Xulane and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Aer...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 31, 2017

For Birth Control "This is my first go with birth control. I have been on the patch for 6 months, and I am not that impressed. It has resolved some issues but also made some things worse. Before Xulane, I would get debilitating vomiting during my period, but cramps were scarce. It was heavy, and I would often get headaches. Now that I'm on Xulane, I haven't thrown up at all, and headaches are scarce, but cramps have been made so much worse. It's to the point where I wake up in the middle of the night because it hurts so bad, and I can't just sleep it off. On top of that, I'm getting two periods - very heavy 'spotting' a week before it's supposed to come and then another period the week I'm off the patch. I chose the patch because I have a hard time swallowing pills, but I think I'm going to have to reconsider this method and probably switch to pills."

• hal...
• December 22, 2015

For Birth Control "I tried it for a year. I was happy with it (except the first 2 weeks.. that sucked). Then this month, I don't know what happened, I couldn't get it the week I needed it, so I put the new one on a week late. Long story short, I had really bad cramps, dizziness, headaches, and a 6-week long period while on the birth control, which is supposed to stop it for 3 weeks at a time..."

• MAN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2021

For Birth Control "I started Xulane Nov 10th, 20201. First symptom that caught my attention was the painful boobs and the boob growth. My breasts were hurting so bad I couldn’t lay on them, nothing. Also, the patch was super itchy, but I continued. Come December 6th, I started spotting, which annoyed me because I got on birth control to skip my period altogether. Google told me it was my body getting used to the birth control and to keep using it, so I did. TODAY, Wednesday, Dec 15th, I changed to my new patch (this is like my 5th time changing it or something). The cramps were SO BAD I had to snatch it off and call it quits! I don't like Xulane, it is terrible. NO, NO, NO, I’d rather use condoms."

• lov...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 4, 2022

For Birth Control "I've been on it for probably about 7 months, and it was so much better than the pill. I definitely am still a bit more emotional, especially on my periods, but it regulates my irregular periods, though it makes my cramps worse (I normally don’t get cramps at all). At first, I did notice my sex drive was gone, but now I’d say it’s leveled out a bit to a normal level. The only problem is it’s randomly started to irritate my skin very badly, and get unbearably itchy, and leave dark red squares on my skin that stay for weeks. I might have to switch because of it, but gonna try putting it on my arm instead."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2017

For Birth Control "Haven't even had it on for a full month, but it's not too bad. The first week I put it on my hip bone/pelvic area. Had no problems other than very little cramping here and there. Although I do get moody some days, other days I'm fine. It's hit and miss. So that kind of sucks for my bf because I feel bad for snapping at him. But the second week I put it on my butt right before bed. The next day I was EXTREMELY nauseous and got the worst migraine ever and even felt feverish. I moved it back to my hip, but on the opposite side from before, and the symptoms went away after a few hours. Yay! I would recommend maybe staying away from meaty parts of the body. I think it might absorb it a lot more. But I've heard from other moms that said the same thing."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 5, 2021

For Birth Control "I felt fine for the first four days on the patch-very manageable nausea and some cramping. Then, the morning of the fifth day-BAM-I was more nauseous than I had ever been while pregnant. I vomited about five times in a row at 5 a.m. and felt so weak that I spent most of the day huddled over and unable to really do anything or take care of my kids very attentively. If a birth control method makes you think that an unintended pregnancy wouldn't be so bad in comparison, it's probably not a great method. I took off the patch, which relieved my cramping within a few hours, but I still felt nauseous through the evening."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2016

For Birth Control "I started the patch on Friday, and by Saturday night, I had started crying uncontrollably for no reason at all. This has not stopped, and today I'm missing school because of that and the gnarly cramps I'm also experiencing. I plan on calling my doctor today to see if I should try something different or wait and see if everything levels out."

• Ray...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I honestly love this patch. I’ve been on it for about 6 months. The first couple of months I had tender breasts, but I was told that was normal. Although I did go to MEPS (military entry processing station), and they noticed some lumps in my breast. They went away after a couple of weeks. My periods are way less, lighter, and shorter in length. Although my cramps are way worse. I believe that’s because I chose to do the 3 months without the period rather than having a period every month. 10/10 would recommend to anybody."

