Ethinyl estradiol / levonorgestrel and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2019

For Birth Control "My pharmacy switched me from Orsythia to Larissia. I was on Orsythia for 2 years with no side effects. After switching, I noticed I gained weight, had constant fatigue, and mood swings. I didn’t think to blame the pill at first, but it all makes sense now. These side effects only happened after I switched to Larissia. I’m hoping to switch to another brand."

• Sta...
• May 7, 2013

For Birth Control "I was on the Depo shot for 11 years. I never had a period the entire time. It made me moody, psycho, and out-of-control crazy. It made me gain weight (from 95 lbs when I started the shot to 133 lbs when I stopped it). I am 5 ft 3 with a very small frame, 133 lbs is too much for my body. Talked to my Dr. and got Lutera instead. It is very low hormones. I can honestly say that the Depo made me crazy. This pill has changed that. In the first month, I noticed the improvement in my moods. My breast size increased from B to C, although tenderness occurs occasionally. Has helped grow my hair and has regulated my periods."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 22, 2016

For Birth Control "Started taking 3 years ago. It is important to understand more people will review for negative experiences. When I realized all the negative reviews on this birth control, I thought it was time to hear from a Lutera 'expert' (of course everyone's body is different). PROS: LIGHTER periods (went from 5-7 days of super tampons to 2-3 days of regular/light tampons!), CONSISTENT periods, LESS cramps, BIGGER boobs (lol I went up from an A to a B so I personally like this), NO pregnancy! CONS: HEADACHES (before/during/after period), MOOD SWINGS/DEPRESSION (idk if I'm crazy but I cry a lot and cause fights), BROWN periods, ACNE (never broke out before), WEIGHT GAIN (20 lbs in 3 yrs)."

• ILM...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 31, 2013

For Birth Control "Portia is good for preventing pregnancy. It also made my periods lighter and with hardly any cramps. The downside of this is the side effects I faced for 8 years. They included: Pain with intercourse, major migraines, neuropathy pain on the right side of my body, severe pain on my right side that made it extremely difficult to walk, episodes of expressive aphasia, which was extremely embarrassing when speaking to the doctors I worked with. Luckily, they blew it off with a joke. Dizziness, off balance, and blurred vision. Weight gain. I went to many doctors and had a lot of tests, and nobody could figure out what was wrong with me. When I stopped this pill last year so we could try to get pregnant, all my issues went away."

• Blo...
• November 9, 2016

For Birth Control "When I started Jolessa, I had been on the Depo Provera shot for almost two years. While on Depo, I gained 30 lbs, and I experienced every side effect. When I switched to Jolessa, I didn't experience spotting, and my weight plateaued. I am very pleased with Jolessa, and I love that my periods are only every three months, also that they are only heavy for three days. I know I keep water weight given that I am on birth control, but that's the only negative thing I have to say about Jolessa!"

• aem...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 23, 2014

For Birth Control "Started taking Camrese to combat PMS-related anxiety, and it totally leveled me out. Now I take it for contraceptive purposes, and it has worked great. I gained 20 lbs the first time on it, went off, lost some of the weight, went back on it, and haven't gained since. No spotting after the first pack, once my body was regulated. The dose of constant hormones really helped me feel in control and normal again."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2018

For Birth Control "This garbage has completely destroyed my system. PLEASE seek a replacement if you start feeling off! This garbage has changed who I am mentally and physically. I was “giving it a chance” for my body to adjust, but it has put me into insane bouts of depression and uncontrollable mood swings (as in bawling my eyes out and then rage screaming the next). I’ve gained weight, have acne, a yeast infection, spotting, etc. This “birth control” pill is DANGEROUS."

• Kyx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2022

For Birth Control "I really liked Lutera, was on it for 6 months, but Nurx has decided to send me the generic Vienva for the next 6 months instead. Mood was great on it, didn't experience any weight gain. As someone who has had issues with depression and anxiety, I was worried going from Nuvaring to a pill, but I had no issues with mental health. In fact, I have felt better than ever. I have previously felt like I have a low sex drive, but this has actually had me feeling pretty good in that regard, and that may be related to how it didn't have effects on my mood. Everyone's body responds differently to birth control, but Lutera really worked for me. Hope Vienva is just as good!"

