Ethinyl estradiol / levonorgestrel and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• February 25, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m on my first month of using Lutera, and so far I’ve had no major side effects. The only side effect I’ve noticed the first week was a little mild cramping, but other than that this birth control has been good to me :)"

• Lar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2019

For Birth Control "I am on my last week of the pills. It’s a 13-week supply, with the 13th week being estrogen-only pills. I was expecting my cycle to pop up, but with only 2 estrogen-only pills left, I’ve only experienced slight cramping, no bleeding. The past few months, I haven’t had any bleeding, spotting, or cramping at all. I started the pills to delay my period because it was so unbearable. My doctor said with these, I’d get 4 periods a year. I can live with that. As of now, still no period, and I can’t say I miss them at all. These pills work absolutely great for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2019

"I have been on Amethia contraceptive pill for about a month and a half. At first, everything was going great with no side effects. Now, for the last 2 weeks, I have had nothing but heavy spotting that seems more like a light flow period. The blood is dark brown, almost blackish in color, with a lot of blood clots, and the cramping is terrible. I'm really trying to stick it out, but I don't know how much longer I can take it. I switched from Generess FE to this because that pill was starting to give me month-long periods. I really hope things don't end up being the same with this new one. I'm also super moody and cranky. Has anyone else had any success? Does the spotting last for much longer?"

• Lol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2017

For Birth Control "Moodiness increased, sex drive lowered to the point where I didn't want anything to do with my partner, extremely emotional, painful periods, and depressed. I've been off for about a month and feel so much better."

• J J...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm 19, and I started taking Lutera 4 months ago. It's been working pretty well for me, but I had a horrible period, mood swings, and nausea in the first month I took it. After that, my periods were light, and the only side effect that stuck around was some breast tenderness and mild cramping on the first day of my period. Also, it caused my breasts to grow larger, even though I weigh the same as when I started it. It's a great birth control pill once you get past the first few weeks."

• tru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2013

For Birth Control "I've taken oral contraceptives for a couple of years, almost 10 years ago. I decided to try again and was prescribed Orsythia. While it does its job - I'm not pregnant - I'm constantly tired and sleepy, my sex drive is almost nonexistent now, my breasts often hurt, and the first day of my period is very painful. I can take Tylenol for the menstrual pain, but other side effects are unacceptable."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 12, 2025

For Birth Control "I have used Lutera for 13 years. I'm sexually active and have never been pregnant while taking this pill. I'm currently 42 and have been told that I'm still safe to take it. It's a low-dose combo pill that is safe to use for women who aren't high risk for side effects from using oral contraceptives (refer to your physician). I have had no side effects from this pill. I get the normal PMS syndromes I have always had (since I was a teen before I even went on BC), like breast tenderness and occasional cramping, but overall it has been very effective with no other side effects."

• Liz...
• December 12, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been on Lutera for a few years now. I could not be happier with the results! I noticed after the first few packs my period was diminishing. After about 4 months, I had no period at all: no spotting, no bleeding, no PMS, no cramps, no mood swings. I took several pregnancy tests over the next few months because I was scared that I didn't get a period. But I was never pregnant! So after all this time, I'm still having no period and no PMS symptoms. I have to explain every time I go to the doctor why I can't put an answer on the question, 'When was the last date of your menstrual cycle?'"

• Ray...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 15, 2020

For Birth Control "This was the worst birth control I have ever been on. I am honestly stopping birth control because this stuff gave me the worst mental breakdown of my life. I stopped taking it and immediately started bleeding after. I have gotten acne where I have never had it before, and I have had the worst flare-up of BV in my life... not even antibiotics helped. Now I suffer from severe cramps and stuff, and this made things worse... I have never been laid out in bed because of cramps before this medication... 100% do not recommend!!!!"

• Ano...
• January 7, 2014

For Birth Control "Started taking this birth control at 16 and have taken it for a year now. The first three months were horrible, I had mood swings where I would start crying randomly, most of the time because I would take it at 7 pm and around 9 pm would begin feeling sharp cramps in my stomach that were unbearable. It was so hard to continue taking them at work knowing I would be in pain from them. However, after three months, I stopped having pain. Before the pill, I had terrible cramps on my period, but since Alesse, my cramps are much milder. My mood swings have calmed down, and I am not affected at all! A good thing to keep in mind is Alesse is a mild birth control (less hormones than others), so you can still take other medications. I love it, good choice!"

