Portia and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 2)

• All...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2018

For Birth Control "I had significant weight gain, constant bloating, fatigue, and nausea. This was by far the worst birth control I’ve ever been on. It was used to treat endometriosis, but I would rather have the symptoms of it than I would the birth control."

• Lex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2018

For Birth Control "Like many others, I was switched to Portia after Levora (which I loved!) was discontinued. Have to begin by saying I was skeptical of the whole gaining weight or having mood swings while on birth control stories, but man, did this pill mess with me. Giving it 3 stars because it shortened and decreased my pain during menstruation immensely, but it wasn’t worth the massive mood swings (namely unwarranted irritation and then extreme depression)—that just came out of nowhere about two months into taking this pill. My appetite also majorly increased and was much insatiable, which was kind of a bummer. I think I gave Portia a fair shot, but after about 4-5 months, I’m switching to a different pill—I understand everybody is different, so this may work for some, but definitely not for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2020

For Birth Control "OMG... Two weeks of taking the pill and I gained 8 pounds and got acne. I didn’t even notice I gained weight till I went on the scale... My skin was clear before and I didn’t change my diet or anything! I work out every day and was 115 lb, now I’m 123 lb. I should have read the reviews before. Please don’t take this pill... your doctor be lying that it gets better, but it won't."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 18, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been on it for a year now. My acne cleared up a lot! I am much more emotional over the last year and cried a lot more, but I didn't think it was from the pills till I read the comments on here. I have gained some weight. My period is shorter than before, is now three days. I haven't gotten pregnant, so it's working for me!"

• Anonymous
• February 1, 2020

For Birth Control "Horrible. I gained 30 pounds on it, I got acne like you wouldn’t believe. It was a rough time. My pharmacy switched me to Portia randomly, and right after that I gained weight. Didn't take long to figure out it was Portia causing the horrible acne and weight gain."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2015

For Birth Control "I've only been on this birth control for about a month, and I already don't like it. I've been spotting for about 2 weeks now, I get headaches, vivid nightmares, gained weight, terrible mood swings. The list goes on... The reason why I switched birth controls was because my last one (the Depo shot) was giving me extremely bad headaches and cramps. Also, I bled for 3 whole months while being on it. I just want to find a birth control that fits me and doesn't give me all of these symptoms."

• Rha...
• July 26, 2015

For Birth Control "I switched to Portia after being on Levora (I had no side effects with it) for three years. My first period was extremely heavy, but no cramps. I'm on my second period, and I feel like I've gained 10 pounds from bloating. I look like I'm 3 months pregnant. I've been very irritable and had cramps and headaches during these few days. I hate this birth control. It's effective, but it's not worth severe, uncomfortable bloating and weight gain."

• Moo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2018

For Birth Control "This pill is a nightmare! This is my first time taking the pill, I only started taking it in the hopes of improving my very painful periods, and I regret even trying it. I’ve been on it for 3 weeks now, and my life has been totally ruined. I have crazy mood swings, major depression, and mad rage! My face started breaking out even though I’ve never had issues with acne before. I have gained weight even though I’ve been working out and resisted most of the insanely strong cravings I’ve been getting. My life has gone downhill, so I’m going to stop taking this pill immediately. The sad thing is I have now lost faith in the pill and will just deal with my horrible periods."

• NCa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2018

For Birth Control "Was using Levora and Chateal before Portia. Portia has caused random weight gain, swelling in my arms and legs, abdomen area. I eat healthy and exercise regularly, so I know that this was my only change. It has given me so much acne that I have never had before, depression, excruciating headaches that are crippling. It’s terrible. I have used Allese, Chateal, Levora and haven’t had any issues until PORTIA! Portia is the worst. I stopped it after a month and a half because of the crazy side effects, and I am not willing to put myself through the worst I’ve ever felt again. Seek other birth control."

• Mim...
• November 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on this birth control for years, with no side effects. No cramps. No weight gain. No sore breasts. No bleeding through. I haven't gotten pregnant and my acne has gone away. I highly recommend."

• EMB...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 26, 2021

For Birth Control "Like many others, I was originally on Levora and was switched to Portia by Kaiser sometime in 2018. I began taking BC to help with acne and to stop my heavier periods—this worked great for stopping periods but caused other issues that I didn't even connect to the BC until years later. For the last three years, I struggled with moderate acne, oily skin, increased facial and body hair, some weight gain (or water retention), and extreme bouts of anxiety and stress. I was much grumpier, had feelings of hopelessness, and my mind would often think of the worst-case scenario. I never connected these symptoms to the pill until I needed a pap to get a refill on my pills, and I was curious about switching (and began researching current vs. new). I've since stopped all BC and have been off of them for 10 days now, and I'm feeling 100% better. My skin is slowly healing, less facial hair, and my stress levels have significantly decreased. Check your symptoms and be sure to read reviews."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• April 25, 2011

For Birth Control "Portia is the third birth control that I have tried. I have noticed weight gain that I did not have with my other pills. My moods are also terrible and unstable. I get awful cramps and headaches during my period. Overall, these are small prices to pay compared to other issues I have had with other pills."

