Xulane and Sore Breasts: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Ken...
• May 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I'm on month one of Xulane, my last patch of the month. I love this method 'cause it's so easy. BUT let me tell you, I get the craziest mood swings, and my emotions are all over the place. There are days when I'm randomly sad over the silliest things or just don't want to deal with people, PMS but times ten! I get nausea here and there too, not too often, but when I do, it really sucks. My breasts are extremely tender, sometimes I'll wake up in the morning to my boobs feeling so heavy and sensitive. Also, my appetite... I eat a lot! Now for my periods, I haven't gotten it, but most of the time I feel like I'm on it. I'll get minor cramps or get bloated and fatigued. I will probably get off the patch, which is unfortunate 'cause of how easy it is, but it's just not for me. I have every negative symptom."

• Ash...
• November 12, 2015

For Birth Control "Didn't want to be on any birth control. In the past, I've been on the shot, the pill, NuvaRing, hated it all. Gyno said I should be on BC, so now I'm on the patch. Been on it less than a month, and it's a terrible experience. I'm throwing up all the time, stomach hurts, boobs hurt so bad, so moody I don't want to be around myself (can go from crying because it's the most ridiculous thing to wanting to rip somebody's face off for breathing in seconds). When I think I'm done bleeding, it starts right back up. I eat everything because I'm always starving, and I'm breaking out. :("

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I have 3 months on the Xulane patch. The first week on the patch was horrible, with heart racing, nausea, headaches, itching on the patch site, and painful breasts. I didn't want to give up on it that fast, so I decided to suck it up and give it a chance."

• EZB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been using this patch for 2 weeks, and I feel exhausted. I keep sleeping, and I still feel sleepy. I do not have drive for doing regular activities, and all started since I used this product. My breasts are tender but look bigger, which I don't mind at all. I feel very moody as well for no reason. I was hesitant about this patch brand because I did not have the knowledge. I used another brand before and loved the patches as birth control methods. My insurance covered all the cost. The pharmacy told me the out-of-pocket cost is $106, which is not bad for me. I think it's worth it."

• Pai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I was so upset to hear that my insurance no longer covered Ortho Era. I absolutely loved that patch! I never had any side effects, and it even decreased my appetite to where I lost a decent amount of weight over the year I was on it. Unfortunately, I'm about to start my third patch of this one and have had a terrible experience with it so far. I love the ease of only having to change it once a week, but the symptoms so far aren't worth it. I have bloating, constipation, headaches, tiredness, tender breasts, terrible mood swings/depression, acne, and I'm constantly craving sweets! I've been eating like a total hog. I plan on sticking with it, hoping that the symptoms will subside. I will update after a few months of taking it if my symptoms get any better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on the patch for about four months now after getting my Mirena IUD removed. My husband and I are not ready for children, so I figured this was the next best option. I am 27 and have been on multiple forms of birth control before the IUD and have a history of anxiety and IBS. The first 2 months, I experienced breast tenderness and basically 2 periods/month while my body was adjusting. Slight stomachache and fatigue, nothing I couldn’t handle. But in the last 2 months, I have felt major mood swings and lethargy, and my anxiety has been a lot worse. I started tracking my symptoms and found that I actually felt better on my period in terms of anxiety and nausea than when I had the patch on. I am going to go off of it next week because I think the hormones are making me crazy. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. Effective for stopping pregnancy, but not the birth control for me."

• Aan...
• February 5, 2019

For Birth Control "I suffer from PMDD. Prior to Xulane, I was on Yasmin, loved it for the most part but stopped to check out what my blood pressure was doing. When I decided to go back on birth control, I wanted to try something different. I was on the Pill for 3 years. I always remembered to take it, but had problems with certain pills (Lorina & Ortho Tri). The first two months on the patch, my boobs and nipples were EXTREMELY sore all of the time. By the 3-4 month, my breast tenderness went to normal. I have been on it for almost 6 months now. My periods are starting to lighten up. I feel like it treats my PMDD symptoms about as well as Yasmin did, so I will take it. I was expecting the patch not to treat my PMDD at all. I’ve had some patches fall off, but I’ve solved it by putting it on a low contact area of my back and rubbing it for 5 minutes when applying, and not taking a hot shower before or directly after applying it. I did get rashes when I put it on my butt, but on my back, they are basically fine."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on the patch for about three months, taking it continuously. The first month, I had severe breast pain, some nausea, bloating, and over that time, I also gained about 17 lbs. In the second month, those side effects lessened, however, I started spotting, which slowly progressed to complete bleeding over the entire following month. I finally had to stop taking it after so much bleeding that kept getting progressively worse, and it took over a week to stop bleeding again after I stopped."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm on my third week and cannot wait to get my period and go back to pills. The first week I was nauseous, but that went away. For all weeks, I've been anxious, paranoid, emotional, unable to sleep through the night, and broken out. My breasts have increased a full size and were incredibly sore the first two weeks. The breakout started on my forehead but now, during week three, has taken over my arms! My chest and back are also broken out. So disappointed that the patch did not clear my skin like Loryna pills, it has only made my skin worse. The estrogen must be too high of a dosage for me."

• Fun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2016

For Birth Control "I've recently started the patch due to health reasons - not contraception (although it is a win-win). I haven't been on BC in over 10 years, so I have nothing really to compare it to. However, I will say this: I've found that the Xulane patch makes me a bit nauseous at times, but those phases never last more than 10 minutes, although those 10 minutes can be very intense. It gets to the point where I'm salivating, extremely warm, and feel as if I am about to hurl (but I never do). That typically happens twice a day. I've also found that my usual problems with constipation have diminished since being on the patch (I no longer think that is coincidence). My breasts are also more full (plus for me, lol), but also more sensitive; minor weight gain as well."