• bec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2013

For Birth Control "I've had no negative side effects. Been on it for two months. No acne, I lost weight and my sex drive shot through the roof! No pregnancies. Only thing is my periods are a bit heavier and more cramps. But it only lasts four days."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2020

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I love Lutera!! So I switched to Lutera 3 months ago from Junel Fe 1.5/30, and Lutera was so much better! It was a change from a higher dose to a lower dose, so maybe my body reacts better to a lower dose, not sure, but Junel Fe gave me so many mood swings, cramps, and anxiety, which is not normal for me. I don’t usually experience mental health issues, so it was totally out of the normal for me, and it was horrible. Before Junel, I was on Tarina Fe 1/20, and that one gave me spotting all the time! The spotting was always brown. Very annoying. It defeated the purpose of me being on birth control because my main reason to be on it was to regulate my period. But after going from Tarina to Junel to Lutera, I’m happy to say I found a BC that reacts well with my body. I’m sticking with Lutera! The only side effect I have is tender breasts and some slight PMS. My period is regular, on point, and I’m not pregnant, so I recommend!"

• Jem...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on Aviane for 13 years. I don't experience a single negative symptom, and the few times over the many years I've missed a month (due to vacationing and forgetting my birth control pack at home), my cramps are significant. On the pill, I don't experience cramps, weight gain, mood swings, or anything. Off the pill, I get cramps during my cycle. This BC works very well with my system."

• Car...
• September 21, 2015

For Birth Control "After being off BC for 8 years, I finally had to get back on. I've been on this BC for 2 months, no problems so far. I used to get severe cramps, but since taking Lutera, it's been all better. No weight gain, no mood swings, or no loss of sleep either. My skin has cleared up a bit as well. I used to break out before my time off the month, and now I don't. So far, so good, everybody is different. What might not work for me won't work for others."

• Hal...
• January 3, 2020

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "For 4 months or more, my periods lasted 10-18 days. Then, I started getting infection after infection. I had UTIs, yeast infections, staph, a parasite, and was experiencing random intense burning pain in my vagina that would send me to the ER until they gave me pain meds to treat at home. Then, I started getting circulation issues. My fingers, arms, and legs would tingle and go numb periodically. Then, I occasionally started getting extreme pain when having bowel movements. Now the pain is every day, and I have constant abdominal pain and cramping. I’m in so much pain and have missed so much work I’m worried I’ll lose my job. I’m so glad that I had an epiphany that all this started when my BC was switched. I have also noticed my breath is disgusting, my mouth is always dry, I’m tired all the time, depressed, forgetful, and have started getting irrationally paranoid about stupid stuff. I’m never taking BC again."

• Lis...
• March 16, 2010

For Birth Control "My only complaint is that my period has not ended, and I'm on day 11. Who wants to bleed for 11 days and counting?! I'm going to my OB/GYN this week and will ask her to switch the pill. I haven't had any other side effects; no cramps, no weight gain, no acne, just abnormal lengthy bleeding."

• Spo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 13, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I loved the thought of not having a period every month, as advertised. It worked great for 6 and 1/2 years. Light spotting when I started back then, and lighter periods and not buying so many tampons was very nice! I got off the pill for 6 months (for financial reasons). Decided to go back on it, and now I'm in month two and on my 11th day bleeding. Started as spotting, then got heavier each day after, and minor clotting. I saw dark brown blood on day 9 of bleeding, thought it was ending finally, then the next day...BAM, back to bright red bleeding again, and horrible cramping to go with it! I'm a mess emotionally. It's like PMS, but not going away once the period starts. I think it's turned on me. Time for a switch! I can't afford all these pads."

