Portia and Acne: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Lis...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 15, 2021

For Birth Control "STAY FAR FAR AWAY FROM PORTIA!!! I was like many other ladies on here taking Levora and had no side effects and no weight gain. Kaiser switched me to Portia and told me it was the exact same thing. So I trusted them. I have menorrhagia and was given birth control to stop my periods completely. It did its job for a while, that is keeping my periods away. But as months went by, weight came on so fast. No matter how much I did and how healthy I ate. I was a fitness instructor and had never had weight issues. From the start till now of taking Portia, I have gained 60 pounds that are stubborn and will only budge a pound or two. As the years went by, I became different. I wasn't me. I became severely anxious and was diagnosed with anxiety disorder, then the depression set in. I became foggy-minded, and often dizzy. I am constantly bloated, have severe mood swings, feel drained, have acne, and experience chest pains. After 5 years, I'm getting off it with a hysterectomy."

• Ren...
• February 28, 2020

For Birth Control "This birth control seemed normal the first few months. Then suddenly, my face is breaking out in red, dry patches, like peeling the skin off my cheeks and forehead. I’m noticing the crazy cravings and mood swings. Can’t stand this pill. I had a previous pill that broke my face out as well, but more like pus."

• Kse...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2020

For Birth Control "Portia is the worst form of contraceptive I've ever been on in my life. Less than one month of these pills, and I have started to develop cystic acne on one side of my face (before this medication, I had clear skin). Also, my breasts have become tender, and the left one has become painfully swollen. I've felt a general sense of fatigue every day, despite getting sufficient sleep. I've felt far more anxious and irritable. Honestly, not worth it. In the past, Kaiser prescribed Levora brand, and I loved it. I had no problems with that medication. I really wish Kaiser hadn't forced their clients to switch to Portia. Reading the reviews, I'm glad I stopped taking it before the inevitable weight gain. This contraceptive is an absolute nightmare, and I'm throwing it in the trash tonight."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 15, 2021

For Birth Control "If you are taking Portia 28 and think it may be the cause of your acne that you can't explain, throw it away. It gave me cystic acne when my skin was previously clear. I'm talking about clusters of painful, deep cystic acne that left scars and wouldn't go away for months. I became way more irritable and had intense mood swings, always feeling so 'done' and tired. The first few weeks, I couldn't even keep the pill down and woke up to throw up every night. I never got a good night's sleep due to this, and my body was in a constant state of stress and exhaust. I only decided to search up reviews to see if I was the only one, 7 months in. Now I see that the majority are facing the exact same problems as me. I'm so frustrated that I didn't take just a second to research this brand because it would have saved me so much emotional distress and confusion."

• rmo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m so glad to see others going through similar experiences to what I am. I have only been taking Portia for two months, and the side effects have been crazy. To start, like many others have said, the mood swings are ridiculous. I found myself feeling randomly depressed for no real reason and even crying on occasion (this is out of the norm for me), and my acne has gotten out of control. I’m breaking out in places I hardly ever do and also in places I never have in the past. Normally, my acne is extremely mild and manageable. My periods are also a lot heavier in the first couple of days, which is another clear sign that this BC is too intense for me. Normally messy periods coincide with messy side effects for me. I was suggested to try this BC, and I’ve already asked to change to something else, this is a terrible product and not at all worth the trouble. Do not take this!"

• Bro...
• December 6, 2017

For Birth Control "I took this for one week. It gave me terrible acne. I have never had acne more than an occasional pimple, but it made my face red and bumpy all over, and it has stayed ever since! I switched to a mini pill for a few months and then stopped birth control to get pregnant. It has been 8 months since then, and I still have a red bumpy face."

• mia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I hated Portia. A lot of why I was on it was to combat heavy bleeding, acne, cramps, and bloating. It made me have 10-13 day-long periods, of which the last 5 days would be so heavy I would use 6-10 Super Plus tampons in the span of a day. I broke out less but still broke out around my period. I had unbearably bad cramps. The only thing it fixed was my bloating and fatigue and partially acne, everything else it made worse. I also began to uncontrollably lose weight and feel faint around my period, including constant dizziness."

