Junel 1/20 for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 4)

• Non...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 19, 2018

"Junel 1/20 is terrible! My doctor put me on this pill to help with my endometriosis, and it has done nothing! I’ve had experiences where I’ve bled for a month straight, and it’s done nothing for my pain! I still fall to the ground and lay there for a few minutes before I find the strength to get up! Ladies, your doctor knows the body, but you know your body better! If it’s been 3 months or 10, if you have issues, please change your pill because you’re doing more harm than good."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2018

"It says don't take if you are a smoker and over 35. Well, I don't smoke, but I'm over 35 years old. I can say side effects are nothing major. I've had spotting, nausea, headaches, and no sex drive at all. My discharge has been greenish, but I heard birth control pills can cause it because I haven't got an infection. I forget to take it at the same time sometimes, but overall, so far, so good."

• and...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 1, 2022

"Have been taking Junel 1/20 for about 7 years. I initially started taking it to help with my irregular periods and acne. It was a godsend! My periods are regular and only last three days now. I didn't have weight gain or any other side effects. I did experience mood swings and irritability for the first three to four months, but powered through. I spoke to my doctor about it, and she explained that it's normal as your body gets used to it. Highly recommend!"

• Vee...
• April 13, 2021

"3rd week of my 1st pack, and so far, so good! Prior birth control I was taking made me spot during the 2nd week for 5 months, and finally got my Dr to switch me, and BAM, no bleeding in between my period so far. Wish Drs would understand that they don't know our bodies the way we know."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2022

"Ok, so I'm 19 and wanted to start BC as I’m sexually active now, so I went to my gyno and she gave me this. Now, I was hesitant at first, but I’ve been taking it for a month and I have been feeling nauseous, I even felt so bad I had to force it out of my system. I’ve been having yeast infections as well. Also, HOO WEE, the weight gain. Now, I’m 5’6, and I have a fast metabolism, so I was always 120 and always had a good body, but after taking this, I have stomach fat and now weigh 135 lb. I could essentially work out, because I don’t, but it’s crazy that a birth control is messing with my hormones that much that I have to go to that length. I also have depression and anxiety sometimes, but I just feel more unmotivated than usual, which isn’t helping because I’m in school. Anyway, the only maybe good thing is that you may not get your period, but this ain’t worth it. I didn’t even read these reviews until now, because I was seriously getting concerned with my weight gain."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 1, 2021

"This pill is terrible. Do not use this pill. This was the second pill I was put on because my insurance company stopped covering the old one. I was on this pill for 15 months, during which time I had super heavy periods every other week, horrible mood swings, and ridiculously painful cramps. Furthermore, if I took the pill at night, I woke up nauseous in the morning. Save yourself the trouble. If I could rate it zero stars, I absolutely would."

• Lil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 20, 2022

"This is my third year on Junel Fe. It is the best birth control I've had. Historically, my periods were painful. I missed work and could not function for the first day or two of getting my period. After having a daughter, my doctor prescribed this pill. I experienced intense nausea the first two weeks, comparable to morning sickness. This went away. I have lost weight on Junel Fe. My moods were noticeably regulated during the pre- and menstrual phase. My periods went from moderately heavy and passing clots to light periods to no periods after a year of use. I did find that if I missed 3 pills, I would experience breakthrough bleeding that lasted a few weeks, leading to the need for a reset. Every woman is unique. This has worked for me, and I ask for it specifically when some doctors attempt to give me a generic or different brand."

• Kum...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 31, 2019

"I got on it to reduce my heavy flow and painful cramps, which literally caused me to throw up basically every month. The first month was weird, with breakthrough bleeding and some nausea. But after the first month and for about a year, my cramps were nonexistent and my flow lasted 2 days max instead of 5 to 7. The absolute worst part was that I had clear skin before using Junel, and now I have acne all over my forehead, which is lessened noticeably during the week with no hormones. I thought this would go away, but it never did. About 1.5 years in, all the symptoms of cramps, heavy flow, and nausea came back. I initially thought I somehow got pregnant, but it turns out that my body just got used to the level of hormones, so I had to switch to a different pill with a different dosage, hoping it clears my acne."

• jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2019

"Started Junel a little over a month ago, and nothing changed for the better. I have been bleeding for almost a month, and my face and shoulders are breaking out like crazy. I have horrible abdominal pain and blood clots. I cannot wait to get off of this and hopefully switch to a better one."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2019

"This pill, this pill. I switched from Microgestin to Junel about 4 months ago, and it was the WORST transition. I’m moody/depressed as anything, having terrible headaches, back is on fire constantly, didn’t have a period for three of the four months, nausea when taking it, and I gained weight. This is the worst pill I’ve taken, and I’ve been on BC for 6 years. It did improve my acne, which is its only pro. I would not recommend this medication."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2019

"Only giving this birth control 2 stars because my cycle NEVER regulated. Took at the same time every day for 5 months and never stopped having breakthrough bleeding on the second week of every new cycle. The bleeding would last a few days. Then sometimes my period never came when it was supposed to. Very frustrating! Also, I’ve never had issues with acne in the past, but while using Junel I kept getting tiny whiteheads on my cheeks. Other than that, I didn’t get pregnant, so I guess that’s one plus."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2018

"I started Junel last month for the first time only because Microgestin FE 1/20 was on back order. The pharmacist told me that the Junel had the same ingredients as Microgestin, but I beg to differ in its effect on me because I had anxiety, my mouth was dry, and I was sweating. This stuff was horrible...never again!!! Thank God my pharmacy got the Microgestin back in, but without the iron."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 7, 2017

"I was on Junel Fe for 6 months. From the very beginning, it made my acne horrible. I normally never have acne except for the week of my period, and then it will only be like one or two whiteheads. But the entire time I was on this pill, terrible, terrible acne all over my face. After being off Junel for a month, my face is totally clear and back to normal. I stopped this pill because of the breakthrough bleeding I was having. It felt like I had to wear a light pad all the time because I never knew when I was going to bleed, and sometimes the spotting was heavier than just spotting. Super annoying. My MD said it was normal, wait 3 more months. Welp, after 6 months, no change, so I switched pills. Didn’t really decrease cramping either."

• AMI...
• December 15, 2015

"I have been on Junel 1/20 for 2 months and just started my third pack. The first 2 months were fine. My periods are regular and actually shorter and lighter than they've ever been, which is a plus! But every night since I started this pack, I've woken up with nausea and vomiting! I've also had a terrible headache every day... One side effect I've had all along is lack of sex drive. Everyone responds differently to birth control, but unfortunately, I do not think this one is for me."

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 1, 2017

"Oh, Junel, you sneaky, awful pill..... Let me preface this by saying Junel did what it was supposed to do, which is prevent pregnancies. With that said, I got the WORST melasma (darkening of the skin) from this pill. My pharmacy changed to this from Gildess, and that's when the problems started. Over the next year, I noticed that I had dark patches (which seemed to be getting larger and darker by the month). I am so upset about my skin and wish I never came across these pills. I used to have beautiful, flawless olive skin. Now it looks like someone took a paintbrush and flung paint all over my face. Do not take this pill..... there are better ones on the market that won't ruin your skin."

• Pai...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 23, 2015

"I went on Junel FE about 15 months ago for extremely painful cramps during my period and for birth control. About two months after, I lost most of my sex drive, and over the course I've been taking it, I went from 110-138. I'm 5'0 and 18, and even after all these months, I'm still finding new stretch marks and gaining weight, and I'm barely eating. I'm switching at the end of this pack (finally). I gave it 4/10 because it kept me from getting pregnant, but otherwise it sucks."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2022

"I was taking this for acne and to help reduce migraines. It did make my migraines more mild and I think it did help some with my acne, but the side effects were too much for me. I did have one positive side effect, which was that my focus was much improved in the weeks I was actually taking the pill (also my sex drive was higher, but I am not sexually active, so that's neutral for me). However, I noticed higher blood pressure, decreased focus during the off week, terrible sleep quality, nausea, awful mood swings (would cry at literally anything), and one time I just spewed vomit randomly, and I think that was also a side effect. But my worst side effect was that for the entire two months I was on Junel, I never once felt hungry and often felt repulsed by the idea of eating. I do not have a history of an eating disorder, so I really don't track when I eat, but I was just having snacks when I got super shaky or dizzy. I rarely could force myself to actually eat a meal. I think it could work for someone else, it just really messed with my functioning."

