Junel 1/20 and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Liz...
• August 8, 2019

For Birth Control "I am 19 years old and have been on Junel 1/20 since I was 16 years old due to really heavy periods where I was bleeding through super tampons in 30 minutes. I thought I would share my experience since there seem to be a ton of bad reviews and wanted to shed some light. No side effects! Weight gain was zero. It has made my boobs bigger. Sex drive actually increased. No acne. I take the pill continuously due to my horrible periods and I never get a period unexpectedly. This is also a very low-dose birth control that I was put on because high-dose pills make me throw up, so if you have that issue, I suggest this medication! I highly suggest you give it a shot! I was so worried when I started it due to all the negative reviews, but everyone is different and it doesn’t hurt to try because you can’t always change."

• Lea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 1, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been taking Junel for a little over four years now. This birth control, I didn’t gain any weight, but it did make my boobs a size bigger. My acne is minimal (but I am also prescribed other acne face washes and stuff to keep my skin clear). My periods are to a T every month, periods are light, and I haven’t had cramps since before I started. I have had absolutely no complaints until this past year. Now my sex drive is completely gone, and it's nearly impossible for me to reach orgasm. The only thing I can think of is my birth control doing this. Other than that, I think this pill is awesome, but the lack of sex drive is super concerning for me since I do have a long-term boyfriend, and it's just not there anymore."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 22, 2022

For Birth Control "I originally started out with Sprintec and could immediately see weight gain, swollen breasts, and severe mood changes. So I switched to Junel, and my breasts were no longer swollen, and I lost weight. My skin has been incredibly clear, very regular periods, light, and no cramps really… but this pill has affected me sexually. I am constantly having back-to-back UTIs, despite cleaning thoroughly after intercourse. And I no longer have a sex drive. The first year my bf and I were together, I was completely different, but since Junel, I have a hard time wanting to engage in ANY kind of sexual act. It has also put my emotions on blast. I am incredibly angry, I cannot control how I feel anymore. This pill seriously has damaged my mental and physical health. I know a lot of people have a great experience, so don’t let my review turn you away. But if you feel this way on this pill, know you aren’t alone. I thought I was crazy, but I am about to get off this pill."

• Aud...
• May 6, 2018

For Birth Control "First and foremost, most of the reviews that are negative are due to the fact that women aren’t patient enough to bear the immediate side effects. You need to wait 3 months before you decide to switch or stay on the birth control. I’ve tried several different birth controls and this one has worked the BEST! However, the first month you’ll be hungry, constantly. Try to drink tea or have smaller meals throughout the day to avoid weight gain. I really, really love this medication. I feel back to myself, I gained probably 2-3 pounds the first few weeks, actually, but it’s been 2 months and now I can control my appetite. I recently got my period and didn’t experience ANY PMS. Just the first day I got my period, I was moody. Little to no bleeding, still got minor cramps, but not bad enough to take Midol. Overall, try this medication. But stay on it. If you really don’t like it after 3 months, then you can switch."

• Ran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 20, 2021

For Birth Control "Reading the reviews on Junel 1/20 before I started did put some anxiety into me, but personally speaking, I’m having a pretty good experience with it. For the first 3 months, I did experience some breakthrough bleeding, but this was expected as my body was adjusting to the hormones, and after that, everything has been great. My periods are lighter and shorter, I didn’t go through mood swings, no weight gain, no vaginal dryness, no acne, and (I’m not as active anymore), but no pregnancy as well. So pretty much whatever negative side effects there could have been, I thankfully didn’t get any."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2019

For Birth Control "After years of an IUD, I was on Lutera (levonorgestrel 0.100 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.020 mg) as my first oral birth control pill. I basically went nuts. My hormones and emotions were out of whack, and I desperately needed something new. Moved onto Junel 1/20 (norethindrone acetate 1 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.020 mg), which has norethindrone as the progestin instead of levonorgestrel. Junel 1/20 is the best! It’s been 3 to 4 months now: - no weight gain - mood stability - lightest period ever - small spotting - I feel happy and content - basically doesn’t feel like I’m on any birth control - best change I’ve ever made."