• Rio...
• March 3, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been taking Lutera for a year. It has protected against pregnancy very well. My periods are much lighter, and I almost never get cramps. I have missed 2 periods, which was a little scary. I have gained about 8 pounds, and I crave sweet foods even more than I used to. My breasts are slightly bigger. I feel tired if I don't get at least 10 hours of sleep. My sex drive is slightly lower. I do have a mood swing usually about once a month, where I cry about anything and everything for 2 days. I have always felt more emotional right before my periods, but I did not cry as much before. I think I am going to switch birth control because of the weight gain. Other than that, the side effects do not bother me."

• Lil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 5, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Seasonale for 6 years now. I’ve never had any side effects such as weight gain, decreased sex drive, etc. Every 3-month package I take, I’ve never had a breakthrough unless I forgot to take my pills for a few days. It’s been the most effective birth control for me. I love it."

• Anonymous
• February 5, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been on Lutera for almost a year, and that's the first and only birth control pill I've ever been on, so I can't compare it to others. However, I have found this pill pretty good. The lower dosage of hormone still works as well as any other pill as long as you wait about three months after starting it. My skin got so much softer, and my periods are now very predictable. My breasts got a lot fuller (B-D cup), and my hair grew longer and is now shinier. I have mild mood swings, but that's how I was before I started Lutera, so I doubt it's due to the pill. I did gain some weight, I get a few stomach cramps, and my breasts hurt a little from time to time. Everyone's different, and I recommend this pill to not only first-time users, but to everyone."

• Anonymous
• April 1, 2010

For Birth Control "After being on Ortho-Tri-Cyclen, which gave me every possible bad symptom in the world, I asked my Ob/Gyn to put me on Aviane after reading some good things about it. Aviane has been a godsend. I have been on it for about a month now. No/very little weight gain. Hardly any mood swings (nothing abnormal from when I have my period). No breakthrough bleeding and no acne. I am on day 2 of my period now, and it even seems a lot lighter than it normally was. Aviane is amazing!"

• Tor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2018

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I've been on this for a month, and I was in horrible shape. Spotting, mood swings, headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath, weight gain, major cramps, and tummy gurgling. I was in a bad mood every day, and I couldn't be nice to my children. I stopped taking them, and it's like magic, all my symptoms disappeared. I'm so upset. My new doctor recommended this since they do not carry Chateal. I loved Chateal. It worked great! I wish my insurance carried these. Never will I take nor recommend this because."

• Fr1...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 16, 2022

For Birth Control "I've been on Seasonique for nearly 5 years. It cleared up cystic acne, lessened the severity and frequency of my migraines, and most importantly, controlled the psychotic symptoms I have with severe PMDD and menstrual psychosis. The drawback? I gained over 30 lbs without major exercise or dietary changes. So it's a toss-up in my opinion."

• Han...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I started Aubra because I had severe cramps. The first few months had been really great and pain-free. My period became gradually more painful as I continued to take it. I had also gained over 35 pounds even though I worked out and ate well. My sex drive disappeared completely, and my period was so light it was barely there, but it was still really painful. My depression and anxiety had gotten so bad I had to leave my job because I was so anxious I could not work efficiently anymore. I felt like I wasn’t myself anymore, and it got to the point where I could no longer look in the mirror at my body anymore because of the weight gain. I’ve been off of it for two days, and I hope my life returns to normal."

• apa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 10, 2020

For Birth Control "I used to get extreme cramps, and I would get super nauseous while on my period. And they would be heavy and super irregular. So I got on birth control to get my period to be regular. I love only getting my period four times a year. I haven’t had any crazy side effects like weight gain. I do get mild mood swings, but I don’t think it’s because of the birth control. I highly recommend this birth control."

• Per...
• February 9, 2016

For Birth Control "This was the first pill prescribed to me in my teen years (I'm 32 now). I took them for about 3 years before I got off the pill altogether for about 10 years. When I got back on the pill, I was prescribed a different brand and went with it thinking how bad can it be...biggest mistake ever!!! After 8 months of suffering on the other pill, I switched back to my old, trusty Levora. What a relief!!! I experience very little, if any, side effects on this pill, and it immediately started to reverse the chaos the other pill had caused my body (weight gain, bloating, and severe mood swings). Thank you, Levora!!"