• Ker...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2017

For Birth Control "I was switched to Vienva from Orsythia by my pharmacy last month. I called my doc to make sure it was okay, and she said yes, they have the same active ingredients and may just have some different fillers and additives, but it should not affect me. I was upset because I had been on Orsythia for 6+ months with no problems at all. I just finished my first week of Vienva and have had some side effects. I feel nauseous a lot of the time, cramps periodically, increased anxiety, no appetite, fatigue, and get dizzy at times. I wasn't able to find any reviews of Vienva on other sites, so I'm leaving my review here to hopefully help others in the same situation. I'm going to try to stick it out and see if the side effects go away after a couple of months."

• Ros...
• January 7, 2019

For Birth Control "This product should be banned! Everything that can go wrong will go wrong! Painful abdominal cramping all day, every day, breast tenderness and heavy pain in breasts, dramatic mood swings, intense depression, cramping during sex, yeast infections, dry skin and scalp itch, numbness in arms and legs, heart palpitations. It is taking STOP IMMEDIATELY and talk to your doctor. I was put on this without my consent!"

• Sup...
• December 29, 2010

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I started this pill to only have 4 periods a year. I don't need the birth control because my husband is 'fixed.' I was like clockwork every 28 days, but my period would last 7 horrible days. I had major bleeding, clotting, and cramps. So, I thought this would help with both the flow and amount of time. I started the pill 8 weeks ago, since then, I have been bleeding (enough to wear a pad) for 4.5 of those weeks. My breasts are super sore and have grown a cup size. I have had cramping for most of the time. I'm going to stop because it's causing the very thing I'm trying to eliminate."

• Sup...
• December 29, 2010

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I started this pill to only have 4 periods a year. I don't need the birth control because my husband is 'fixed.' I was like clockwork every 28 days, but my period would last 7 horrible days. I had major bleeding, clotting, and cramps. So, I thought this would help with both the flow and amount of time. I started the pill 8 weeks ago, since then, I have been bleeding (enough to wear a pad) for 4.5 of those weeks. My breasts are super sore and have grown a cup size. I have had cramping for most of the time. I'm going to stop because it's causing the very thing I'm trying to eliminate."

• Lut...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2013

For Birth Control "Been on Lutera for 4 months now, and it's been good! Went to Planned Parenthood because the wait for my gyno was 2 months, and I didn't want to continue risking pregnancy... newlywed here! I was worried at first because I had terrible side effects from other BCs (Depo made my hair fall out and Seasonique made me overly emotional and gave me sharp chest pains). I take this one at 10:30 pm each night. Side effects for me: my boobs are larger and sore; I was a little crampy the first few weeks; I get moody around 6:30 pm each night like clockwork (I'm guessing due to the hormone levels dropping in my body?). Skin and weight stayed the same. Periods are light, short, barely any cramps. No baby. Also, I still have my HAIR! Happy so far."

• Fae...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2020

For Ovarian Cysts "Been on this pill for 2 weeks! Most horrible experience ever. I was having such extreme stomach pains that I thought I was having appendicitis, and my stomach has been tender to touch, and the cramping hasn’t gone away for a week! Emotional outbursts and crying (sobbing) for no reason. This birth control is horrible. I’m done."

• Tan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I was very excited to start this and get a hold of my endometriosis, but as soon as I started this, I started breaking out, gaining weight, couldn’t sleep anymore, my anxiety became so much worse than it had been, bleeding every day, cramping off and on, and headaches. It has made me feel crazy, and I just stopped taking it. I’m praying this goes away fast. I am highly disappointed."

• Ms ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I started taking Levora 3 months ago with the initial goal to correct my anemia and reduce bleeding. My Dr. prescribed it for a short period of time, 6 months max. I must say, I started bleeding heavily before the first 'scheduled' period on the pack. I bled for nearly 2 weeks, which never happened before. The Dr. office nurse said it was normal to get used to the medication. Fine. Now, I'm on the 4th month of taking Levora and I'm quitting it because I'm outraged that, again, I have heavy bleeding for nearly two weeks, and it's not even close to the 'period' mark on the blister. Again, that's very concerning and causing my anxiety to spike. I haven't noticed any weight gain, however, acne appeared on my face and chest, which hasn't happened since my teenage years. Also, I noticed worsening symptoms of gas, bloating, cramping, and pain in my ovaries."