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 3, 2020

For Birth Control "It took about 3 months for my period to regulate while on Junel. Since then, I get my periods very regularly, and they only last 4-5 days. I have one heavy bleeding day, and the other days are pretty light. I would only get acne around the time of my period, but now my skin is completely clear, and I have not had any acne for the past 5 months. I had some initial weight gain when I started taking Junel, but it was minimal, and I was able to lose it a few months later. Other than the weight gain, I have not had any negative side effects."

• jiq...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 5, 2018

For Birth Control "I switched to Junel 1/20 recently from taking Tri Sprintec. And personally, I enjoy Junel 1/20 so much more. The only side effects I get are having a headache, feeling drowsy after 1 hour of taking it, loss of appetite, and a little mood swings. Yeah, these are side effects that many may be frightened of, but honestly, it's so much better than my side effects from taking Tri Sprintec. When I took Tri Sprintec, my side effects were depression, weight gain, breast growth, cramps, and constantly being in a bad mood."

• Kat...
• January 29, 2020

For Birth Control "The first month of Junel, I was bleeding for like 2 and a half weeks straight. It was super annoying, but after the first pack, it stopped. I did experience a little bit of weight gain, but it wasn’t noticeable at all. I saw a decrease in my sex drive, that’s a downside with this pill. I would be drier than usual, which was annoying at times. I also got on this pill because I had bad acne, and this pill cleared it up tremendously. It took about 3 packs of the pill for me to see a huge improvement. And once it did, it was just going up from there. I recently got off it because I messed up on it, and I started bleeding on my active pills, and I started breaking out again, so I had to switch. But it may be my fault or my body just rejected this BC... who knows. I wouldn’t give this BC a bad rating since it cleared most of my skin, and it’s nowhere near as bad compared to what my skin was before this birth control!!"

• Coo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 4, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on Junel 1/20 for a year now, and I'll be switching off of it next month. There have been quite a few symptoms that I have now traced back to this. 1) Weight gain! 20 lbs in 3 months. I haven't gained any extra since then, but I have started a drastic workout program and started eating better, and I can't lose it. 2) No sex drive at all. 3) Moodiness. My poor husband. In all, it's not horrible, but it's not right for me."

• Ano...
• October 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I recently switched from Taytulla to this horrible pill. Although it is cheaper, I have noticed extreme weight gain and acne, but worst of all, extreme anxiety and depression! Which I have never experienced before. Horrible symptoms in just one cycle of this pill. I wish there was something else to take for the light periods that doesn’t cost $175 per month with insurance. I feel like women are discriminated against with all of this hoopla. Unfair."

• TTT...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2019

For Birth Control "I started this birth control about 3 months ago after being on the patch for about 2 months. The first month was fine, but then I became extremely emotional, lots of acne, crazy anxiety, and depression. I started to notice my insane weight gain. I was 5'4, 136 lbs, and my bra size was a 34B. Now I weigh 148 lbs and am a 36D. I've always had clear skin and been pretty fit, and I eat healthy and exercise regularly. Can't wait to get off of this birth control Wednesday."

• Yay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2019

For Birth Control "First month on this birth control, and I absolutely love it. I switched from Orsythia to Junel 1/20 FE, and it has been a godsend. I’ve had mild acne, nothing too crazy, as of yet, no breakthrough bleeding either. I don’t feel as bloated on this birth control, which was a big issue before. I did gain weight on Orsythia, I will have to wait and see how Junel works in that aspect. I am on Wellbutrin for mild depression, so I can’t quite say if this birth control has affected my mood, as I’m technically on an antidepressant. All in all, I’m happy to have found this bc, I plan to stay on it. Will update if anything changes."

• Che...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 19, 2016

For Birth Control "This birth control overall is great (for me). I have not had any problems on it besides weight gain. I definitely notice an increase in appetite and always gain 5-7 lbs when on it. I don't have an appetite when off of it. My periods are 2-3 days and are barely even there. I do have cramping and headaches a couple of hours before getting it, but nothing crazy that I cannot tolerate. No acne either!"

