were unbearable on days 1 and 2. I went to my gyno, and she suggested I start birth control. Enter Lutera. The first week, I was feeling slightly nauseous when I would first take Lutera. I decided to eat a large snack or small meal with it, and that helped the nausea. I also noticed that I had awful mood swings for about 2 weeks. I would be laughing one minute and crying the next. I even called my gyno within the first week to see if I could switch birth controls, especially given the reviews I had read. She insisted that I stay on for at least one month, and if I still felt the same, we could switch it. I'm glad I listened. The nausea and mood swings went away. I have not experienced any weight gain. I've actually lost weight. As I mentioned before, I gain weight easily and fast, so I am always mindful of what I'm putting into my body. I haven't experienced weight gain, but I also try to eat well and exercise regularly (this is something we should all be doing anyway). I haven't experienced acne or depression or anxiety while on Lutera. My periods are shorter and much lighter (about 3-4 days vs. 6-7), and my cramps are not nearly as bad as they were. The only thing I've noticed on Lutera is that my breasts are pretty sensitive and my sex drive is slightly decreased, but no more than what I had experienced on other birth controls. I'm writing this review because I was one of the people who read these reviews and was scared and stressed to try Lutera. I'm glad that I listened to the medical professional who prescribed the birth control (I voiced my concerns ahead of time) instead of listening to reviews online. I will also add that every body is different, but I wanted to share my experience in hopes that it puts you at ease. I haven't experienced the symptoms that many people discuss in the negative reviews. Again, we are all different, so I can't speak for everyone. I would imagine that medical history and your daily habits would have an effect on any medication you take. I would give it a try for at least a month and make an informed decision then."

• Lul...
• May 12, 2013

For Birth Control "I've only been taking Lutera for a week or so now, but I'm pretty happy with it. I researched a lot about it, and I was super scared to take it. People were saying they were having severe headaches, hair loss, decreased sex drive, etc. The first day I started taking it, my vision was a little bit off, things looked a tad blurry. I was a little more emotional than usual, but nothing too bad. By the 3rd day, my vision was back to normal. I've barely experienced any side effects. From the reviews, I thought everything was going to go wrong. I have noticed my hair grows faster, like I will shave my legs, and then by the afternoon they will be prickly. The best part was that it's free. I got it from my local Planned Parenthood."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm 23, and I've been taking Lutera for 2.5 years now. At first, it was great, I didn't have any side effects except for mood swings now and then. But after 2 years, I've lost my sex drive almost completely and have a lot of trouble with natural lubrication. I also have really dry eyes. At least I haven't gotten pregnant, I have an alarm to let me know to take it, so I have never missed a pill and have taken it within the same 10-minute time frame every day. Today, I ordered the Skyla after talking it through with my doctor, and I can't wait to not have to remember to take a pill anymore."

• All...
• February 17, 2016

For Birth Control "I've used about 3 different brands of birth control, and this one is by far the worst. I do not recommend. I took a break from pills for a couple of months, and when I started back up, I started using Lutera. I've been using it for 4-5 months, and I feel horrible. I can say that it does a great job at protecting from birth, and my periods haven't been a problem at all, but I feel horrible. I don't feel like myself at all. I feel disconnected/groggy almost all the time. My libido is completely gone now. Mood swings. I've been so unlike myself for the past few months, so I've decided to stop taking them."

• Jen...
• April 4, 2017

For Birth Control "I took Gildess Fe for years and loved it so much, but unfortunately, it is now discontinued, so my doctor put me on Lutera. The first pack of Lutera was miserable. I am the happiest person, and this pill put me in a bad mood all the time. Literally, everything pissed me off. I feel like I'm going through puberty all over again (in every possible way). Also, my periods on this pill last for 9 days when they usually last for 3. The biggest complaint I have is how it's affected my relationship with my boyfriend of 9 years. We have not had sex in a month because I have zero sex drive. I just finished my third pack and will be switching to Microgestin on Sunday."

• Anonymous
• November 29, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been switching from birth control to birth control, trying to find what works the best with my body. Lutera is okay; my acne is manageable, no weight gain/loss, and no depression. I don't like how it makes me nauseous a lot, but maybe that's just with the starting months. I really don't like how it is giving me cramps (I'm nowhere near my period week) and COMPLETELY took away my sex drive. It scares me when a medication gives me a certain reaction, but it scares me even more when the medication takes something away from me that I was fine with."

