Seasonale and Cramps: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2018

For Birth Control "I just switched to a Seasonale generic about 2 months ago after being on Junel Fe for about 10 years. I switched because I noticed my hormones started to change, periods were getting heavier, and I had been getting cystic acne breakouts at least 2x a month. Ever since I switched, I haven’t had any breakouts. I’m on the extended version, so I have not gotten my period yet (it comes once every 3 months), but so far no spotting or cramps for the 2 months that I’ve been on it. Overall, I’m happy with the switch."

• Sea...
• April 23, 2012

For Birth Control "I experience mood swings, breakouts, and cramps during the first two weeks. After that, I have not had any issues. I did not spot for the first two months. On the third month, I took the pill 4 hours late and I spotted lightly for two days. My skin is flawless. I had no weight gain. I have no crazy mood swings. It's the perfect pill. Oh, and my breasts increased about a cup size. The breast tenderness I experienced was a minimum soreness for a month. I recommend Seasonale!"

• UT1...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been taking Seasonale for almost 3 years now. I'm 21 and pretty healthy. When I started, I had breakthrough bleeding for about 3 weeks and a little nausea. Before Seasonale, I had 8-day heavy periods and would get pretty bad cramping. With this pill, I have a very light period once every 3 months, no cramping at all and no other symptoms. I have had no weight gain, rarely any breast tenderness, and it prevents pregnancy, so I can't complain too much. My ONLY problem with this pill is that it gives me acne in waves. I'll go a month with very little acne, then for a few months have lots of breakouts, some of them painful. I never had any acne prior to taking the pill, but now I do. Otherwise, I highly recommend this pill."

• Noc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I started the Seasonale pill because the heavy bleeding caused me to become very anemic to the point I had to get iron infusions. It does make me crave everything, my sex drive is going down a little, and I have been bleeding for a while. It went from using a panty liner to using pads, and I'm not even through my third pack of pills. Not sure if I can handle the bleeding like this. And let's not mention the cramps. I have never in my life had cramps like this, like someone is on the inside of me scraping out my insides. I don't think I can hang."

• Age...
• May 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on Seasonale for 3 months. I bled constantly from March 9th to April 4th. I doubled up on pills for 22 days, and 2 weeks ago, I stopped doubling. I began bleeding and having moderate cramps again three days ago. I do not recommend this pill. Bleeding for 28 days straight is not normal."

• Jaq...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 26, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on Seasonale for about 9 months, and it has worked great so far! I switched from Sprintec because I noticed that I was moody, had low libido, and felt very nauseous often. It can be kind of scary not having a period for three months on Seasonale, however, because of not knowing if you are pregnant or not, but I have not had any scares (I took my pill religiously besides a couple of times). I noticed that cramps are a little worse when I do have my period, probably because I don't have my menstrual cycle as much. Overall, I don't get moody or nauseous nearly as much as I did on Sprintec, and it's so nice only dealing with a period 4 months a year instead of 12!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2019

For Birth Control "I am waiting to start a period, it's day one of the placebo. I did have some nausea in the beginning, but that was to be expected when switching from the IUD to the pill. I haven't had any breakthrough bleeding or anything. Mild cramping at the normal time that I would be normally expecting a period, but I never did bleed. But I am not pregnant, haven't gained weight, and didn't have breakthrough bleeding, so it's doing its job for me personally."

• Ros...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 20, 2020

For Birth Control "I was happy on this pill until my doctor took me off because of high blood pressure. I'll miss it, and I'm upset that I can't be on it. No periods for 3 months. I don't think I experienced any side effects, but I do get headaches and cramps, which I see as normal as they weren't every day. I loved this pill. I have no issues that I know of. Everyone is different with different issues."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2015

For Birth Control "I am 18 years old, and I started this seasonal birth control 3 months ago. I have had on-and-off bleeding and major cramps. One day at school, I was starting to see double, and I was feeling extremely dizzy. Fifteen minutes later, my mother picked me up, and I started to have numbness in my arms and started to lose my speech. I went to the hospital and got brain scans, and they tested my whole body. But everything ended up normal. The doctor said it was rare for someone my age to get a TIA, but it was possible, in my case, it was minor. I have had tremendous weight gain and more acne. I tried to stick with it at first because I said it has to be at least 3 months. I have immediately stopped taking it, and my symptoms are all gone."

• Anonymous
• March 11, 2009

For Endometriosis "This drug did not work for me as I am unable to take any hormones. I managed to take it for 8 weeks before stopping. I started getting a period after about week 6, and it continued on and off right up until I stopped taking the drug. When I started getting my period, I still had the same symptoms (severe cramping, back pain, exhaustion, etc.) that I started taking the drug for to begin with."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2021

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been on this birth control for 2 months. It started out with some spotting, which I expected. However, it never stopped. I am now on my third month, and I am full on bleeding, and it shows no signs of stopping. The only thing it has sort of done is manage cramps, but it makes me nervous what will happen at the end of three months when I am actually supposed to have my period."

• Man...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 26, 2018

For Birth Control "Works great for me. I no longer have cramps while taking Seasonale. I switched to Tilia Fe when my new insurance didn't cover Seasonale, and I started having bad cramps again. So I am changing back to Seasonale even if I have to pay the cash price."

• Anonymous
• July 13, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been using Seasonale for about two years now. I have gained about 20 lb, I get dizzy sometimes, headaches all the time, and I get breakthrough bleeding about halfway through my pills. After a few days of spotting, I get my period. Still painful and lasts the whole 7 days, just like before. No heavier and no lighter. I plan to try something else as soon as I can."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2022

For Birth Control "I was prescribed this medication to help regulate my cycle and my emotions. It definitely helped with my emotions. But, I had breakthrough bleeding weeks 5 through 8. I stopped the pill 4 days ago, and I am still bleeding. It’s like having the worst, heaviest period of my life. The cramps are horrendous! I'm praying this bleeding stops very soon. I don’t recommend this pill at all."

• Age...
• June 10, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on Seasonale for almost a year, and I am switching to Sprintec. I am switching because the breakthrough bleeding and cramping became ridiculous. I would have my withdrawal bleed, have about 1-2 months of peace, then the spotting began and would not stop. I'd double up for 3-4 days or however long it took to stop it, then go back on 1 pill when the spotting stopped. 2 weeks later, the spotting would return, rinse and repeat. The cramps during the breakthrough bleeding were worse than the cramps during the withdrawal bleed! I've had enough of this pill and am switching to Sprintec and hoping for the best."

• Age...
• June 10, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on Seasonale for almost a year, and I am switching to Sprintec. I am switching because the breakthrough bleeding and cramping became ridiculous. I would have my withdrawal bleed, have about 1-2 months of peace, then the spotting began and would not stop. I'd double up for 3-4 days or however long it took to stop it, then go back on 1 pill when the spotting stopped. 2 weeks later, the spotting would return, rinse and repeat. The cramps during the breakthrough bleeding were worse than the cramps during the withdrawal bleed! I've had enough of this pill and am switching to Sprintec and hoping for the best."

• Arm...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 29, 2019

For Ovarian Cysts "Ended up with painful ovarian cysts."