• Cra...
• January 13, 2016

For Birth Control "The first month I was on the patch, I bled for the entire month and was completely miserable. My second patch also fell off 10 minutes after I put it on, so I had to use my third patch and then wear it for 8 days because I had to get my next prescription a week early. The next month, my period was lighter, but I got it twice, both shorter than my usual 8-day cycle. This third month, I've had unbelievable cramps that no medicine will relieve and incredible nausea. On the bright side, I'm not pregnant, though I'm not sexually active, and my acne has cleared up a lot. Not sure if it's worth it, though."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2016

For Birth Control "So, I started the patch in late January, and at first, I felt terrible! Slowly, the terrible feeling went away, and I started my first period with the patch. The cramps were so bad! I couldn't do anything for the first day because moving made the cramping stronger. Also, my bleeding went from 3 tampons a day to using 2 tampons every eight hours and still leaking. I tried working out and eating healthier because my doctor told me that could help. NOPE! My bleeding has slowly become even worse. The only good thing about the patch is I'm not pregnant!!"

• Ano...
• December 31, 2017

For Birth Control "I have used this form of birth control, and it has been really helpful at controlling my periods. I have dysmenorrhea, and it has really helped my terrible cramps. I don't have any side effects, other than at week 3, I always get cramps. They are painful in my pelvis and anywhere near my genitals, my back, and/or my abdomen. The patch itself would begin to peel or roll up, and even start to roll up on my skin. It has never come off of my skin, and it has been in the water many times. I have a good schedule, and take it on and off weekly at the same time. I still don't understand why I get cramps before my period, but I have always had issues with other birth controls when it came to spotting and not being strong enough for me."

• Jes...
• May 25, 2015

For Birth Control "Since day one, I've been having a bad experience. It keeps making me paranoid because my period was late and because of the patch (hopefully) it made it end super early. I have the chills, cramps, headache, nausea, and vomiting. I feel like I'm pregnant, and I shouldn't be feeling like I am. I want to be intimate with my man, but I can't because, as directed, I can't be sexually active for a week when first using it. I have to wait until Tuesday when my gyn is open to let them know what's going on. I hate feeling nauseous and throwing up."

• Tnp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2015

For Birth Control "I switched to the patch after taking Seasonique for nearly four years. So far, I'm two months in, and while I like it, I'm beyond nauseous. I just put my patch back on after not wearing it for a week, and I have been vomiting for two days. TWO DAYS. Nothing is staying down but water. Another con is when I first started the patch, I was beyond emotional. I cried pretty much for the first week. Also, this could be because I had switched from an extended cycle pill, but I have cramps straight from the lowest pits of Mordor the week before my period. But it's worth it because I am not pregnant, and it's easier to use than the pill!"

• Nic...
• July 2, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on the patch for almost six months, and at first, it helped, but after the second period, it didn't work. I got really bad cramps, I was bleeding heavily like I did before, followed by every other period after that. I was on birth control, and my OB/GYN switched me to the patch because I gained 20 lbs in a year! Followed by a lecture on how to eat right. Well, switching to the patch, I lost 4 lbs! Also, I got very bad headaches from the patch, and I just couldn't take it anymore, I had to switch back to the pills!"

• Anonymous
• September 18, 2017

For Birth Control "This is my first time using birth control ever and the patch was my first choice because my stepmom has it and she recommended that I use it because she didn't want me to forget to take the pill every day. So let me tell you, the patch is good. Sometimes I used to have bad headaches a lot when I got on the patch. My headaches got worse to the point I didn't want to open my eyes. I never had bad cramps, I had them, but they weren't terrible, they were okay. When I started the patch, my cramps got so bad I would cry myself to sleep. I get back pains and a lot more than now when I'm cramping. I have mood swings all the time now, I feel very weak sometimes and nauseous most of the time. I have no skin problems. The patch is okay, sometimes I forget I'm wearing it."

• San...
• September 21, 2017

For Birth Control "I used Xulane for 3 weeks. On day 4 of using it, I passed out/fainted at work. I have also experienced nausea, cramps, mood swings, and a headache that was so bad I threw up."

• Kat...
• September 29, 2019

For Birth Control "I love this so much! I’ve had a little arm pain where the patch is, but no cramps, headache, or vomiting. I feel much happier using this. Try it out!! :)"