Marlissa and Acne: What Users Say

• nic...
• September 15, 2015

For Birth Control "This birth control worked in the sense that it prevents pregnancy, however, I suffered from horrible side effects. I had never struggled with bad acne before, but I began getting cysts around my jawline and breakouts on my cheeks (which I never got before). Not sure about any other side effects. I didn't pay much attention to that because my face was my main concern. I took this for 3 months, and I ended up switching to a different pill."

• nic...
• September 15, 2015

For Birth Control "This birth control worked in the sense that it prevents pregnancy, however, I suffered from horrible side effects. I had never struggled with bad acne before, but I began getting cysts around my jawline and breakouts on my cheeks (which I never got before). Not sure about any other side effects. I didn't pay much attention to that because my face was my main concern. I took this for 3 months, and I ended up switching to a different pill."

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2019

For Birth Control "I haven’t been feeling myself, so I decided to look up reviews of Marlissa. I have migraines from the week before my cycle, continuing throughout my cycle on and off. I’ve become extremely depressed, anxious, emotional, and gained weight. I started having vaginal discharge that I’ve never experienced before. I usually don’t have acne problems, maybe a pimple before my cycle usually. I’ve been breaking out like crazy, and I wasn’t sure why until reading some reviews. I’m stopping this birth control. Even my husband has seen a tremendous change in me. The worst."

• hel...
• April 1, 2020

For Birth Control "It was recommended I take Marlissa after the BC shot I was getting, leading to constant spotting (6 mo). My doctor said it would take 3 months to regulate. Worked after 2 months. My side effects have been minimal - I gained 2 pounds over 2 years, a mood swing the day or 2 leading up, acne breakouts the week of (dad had terrible acne, no way I can contribute it to one cause), and my periods have decreased in heaviness to normal (used to be heavy) as long as I stick to PA every day. I’ve accepted the mood swings and give myself a day of self-care. SO, all of that was until 2 months ago. The new side effect is a diminished period. My period isn’t starting until 5 days off of BC pills - usually start on day 2. That comes with an insane amount of anxiety of missing a period. Previously, my doctor recommended this is not a BC to stay on, as it has a complication of the possibility of losing a period entirely. I hope to schedule an appointment to switch to a different BC in the summer."

• Anonymous
• October 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been taking this for 3 weeks, and it's horrible. I recently just got diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, and I have new insurance, so my doctor recommended this. The only thing it has done for me is give me acne. It's made my skin worse. I was taking Levora since I was 19 because I always had irregular periods, but it's because I had PCOS this whole time. I'm now 27, and my skin was always phenomenal when I was on Levora. I never gained weight, and Levora maintained everything perfectly. Now I have pimples every day, and if one heals, I'll get 2-3 more by the time it's healed. I haven't noticed any change in my weight even though I do workout 4 days a week and watch what I eat."

• Tay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 30, 2020

For Birth Control "I began taking Marlissa birth control about a year and a half ago as a contraceptive and for my extremely heavy periods. I noticed a huge change in myself compared to the birth control brand I used before switching to this. I had never had acne before, and I began breaking out pretty badly on my cheeks. I also had mood swings and felt paranoid/anxious a lot. I feel like I lost who I was for a bit, and it affected my relationships. I also got sick every time I ate and always had a small appetite, which is unlike me. I have stopped taking it and feel so much better."

• Chr...
• January 6, 2019

For Birth Control "I got new insurance 6 months ago (before I had none and wasn't on any birth control). I started taking Marlissa, and at first, it was good! My periods got lighter and my mood improved, but the last 4 months, I'll cramp horribly the week before my placebo pills, and my period is only lasting maybe a day and a half. And this month, I've had severe stomach problems (bloating), acne, and fatigue! I can't even drink Sprite without my body swelling really bad. I will see if these irregularities slack off in a couple of months, but, if not, I'm switching birth control medications."

• Kis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Marlissa for almost a month now. It’s 50/50 in my opinion. Not even two weeks after I started taking this pill, I got a really BAD yeast infection. Currently did not heal from it, I’m pretty sure I'm waiting for the test results to come back about that. Honestly, I was very surprised my boobs grew a size bigger literally overnight. I do have bloating and mood swings since I’ve started Marlissa. I still have not gotten my period, and I’m halfway through my cycle pills. I switched honestly because my doctor made me. Low-key thinking about switching again because of the really bad yeast infection I’ve had since I started taking this pill. My acne has been HORRIBLE since starting this too. This pill also makes me very nauseous."

• sv2...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on Marlissa for almost a year now. I used to have severe cramps and heavy bleeding throughout my period. The first few months, I didn't notice too much of a change. For one, I take it at night as most medications upset my stomach (so I didn't really have any nausea). It didn't do much to make my cycle lighter until about 4-5 months in. Now, I do still have some cramping around when my cycle 'should' be (I naturally have a shorter cycle), but beyond that, am quite satisfied with this medication. My periods are much lighter, I do still break out some during my period but not as much, and it effectively prevents pregnancy for me. I do still experience some PMS symptoms, but not as severely as before. I haven't noticed any weight gain I could attribute to this medication."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2020

For Birth Control "I had a love-hate relationship with Marlissa birth control. I loved that it gave me the lightest and shortest periods ever (I used to have the worst cramps and bleed heavily for 5-7 days). My period was only about 4 days and super light on this pill. However, when I first started this pill, I had horrible mood swings. I was depressed and would lash out at everyone. That settled down after a month, but then I noticed I gained weight, about 10-20 pounds. My hunger got larger, so that’s probably why. The main reason I switched, though, was because of my acne. It made my acne worse than it was before BC."

• Ash...
• January 25, 2021

For Birth Control "This pill has been a never-ending nightmare. It was okay while I was taking it, though it gave me ridiculous amounts of acne on my face. The problems began when I decided to try for another baby. I stopped my birth control, thinking I'd go on my period and that would be that. However, I did not get my period for 6 months. My body refused to ovulate. After being on a cycle of Provera to try and jump-start my system, I've finally gotten my period naturally, but now it hasn't stopped in more than 2 weeks. I feel like this nightmare of side effects will never end. Save yourself the trouble and consider a different birth control option. This pill is awful."

• Emy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 17, 2020

For Birth Control "Horrible! I was taking Portia and loved it! My pharmacy stopped carrying Portia and switched my medication to Marlissa without telling me. I noticed I began to get a lot of bad breakouts on my cheeks and back. I never have acne, and these pills made me break out like crazy. I also had horrible mood swings, migraines worsened, and it would make me feel extremely depressed. Absolutely hated it!"

• Emy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 17, 2020

For Birth Control "Horrible! I was taking Portia and loved it! My pharmacy stopped carrying Portia and switched my medication to Marlissa without telling me. I noticed I began to get a lot of bad breakouts on my cheeks and back. I never have acne, and these pills made me break out like crazy. I also had horrible mood swings, migraines worsened, and it would make me feel extremely depressed. Absolutely hated it!"