• Bro...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on Ortho Evra for about a year, then on this for 3-4 years. In the beginning, it was fine, but slowly started losing hair, retaining water, experiencing chronic anxiety (could barely handle driving at times), chronic brain fog, and major depression with highs and lows. My general practitioner believes it's because of the excess hormones suppressing my liver production. I hate this patch so much for ruining my thick hair and decreasing my quality of life. Sex was disappointing, so I stopped having it and didn't even care. I will never use this again. My breasts swelled as if I was pregnant, and they always hurt. Remember, this is a high dose of synthetic hormones. In my opinion, use with extreme caution. I say run far away from this."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 18, 2021

For Birth Control "When I first began this birth control, I had symptoms for 3 months (which they say is normal): tender breasts, headaches, mood changes, moodiness, anxiety, tiredness, and really bad breakouts with cystic acne. But to be honest, I already was dealing with hormonal acne, so I can’t be sure it was my birth control that caused it or not, bloating. After the initial 3 months, though, most of those symptoms went away. I’m now a year and 8 months into it, and my boobs are still fuller than before and have gone up a cup size. My acne is almost nonexistent except for a pimple or two before my period. My anxiety, though, is crappy, but I had anxiety. I used to get a headache every time I changed my patch, but that went away, and now it’s nausea. When I change my patch, and when I take it off, I’m nauseous for the entire next day to two days, which really sucks. I usually take Dramamine to help combat it, but it’s been going on for 4-5 months now."

• DNI...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2018

For Birth Control "Been on the patch about 2 months, and so far, so good. I had my tubes tied 7 years ago, so I’m not really using it for the contraceptive. After getting my tubes tied, my periods were awful!! Like between 7/8 heavy days every month! With the patch, it’s slowed down to about 4 days, so no complaints on that side, but I’m always extremely tired after changing my patch! Like I literally sleep all day on my change day! My breasts have definitely increased, which isn’t a bad thing lol if they weren’t so sore all the time."

• She...
• April 16, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve had a pretty good experience with Xulane. I’ve been using it for about two years. The big thing I would say is that this patch has more estrogen in it than oral contraception, which I believe is what causes the enhanced side effects. My patch day is Sunday, and I do notice that on Sunday and Monday, I tend to have headaches and nausea. My breasts hurt more all month, so that can be irritating, but I have not had any weight gain, and my moods are relatively even. It works as far as not getting pregnant, as long as you use it correctly every time. I’m very paranoid about birth control, so I change it at the same time every week and do a quick check throughout the day to make sure it is still there. If used correctly, it’s just as effective as the pill and more so for me because I was notorious for missing days while on the pill. My periods come on time every month. I would say if you’re someone who has a hard time taking a pill every day, it’s worth a shot!"

• Joy...
• August 5, 2018

For Birth Control "I started on Xulane 2 weeks ago. I placed the initial patch on a Wednesday. The first thing I noticed was itchiness around the site of placement. Just a mild irritation that eventually went away. Also, the second thing I’ve noticed is breast tenderness and swelling. I am on my second week, and my breasts are VERY sore to touch. They feel heavy and swollen. I’ve also had some itching on or around my breasts. I’ve had some mild nausea as well. I like the convenience of only replacing it once a week. I went to the beach with mine on my lower abdomen. It stayed in place. I noticed it was coming up a bit when I got home, but it’s still on and flat as of right now. I was in the water a little over two hours. So, I think it held up pretty well. I have about 2 days until I change it again. I place it in a different spot every time, like the instructions say to do. We’ll see how I feel when it’s cycle time. I haven’t noticed any mood swings as of present."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2018

"Been on birth control to reduce the cramping and heavy periods following the birth of my 3rd child and tubal ligation. I’m 43, 5’3” and 130 lbs. Started with NuvaRing, which worked great years ago for me, but now I bled all the time with it. Switched to pills but couldn’t remember to take them each month. Doc recommended the patch. Been on it for about 6 weeks. Goes on easy and is foolproof. No issues with it sliding/coming off. However, I notice my breasts ache nearly all month. I have headaches and a lot of neck tension/pain. I’ve gained about 7 lbs and am retaining a lot of water/am bloated. My anxiety is awful-like a motor running in my chest and then intermittent episodes of depression; crying, tearfulness, and lethargy. Also, agitation. It’s just awful for me. I’m going off it and back on the pill."

• Han...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 18, 2022

For Birth Control "I started the patch about 2 years ago. It was a good choice for me because I was forgetful with the pill. My period definitely got lighter, I still get pretty bad cramps. I do use the patch all the time, my gyno told me to take it off for a week every 3-4 months. I love not getting my period unless I decide to! Reading all these reviews made me realize that I think it did make my breasts bigger! They definitely get sore sometimes. The patches rarely fall off or start peeling. I recommend showering and cleaning the area with alcohol to remove all the oil and sweat. I put it on my upper back between my shoulders, I noticed if I put it anywhere the skin moves, it would come off. I am a little concerned that it is messing with my mental health. I am bipolar and my medication for that decreases the effectiveness of the birth control. I do recommend the patch, though, I do not notice any weight gain or rashes. I also do not notice any headaches when I change it."

• 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."

• Lov...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2019

For Birth Control "Xulane patch is amazing! My periods are lighter and no PMS. I love my patch on my butt. The only downfall is sore breasts and headaches."

• Bet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 2, 2019

For Birth Control "Nausea, diarrhea, migraine, extreme breast tenderness, and fatigue. I feel lousy. I'm not pregnant, but I feel as bad as if I were."