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this pill for about maybe 5 months. I used to take Microgestin, which made me extremely tired all the time. When I started Junel, I noticed an immediate appetite increase, and I’ve gained a lot of weight. Also, I almost never get acne, and this makes me break out constantly. I don’t feel depressed or tired like I used to, but I want to switch due to weight gain and acne. This pill does nothing for my cramps either, still the same pain as before. I don’t recommend this pill."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2018

For Birth Control "I had been taking Microgestin since I was 16, and my doctor switched me over to Junel about 3 months ago and had me taking them continuously. Periods aren’t bad, which is nice, but I gained like 12 pounds within the first few weeks of taking it. I have always been a very thin person so I could tell something was changing. Just reacts to everyone differently, but not a bad BC."

• Kae...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on the Junel 1/20 pill for 5 years, so I'm going to be honest. I gained some weight (my eating habits don't help), headaches and migraines are more frequent. Back and neck pain that I never had that isn't due to the weight gain. Slim to none when it comes to sex drive. My acne never got bad, though, that's a plus. I got on this pill because I never had regular periods, and when I did have a period, it was heavy flow for two weeks at a time. I haven't had a cycle since being on this pill. I know all of this sounds negative, but I do enjoy being on this pill for its strength and peace of mind. It won't work for everyone, but in my case, I don't think I would want to be on another pill."

• COG...
• March 8, 2016

For Birth Control "I was very hesitant to start birth control, but needed to as my relationship got more serious and I needed to be protected. The first 3 days of taking the 21-day pack Junel, I did experience some nausea (mild, but didn't have an appetite). It did subside, but now looking back, I have realized that slowly, but surely, I have become super emotionless/apathetic a bit more month by month. I hit my threshold of not 'feeling' this month and am most likely getting an IUD next month. I am a very emotional person, which I love about myself. On Junel, I am numb and just blah. It's different from depression. Other side effects were very minor, but included my breasts growing half a cup, probably 1-2 lbs weight gain in my midsection. Skin is good."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2018

For Birth Control "Had to switch to this after being on Loestrin for years because it got too expensive. First month, no symptoms, second and third month, I got my period twice. Gained weight and broke out, which never happened before Loestrin or during. Would feel sick during my period. Emotions of depression and anxiety would kick in severely before and during my period. Since I would get it twice a month, I would only feel slightly normal a week out of the month. Cramps were insanely painful. Breasts became so painful by the third month, just wearing a shirt or bra hurt. I am so glad I found these reviews because I thought I was losing it. After much research, I stopped taking Junel the second I realized it was the cause."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2018

For Birth Control "Switched to Junel 1/20 for one month and gained 7 pounds! I have never been over 115 lb and as soon as I started this pill, I noticed I gained weight... turns out it was seven pounds! I have also never had cramps this bad before!"

• Nan...
• October 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I started taking Junel in April of 2017, so it's been a little over a year. I'm 26, 5'5, 135 lbs. Not gonna lie, for the first 5 months I was totally fine and happy with the pill. I didn't see acne, didn't gain too much weight (2 lbs at most). Then... I gained 25+ pounds in the last year. And 2-3 days before my period, I become this complete witch, and I'm so emotional and cry over everything and anything. I have never in my life had these types of symptoms before my period. I'm going to my gyno today to change my pill to something lower. I didn't realize that the weight gain and episodes were from my birth control until it just hit me a month ago and I started to research it. Now I guess I gotta do some trial and error with new pills, but what sucks is my side effects didn't kick in until months later. Now that I read reviews with other women having the same emotions and weight gain... it all makes sense. Makes me feel a little better that I'm not actually crazy lol."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 31, 2022

For Birth Control "I have been taking Junel 1/20 for about 6 years now. When I first started taking this medication, I had no issues. My biggest concerns were weight gain and hormonal acne. Neither have occurred since taking this contraceptive. However, within the last 6-12 months, I have had a major decline in my sex drive and have become slightly depressed. I highly recommend, if you are considering taking this birth control, to please talk to your doctor about the long-term side effects. I wish this was something my doctor would have consulted me on."

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

For Birth Control "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 6 months
• February 22, 2019

For Birth Control "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."

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

For Birth Control "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."