• AAG...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2019

"Horrible. I’ve only been on this pill for 2 months, and already my face is breaking out in rashes, dark spots all over my body, weight gain, and my cycle is so long, and I've been cramping for the past week now. Not only that, my jaws and joints have been in pain for the past week, and don’t get me started on the yeast infection. This pill is just horrible. I drink lots of water and eat right, so I don’t understand, but either way, I do NOT recommend this awful pill."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2021

"Overall, I am happy with it. I switched from Sprintec. My PMS symptoms are very light, I barely cramp, and my 'periods' are very short. Although it's never fresh red blood, it's always brown when I take the week break. No breakthrough bleeding or anything like that, though. I have a low sex drive, but it's been that way basically since I started taking birth control a little over a year ago, and I can't say if it's because of the birth control or not or if a different brand would affect sex drive better. But overall, I don't have any complaints, and it seems to work pretty well."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2021

"I’m an 18-year-old girl, and I’ve currently been on this pill for about 3-4 months. Although it has allowed me to have lighter periods. That is, for me, the ONLY positive side effect. This pill has caused me severe anxiety, loss of appetite, hopelessness, migraines, and nausea, constantly tired and just overall destroyed my sex drive and ability to feel pleasure. I genuinely thought I was crazy, and I even enrolled myself in counseling. Come to find out, the pharmacist lady randomly overshared to me her crazy stories of what birth control had done to her, and I ended up researching Junel. Although everyone is different and I may be a rare case of bad side effects, getting off this pill may have saved my life. I highly recommend, DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL if you are someone who already struggled with anxiety and self-esteem issues. I seriously thought I was crazy."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2019

"I started this for my heavy periods on December 16th, 2018, (so a little over a month ago). It was a Sunday and the first day of my period. My period was lighter than usual. I experienced some breakthrough bleeding between January 7th, 2019 (which is when I got my second period on this medication). It was very light and only lasted 4 days, and I had no pain, which made me happy. However, it's now January 20th, and for 2 days, I've been bleeding. I think it's my period and not breakthrough bleeding because I am experiencing cramps and just not feeling well. This pill also caused me to have nausea, a headache, and quite a few pimples. I am going off it as soon as I finish the package."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 3, 2023

"I started taking Junel about 3 years ago after having a bad experience with Haley FE beforehand. After hearing bad reviews about it, I feel like I'd give my personal experience with it. I absolutely love it. I actually lost about 10 lbs and have been maintaining it since the beginning. It's actually pretty easy to lose weight on it. My cramps are practically nonexistent, if not, they last maybe a couple of hours. My periods only last about 3 days (if I decide to have one that month). The only drawback is my sex drive is not very high, but I don't mind it since I am in a LDR."

• Lun...
• August 6, 2021

"I’ve been on this type of birth control for over a year now; I was on Depo before, and it was horrible for me because I was bleeding for 6 months, and I lost weight. I am tall, 5’10.5, and I’m very slim, and then I was even more skinnier, like at 100 pounds. But this birth control has been working pretty well so far. I’m terrified of pregnancy, and my “periods” are short, and I don’t even bleed; it’s more brown than blood. I don’t get cramps because before any birth control, I was a heavy bleeder and had bad cramps. And my skin has been okay; I do get random pimples here and there, but I do my best to keep my skin clear. I don’t like that my skin is not 100 percent clear; I’ve noticed that I’ve been breaking out more than usual recently. And the first few months, I was very nauseous and had headaches. But after a few months, I felt better and normal. So far, I think I'm good; I really have a good experience! Please take vitamins with any BC."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 15, 2021

"I was prescribed Junel as the first birth control pill I've ever taken, and I'm so glad I was! My biggest worry was gaining weight, but I haven't gained any. My period was super heavy and painful before, so I was also super pleased to find that I basically don't even bleed on my period while on the pill. I definitely recommend this pill, if anything, it has helped more than hurt."

• Reb...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 23, 2023

"I was originally on the Depo shot for 2 years, gained 70 pounds, and blew up like a balloon. After I stopped that, I stayed off of birth control for years. I went to my OBGYN and she said Junel 1/20 is one of the best pills around with little to no side effects. I have been on it for a year and it has caused me 0 issues! No weight gain, no mood swings, and no acne. 10/10 recommend giving this birth control a shot!"