• Cri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2018

For Birth Control "I tried this birth control for the first time 2 weeks ago, and it has been the worst I’ve experienced. Terrible side effects. I am a bubbly, happy woman, and this made me so sad and depressed. I was on vacation with my family, and I felt a sadness and anxiety I have never felt before. I couldn’t understand why I was so sad under the happiest, most ideal circumstances life has to offer! It also made me nauseous, and worst of all, one week after my period, I got my PERIOD AGAIN!!! My period is normally 4 days long, and today is now day 6 of this Portia-provoked period... even though I stopped taking the pill 3 days ago. Lastly, I have very clear skin, and this made me break out. I just don’t see the upside to this birth control. Never again."

• sam...
• March 29, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been on Portia for a year now, and this is my 7th brand of birth control pills. In the first couple of months I started Portia, I had crazy cystic acne, and not because of Portia, but this pill cleared my face to where my acne was nonexistent. I have always suffered with acne, and I have never felt better about myself. Well, now that I have been on this pill for a year, in the past month my cystic acne has come back FULL force. It's horrendous. I have no idea if it's the pill causing it or what because it actually cleared my face this whole time. On another note, I have always suffered with heavy periods and terrible cramps to the point of wanting to throw up from the pain. Now my periods are SUPER light, and I have little to no cramps."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2018

For Birth Control "This pill has made me feel horrible! I have awful morning-like sickness and wake up in the middle of the night throwing up. My breasts have become bigger and so sensitive. I have broken out. My moods are all over the place - very depressed and lethargic - uncharacteristic for me. I am so bloated and gassy no matter what I eat - I can eat rice and bananas all day and still bloat up."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 20, 2022

For Birth Control "Been taking Portia for three years now. It was so much better than the first birth control I was taking, but now that I’m 25, my body feels like it’s changed, and Portia is affecting me in nasty ways. My ability to lose weight is out the window, I’ve been getting hormonal acne, and my mood has been a roller coaster for months now. When I started at 21, it was amazing. No bloat, clear skin, no nausea. But now I’m older, I can’t stand taking this pill. Recommend it for younger women, but no one over 25 :/"

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 9, 2022

For Birth Control "I was on Portia for over 2 years and initially didn’t have any issues. After my second year, my mood swings were crazy, and the week before my period, I would snap about every minor inconvenience. I didn’t gain weight, it cleared up my acne, and my periods became very regular! I have now switched to a different brand, and I feel more like myself than I did on Portia."

• akm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2022

For Birth Control "This birth control SUCKS. Mind you, I’ve only been on it for a couple of months now. I have a very good complexion, and out of absolutely nowhere, I have breakouts and cystic acne. My mood swings have been miserable. I'm either crying or angry, which is completely unlike me. I also have zero sex drive. Do not take this pill. Worst birth control I’ve ever taken."

• akm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2022

For Birth Control "This birth control SUCKS. Mind you, I’ve only been on it for a couple of months now. I have a very good complexion, and out of absolutely nowhere, I have breakouts and cystic acne. My mood swings have been miserable. I'm either crying or angry, which is completely unlike me. I also have zero sex drive. Do not take this pill. Worst birth control I’ve ever taken."

• Anonymous
• January 11, 2022

For Birth Control "I've missed 5 days of school because it makes me sick. I didn’t realize it was the birth control at first, but I'd feel okay all day. But after I took it at night, I got sick, puked, couldn’t sleep, felt nauseous, etc. I puked up my dinner multiple times in a row after I took it. I tried taking it a little later, but it didn’t help anything. Throughout the day, I’m okay, but I get the feeling like I’m gonna puke like I do at night and have to take a break and try to eat, which is hard because every time I eat, I feel sick. I’ve only been on this brand for about a week and a half. I also am starting to break out a lot more than I usually would on other birth controls."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2019

For Birth Control "Ever since I started taking Portia, my period has been lighter. No cramps anymore. The only thing I’ve noticed is my boobs have gotten sensitive, and I’ve been getting acne. But this pill does the job!"

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 30, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on Portia for about a year. It's not as scary as it may seem. I didn't get any of the acne side effects (thankfully). It didn't influence any mood swings either. The only side effect for me was a teensy little bit of weight gain by my thighs, hips, and lower back. Never missed a day and didn't get pregnant! Overall, a good experience."

• ish...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2015

For Birth Control "I began breaking out like crazy within a week of starting this."

• Vic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 21, 2016

For Birth Control "Awesome. Super short periods, no acne, no cramping. Been on for years. Highly recommend."

• Gab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2021

For Birth Control "I started this only a week ago and suddenly have huge cystic pimples, cramping, nausea, and bloating. I also have been so irritable. I do not recommend it at all."