• Sir...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 20, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on Lutera non-stop for about 5 years. Pros: Never had any noticeable weight gains, acne, mood swings, cramping, or any other side effects that would be linked to the pills. Also, no pregnancies, which is kind of the whole point! Cons: Within the past year or two, I've noticed a big decrease in sex drive. Also, stopped taking it for a week or two recently (was on antibiotics), and my next period was medium flow for almost two weeks. Noticed my PMS kicked in big time when I took that time off."

• Kit...
• August 25, 2013

For Birth Control "I am 17 years old, 5'1" and 125 pounds when I was originally 105 lbs. I started taking Lutera almost exactly 1 year ago. It was my first birth control, and the reason I was getting it was because my periods were horrible. There would be days I couldn't go to school because I had to change my pad every couple of minutes. Also, I planned on being sexually active once it started kicking in. I became sexually active about 3 or 4 months later, and it is great with protection. I gained a LOT of weight. I expected to, but not this much. It's made me have very low self-esteem. ALSO, I don't know if it's just me or the pill, but even though I have been sexually active, it's impossible to have an orgasm. I want to switch because of the weight gain, but I'm too scared."

• Cha...
• January 23, 2016

For Birth Control "Before I was on Lutera, I was on Lo Loestrin FE (which was awful! I would bleed literally two weeks out of the month, had no sex drive, and gained 10 lbs). After switching to Lutera, which I have been on for a month now, my mood swings have been consistent (even though I cried when a dog commercial came on). I have actually lost weight, there is no breakthrough bleeding, and my sex drive is back to normal, and this is covered 100% by my insurance. Also, no bad side effects such as acne, stomach pain, or severe discomfort in any form. The only thing is my boobs swell up a little bit, but no complaints there. This is such a great pill! I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to start a new BC or wanting to switch."

• Ali...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2018

For Birth Control "I had been on Aviane for 3 years and was pretty satisfied with that birth control pill. Then, unexpectedly, my insurance no longer carried it. My pharmacy told me Lutera was the generic equivalent of Aviane. I reluctantly took it for 2 months and hated it! I can't understand why I had so many side effects when I never had those side effects with Aviane. First of all, this pill completely killed my sex drive. I was totally dead from the waist down. It was awful! I had sore, tender boobs most of the month too. Emotionally, I just felt really dead. I can't explain it. The hormones in this pill just made me numb. I felt strange on it. No emotions. I was also shocked at how much I bled on it when my period came. Also, a lot of stomach nausea 2 days before my period and a lot of cramps during my period, which I never had with Aviane. I stopped taking this pill and finally feel normal again. I would not recommend Lutera at all. It was strange how it made me feel."

• Bos...
• August 16, 2013

For Birth Control "I've taken this pill for a little over 2 years. I really liked the pill when I was single (mainly took it for cramping and lighter periods). It didn't break me out, cause me to gain weight, or have any mood swings. However, once I got into a relationship, I noticed a very significant negative side effect (for me). I realized having been on this pill, I have no sex drive whatsoever, and I'm completely dry, which causes pain when I'm having sex. That, to me, caused me to want to seek an alternative birth control, which is a shame since everything else was great."

• Bos...
• August 16, 2013

For Birth Control "I've taken this pill for a little over 2 years. I really liked the pill when I was single (mainly took it for cramping and lighter periods). It didn't break me out, cause me to gain weight, or have any mood swings. However, once I got into a relationship, I noticed a very significant negative side effect (for me). I realized having been on this pill, I have no sex drive whatsoever, and I'm completely dry, which causes pain when I'm having sex. That, to me, caused me to want to seek an alternative birth control, which is a shame since everything else was great."

• Ans...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2015

For Birth Control "I started this birth control because after taking my other for 2 years, it started making me nauseous during my period. Ever since I've started taking this medicine, I've had the worst mood swings. I'll go from laughing to pure anger, then crying. Not to mention it's made me incredibly depressed, and now I have cramps 24/7 and not just during my period. Also, my nausea has gotten way worse. And don't even think about having sex... I have no sex drive at all. Nada. And when I do have sex, it hurts and is not enjoyable in any way. I would not recommend this medicine to anyone. The effects it takes on your body are horrible."

• Rai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2012

For Birth Control "I got mood swings that most of the time are controllable, but still, I shouldn't randomly start crying. I have no sex drive. I'm so irritable. With my period, it's heavy, long, and it hurts so bad! I am going to my doctor to get a new pill after the next 2 months that I've already purchased. Overall, the only good thing is that my breasts got slightly bigger."

• mar...
• April 18, 2016

For Birth Control "This birth control is terrible! It increased my mood swings, made me feel as if I was on my cycle for about a week and a half (which only lasts normally 5 days), decreased my sex drive, caused me to discharge a lot, and caused a drastic weight gain (at least 15 lbs)... Only gave it 2/10 because I didn't get pregnant."