• Ris...
• February 12, 2020

For Birth Control "This is the absolute worst birth control I ever took. Weight gain to the max. And not to mention, I have been having the most insane night terrors religiously. My eyes are sensitive to lights. I feel tired always and so depressed. My doctor switched me to this one because they called in the wrong pill and told me it was fine to take for a month. I truly do not feel like myself at all. I am stopping it immediately. DO NOT TAKE EVER!"

• FL2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2014

For Birth Control "I started Lutera about a month ago. I was on the Nuvaring before that. I switched to Lutera because being as active as I am, the Nuvaring somehow found its way out. Lutera is the first birth control pill that I have taken, and my experience has been great so far. The pills are small and easy to swallow, which was a huge plus! I did not have breakthrough bleeding on the pill like I did with the Nuvaring {I skip my periods purposely by starting a new pack instead of the inactive week pill/Nuvaring}, so that was fantastic as well. No pregnancies here, so it's been very effective for that! I never had any nausea with the pill, but I did have some weight gain {about 6 pounds, which did not make me happy!}."

• May...
• March 8, 2020

For Birth Control "The worst birth control pill ever. Was on IUD before and decided to switch because I felt it was better for me in the long run. Been on it for 2 months and noticed that switching was the worst decision I have ever made. The IUD worked great for me. No side effects and no weight gain. When I switched to Larissia, I gained 10 lbs in 2 months, and I can’t seem to get the weight off. The less I eat, the more I gain, and I was never like that. My anxiety level has been out of control as well. I’m always fatigued and groggy. Though it was all in my head, but after I saw all the reviews, I’m definitely stopping it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 14, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been taking Lutera since Aug 2012, and everything is good. I did gain a couple extra pounds (which I shed off pretty quickly due to having a fast metabolism), but that beats being pregnant when you are not ready. Also, my breasts are HUGE, and I am LOVING it! I have been taking this because of my irregular periods. I did have slight bleeding a few months ago for about 2-3 days, but after reading the pamphlet, that was listed as a side effect. I have noticed that I am a bit more moody, but all in all it works great for me. Everybody is different, so if it works for you, great. If not, there are dozens of other pills/methods."

• Ksg...
• August 15, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for 3 months, and I've gained 10 pounds. I'm bloated the first two weeks of my pills. It's terrible. I always start in the middle of my row of my active pills, and my period is long. Like 8 days. Not happy. I'm calling to switch. I switched from Minastrin Fe, which was terrible too."

• Cle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2020

For Birth Control "When I started taking Alesse, the only side effects were feeling a bit nauseous for the first few days. I’ve now been on it for a month and a half, and I’ve noticed increased mood swings, sadness, and irritability that I never experienced before taking Alesse. I’m also starting to experience a bit of depression (not sure if it’s related to birth control). I’ve gained a bit of weight and feel bloated, appetite has increased majorly. At times, I also feel like my sex drive is lower. I’m going to continue until the 3rd pack, if I see no improvement, I consider switching to a non-hormonal birth control."

• Joy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 12, 2013

For Birth Control "My doctor switched me from YAZ to Alesse to help with the weight gain that YAZ gave me (20 pounds in 1 year), and I hate this birth control. From the first month of using it, I was an angry beast, it was way too much. Second month, I noticed that I lost a little bit of the weight, but I noticed I would start crying for no reason often and become depressed. My doctor told me to stick it out for 3 months. Third month, I am still an angry beast, as well as extremely irritable for extended periods of time. Mind you that YAZ also caused some of these symptoms as well, but on Alesse it was tripled."

• 1Ow...
• November 2, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been using Alesse for a year now, and I have great skin, although I did have clear skin prior to Alesse. I have gained 10 lbs. I haven't been able to pinpoint what is wrong with me, so to speak, and after reading all of the reviews, I feel I have FINALLY targeted the issue. I have always been sensitive, but I have been EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL this past year, crying at the smallest things. I have been so emotional that I am currently suffering from depression. Yes, I did not get pregnant, but I don't believe this pill is worth the side effects!"