• Anonymous
• June 15, 2011

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have had a really bad period experience in the past, so I am used to the pain from cramps. On my first month when I started taking the pill, my period was so painful I took 9 Midols in one day. I know it was a bad idea, but I could not stand the pain. I had nosebleeds (which I had never had before). My doctor said to stay on it and see if my body would get used to it. My period pains got better, but I was exhausted all the time. I just wanted to sleep, and I gained ten pounds. So, after being on it for only five months, I decided it wasn't worth it."

• Ari...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 11, 2019

For Birth Control "Levora was my first form of birth control, and after being on it for two years without any problems, I got switched to Portia because my new insurance didn't cover Levora. In the span of 8 months, I gained 40 lbs, nothing in my diet had changed, and my physical activity was high. It did help with my migraines, but it wasn't worth the weight gain I was going through. Weight gain was the only negative side effect I had, but I recently decided I was just going to pay for Levora and have gone down 20 lbs since starting it up once again. I definitely do not recommend using Portia."

• 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."

• JSc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been taking Gianvi since I was 20 years old, and I absolutely loved it: no weight gain, clear skin, no emotional breakdowns, and it cleared my PCOS. I recently changed my birth control because I noticed I was bloating due to being on it for so long. My doctor switched me to Portia, and only 3 days into my new pack, my body itches, I’m emotional, and I am antsy. I also gained a few pounds within 3 days. DO NOT USE PORTIA! It reminds me of YAZ and should be taken off the market! I would take the bloating with Gianvi any day over the side effects with Portia!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 9, 2024

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for the better part of 4 years, and I loved it most of the time. The first 6 months I started taking this pill, I had frequent spotting and irregular periods, but otherwise no other symptoms (that I can remember). After 6 months, I switched to SPRINTEC and absolutely hated it, as it made me bloated, made me gain 20 pounds, and gave me dry and painful periods. I decided to switch back to Portia after a couple of months and have been on it regularly for 3 years. Over the last 3 months, however, I started to get severe mood swings and depression the week of my period, and it got to the point that I had to switch it for the benefit of those around me (I would cry all the time and get easily annoyed with them). Other than the very recent mood swings, I loved this BC, and if the next BC doesn’t work, I will absolutely be coming back to Portia and deal with the mood swings."

• Pan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 13, 2022

For Birth Control "This birth control has been horrible for me. I was originally on Junel Fe, then my gyno switched me to Portia so I would no longer have a period since I have endometriosis. This birth control made me gain 20 pounds, I turned into a completely different person where I had severe mood swings and felt depressed and unmotivated. My libido became non-existent when it was very high before. Worst birth control I have ever been on, and this honestly should not have been released. I do not know how it passed testing."

• Lad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2022

For Birth Control "I stopped taking this after 8 days. I'm in my 30s and took it to control sometimes a heavy period that can interfere with my work schedule. Don't feel like myself, depressed, want to constantly eat and snack, weight gain and fluid retention, don't want to work, ZERO-ZERO sex drive, and random crying spells. I would rather have a rest with a period and take Tylenol than feel like a horrible depressed zombie. This stuff really sucks. Side effects go away quickly after stopping after 48 hours! I am changing if I need to go back on BC! I am not waiting 2-3 months for 'my hormones' to settle down feeling like fake menopause (no offense, ladies!). 0 for this stuff!!!"

• Meg...
• June 4, 2015

For Birth Control "Pretty sure this medication has been making me gain weight. Also, my periods take 2 weeks, that's half my life! So I take the pink pills straight with no period because I can't do that. I will have to go back to Seasonique."

• Kay...
• March 14, 2018

For Birth Control "The only thing I can say positive about this birth control pill is that it kept me from getting pregnant. Even on days I had missed and doubled up I never had a pregnancy scare. The bunch of negatives. When I first started Portia my heart rate was high and I started noticing chest pain. My monthly flow was 4-5 days, and the flow got heavier. After being on it for a few months I started having cramps in my ovaries and intense periods with migraines that would last for the whole period. Moody, gained weight, felt bloated. I was always extremely wet down there all day, and during sex it was worse. I recently switched back to the depo and immediately those symptoms went away! In my opinion, it’s a good pregnancy preventive pill because I’ve gotten pregnant twice on other BC pills, but I feel this medicine was not compatible with my body at all!"

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 13, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on Portia (the generic version) for about 6 months now. At the beginning, everything was fine because this was a step up from my normal estrogen levels that my old birth control had. But after 6 months, I've seen a great increase in weight gain, and I'm eating more healthily than I ever was, and I exercise daily. I'm so frustrated with this birth control and almost stopped taking it altogether, but I'm happy to say I'm changing back to my old one and hope this weight gain goes down. I'll never recommend Portia to anyone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2017

For Birth Control "I started taking it at the beginning of October, and since then, I have noticed I have gained weight. It also makes me extremely moody. So, I'm not very happy with it."