• coc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 28, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on this for a few years, and I've always been very happy. However, my pharmacy has stopped carrying it, so they switched me to Aviane. I took Aviane for two months and convinced my pharmacy to give me the last of their Lutera, so I am back on that again. I don't know if Aviane increased my sex drive or if Lutera was decreasing it, but there was a definite difference when I switched back and forth. However, my periods are so light and so short on Lutera that I love it! Lower sex drive, but I can have sex more often, I'll take that, I guess!"

• Anonymous
• August 30, 2011

For Birth Control "I first started using Lutera about a year and a half ago for my first form of birth control. It was generally pretty easy to adjust to, and I had no major side effects. A couple minor downsides were that it did not help my skin one bit. I was a little bit more emotional than usual, and one major thing that affected me was that my sex drive was virtually non-existent. Overall, I liked Lutera, and it was pretty easy to take and was very effective in helping moderate my period symptoms."

• Anonymous
• January 12, 2012

For Birth Control "I have had terrible experiences with different pills in the past (25 lb weight gain in a month, loss of sex drive completely - it hurt to have sex because I couldn't get wet, mood swings), so I decided to not take the pill anymore and rely on withdrawal. Needless to say, that was stupid, and a huge pregnancy scare later, my boyfriend and I decided it'd be best for me to take something. I was very careful as to which one I would start taking because if I had to deal with those side effects again, I would be miserable. After one month, I am quite happy with Lutera. I have had no side effects that have lasted more than a day. My weight is stabilized, and I feel great. It can't hurt to try, as everybody will react differently to the pill."

• Tra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2013

For Birth Control "I've started on Lutera due to the fact that my last birth control pill caused mood swings and low libido. Otherwise, it was a great pill. So far with Lutera, my mood swings are gone, but I have spotting after hitting the 2nd week mark. Never had this before, so it's incredibly annoying. Giving it time to work itself out and hopefully things improve!"

• gab...
• June 18, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been using Lutera for 5 months now, and it's horrible. It's the first time a birth control affects me like that. I totally lost my libido, like I'd rather watch the rain fall than have sex. I am the crankiest thing, and I'm 1000 times more sensitive than I used to be. And I feel depressed about half the time, and I always was a happy person. I am going to my doctor today, and there's no way I stay on that pill. I'd rather go back to using condoms, even if I'm not a fan. Oh, and my breasts hurt like they're gonna explode at any moment. Just the feeling of my bra touching them hurts. Don't take it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 4, 2022

For Birth Control "I switched from Junel FE to Lutera. I have little to no periods on the placebo pills, some dryness, and low libido. In my early 20s, I would be all about it, but I’m almost 30, so I’m more concerned than relieved. Everyone’s body is different, so try and keep what works for you!"

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2011

For Birth Control "I've been taking Lutera for about 3-4 years now, and overall it is great. I originally started with Yaz, which gave me awful side effects such as acne, depression, and weight gain. Lutera is a very low dose and works well for me. I have experienced a few minor side effects such as stomach pain and decreased sex drive, but all in all, I like it and don't want to change to another pill."

• SCn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm reasonably satisfied with Lutera. My chief concern with oral birth control has been emotional side effects (feeling so crazy), and I really cannot tell any difference at all in my mental health or emotional state when taking Lutera. It's not a perfect fit still, as I cramp way more on the last 2-3 days of 'white pills' than I ever have, though the cramps are mild. I've also noticed breast tenderness. But for me, the worst effect is that I have had about zero sex drive in the 4 months I've been taking Lutera. That's been a major drag."

• Ale...
• August 22, 2019

For Birth Control "Pros: 1. I'm not pregnant, nor have I had any pregnancy scares while on Lutera. 2. My period cramps, which used to be super bad, are virtually gone since my body has adjusted. 3. It's non-invasive, which I like. IUDs scare me, so taking a little pill every night is nothing for me. Cons: 1. I had light but continuous bleeding for about 3.5 months straight when I first got on it. 2. After the bleeding stopped, I thought my period would be gone unless I took the placebo pack- wrong. I never take the placebo week, however, about every 6 weeks, I have a light, 10-day period. 3. Once my body adjusted to it, I noticed I've had a lot lower libido than normal. That's a pretty huge con for me as I'm not ready to have a reduced sex drive, so I'm planning to switch soon. Overall thoughts: I'm pretty scared of IUDs, so the annoyingness of bleeding a bit more than normal and not getting pregnant is okay. The lower libido thing is largely why I'm giving 3 stars."