Junel Fe 1/20 and Acne: What Users Say

• NYC...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 16, 2014

For Birth Control "I felt compelled to review this medication because of how scared I was when reading such scary recipes and side effects. I had tried taking Yasmin which made me gain weight, become increasingly moody and depressed and eventually stopped taking that. When it was time to start up again I was so nervous with Junel but I have nothing but good things to say. No weight gain, no acne, no moodiness, I have a very light, scheduled period, and it does what it's supposed to - prevents pregnancy. I've been on it about 2.5 years now. Love love it."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 9, 2025

For Birth Control "I see a lot of negative comments about this BC, so I thought I should weigh in. I’ve had a VERY positive experience with Junel Fe 1/20. I tried multiple pills before and had terrible side effects. This pill has worked for 3 years, and I’ve never noticed any negative side effects. I skip the placebos and haven’t had a period in 2.5 years. No spotting/breakthrough bleeding, no acne, no anxiety, no weight gain. I love it and will continue to take it, even though I’m not sexually active at the moment. BC affects everyone’s body differently. What works for you might not work for someone else."

• ash...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 7, 2021

For Birth Control "I've been using this birth control since June of 2020 and haven't had a period since. I don't have any complaints with using it, and I have no symptoms. I don't get cramps or acne or headaches. It seems to be affecting me just fine."

• Jad...
• April 14, 2014

For Acne "I used to be on Ortho Tri-Cyclen until it made me an emotional basket case. I then switched to Junel Fe 1/20, and I felt completely normal again. I took a year break, and two months ago I began to notice I was getting acne like a teenager again, I'm 30. Mostly hormonal, jaw and chin area. I decided to get back on it again. I've been on it for almost 2 months, and my acne cleared up. 2 weeks into it, I noticed bloating and breast swelling. I also noticed I went up 3 lbs. However, all that went away my 2nd month in. I'm back to my normal weight, no more swelling in the stomach area, although my breasts are fuller than usual. These were my only symptoms. If this happens to you, give it 2 months at least for your body to get adjusted."

• Kal...
• July 30, 2013

For Birth Control "I had been very hesitant to begin taking birth control pills for fear of gaining weight. As a 20-year-old female, I am very conscious of maintaining my weight and was unsure about how this would affect me. I got a prescription for the 21-day Junel birth control pill at my yearly physical with my doctor about two months ago. Since then, my mild acne breakouts have cleared up, I haven't gained any weight, my periods are extremely light and tolerable, and I really have had no negative side effects. It took me a few weeks to get used to the pill, and my skin broke out a little at first, but now I seem to be on the other side. My experience was very positive with this medication."

• Jur...
• December 31, 2020

For Birth Control "I was previously on Microgestin for 5 years prior to this. The only reason for the switch is because Walmart doesn’t always carry the same generic. I didn’t realize it then, but realize now the awful side effects this caused me. ‘They’ say all generics are the same, but I don’t believe that for a second. Microgestin was great. Junel gave me regular yeast infections, lots of bloating and water retention, more acne, and did nothing to help my pre-menopausal symptoms (night sweats and hot flashes). It also made me way more emotional than I normally am. I hated this pill and wish I would have put two and two together more quickly."

• Ker...
• December 29, 2014

For Birth Control "I recently switched to this birth control and have nothing bad to say about it. I used to have cramps, bad acne, mood swings, and back pain. My mood swings, cramps, and acne went away! My period used to be 7 days and very heavy. It's 5 days and light! I couldn't be happier!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 5, 2015

For Birth Control "I switched to this medicine (from Camrese), mainly suffering from a very decreased sex drive and heavy periods, with very dismal mood swings. This medicine fixed all of that (yay!). Additionally, periods are very light, lasting about 2 days. I have not had any additional problems with weight, acne, etc. I would highly recommend giving this a shot if you are having problems with other, heavier dose meds!"

• Lar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2014

For Birth Control "I'm moving through my second month of these pills after having tried Depo-Provera, which I hated, no sex drive, extremely mental... Seasonique, which caused teenage-like acne, wacky spotting... I like Junel Fe so far. I didn't know the brown pills are iron, thinking they were just sugar, I didn't take them and suffered low iron headaches. This month I'll take them. My period was quick and light, minimal cramping, not even bad enough to take painkillers. I do have a metallic taste in my mouth that started recently. I hope that goes away."

• Emi...
• August 6, 2014

For Birth Control "I started taking Junel Fe after taking Sprintec for three months, and at first, I liked it. It is effective for birth control, but I had the worst side effects. It made my face break out, I gained some weight, and it made me so moody and depressed. Going on month five, I spent a lot of time sleeping and spending time alone because of the pill."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 31, 2012

For Birth Control "In February, I started Junel. It's been very good with almost everything, but it hasn't helped with my cramping. I have regular periods that aren't heavy or light, they're just sort of painful. I haven't had any breakouts, major weight gain, or bad nausea. As for spotting, it only happened for a few weeks during my first month on Junel. My breasts also grew about a cup size."

• blu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 22, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm on my 7th month of this pill, and it has been great. The first month was a little rocky, I broke out a lot and had really bad anxiety and depression, but it went away after the first month! Everything has been good from there. My periods are SUPER light and last 3-4 days. They used to be heavy and last up to 7 days. I also rarely get cramps anymore, and when I do, they are bearable. It hasn’t affected my sex life, and I’ve always been anxious/depressed, but this pill hasn’t made it worse. Also, not pregnant! So it works."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2014

For Birth Control "I've started taking this pill about a month ago, and the only complaint I have is I broke out along my chin and jawline. It's beginning to clear up, and I heard that it takes 1 or 2 packs for the acne to balance out. So far, I love this pill!"

• Opp...
• July 4, 2014

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I really liked this birth control. I only experienced light acne about a week before my period, no cramps, stomach pain, or any other period symptoms. My period always came the day I started the brown iron pills. They were so light most of the time I never even used a pad or anything. I haven't used a tampon since I went on the medicine. I ended up going on Yaz because my mom thinks I should have a heavier period and that it's not healthy even though my cycle is regular. Overall, this pill is great."

• fai...
• March 29, 2012

"I love Junel. I was switched to Junel after my previous birth control had me bleeding for 3 weeks at a time every month, and I got really depressed and gained a bunch of weight. Now I am on Junel, and I LOVE IT. I have lost 10 pounds, my headaches and acne are gone, my depression has decreased, no more fatigue, and I have yet to have a heavy period. I only have 3 days of light spotting, and I must say my sex drive has finally come back since my last birth control completely diminished it."

• dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 25, 2020

For Birth Control "On Junel Fe 1/20 for one month so far. My face acne cleared up, but then I got back acne, hoping it will go away. Losing my appetite, feel like I'm eating just to survive. No weight gain yet. It hasn't affected my emotions like other pills have (yet), although I eat healthy and exercise 4-5 times a week. I think this helps with how your body responds to the pill's hormones. Three periods in one month, that sucked. Mostly spotting. Hoping next month will be better. I will update this review. I think the pill is worth it so far."

• Pip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2020

For Birth Control "So I myself freak out and read all these reviews, and that’s why I stayed off of birth control for like 7 years and have continued to suffer from PCOS (hope it’s not endo, but we’ll see with time hopefully), and I finally did it and took the pill! I had no choice really. I had a severely painful ovarian cyst pop after sex (not my first time), and I decided it was enough of going to the hospital and suffering. I started this pill a week ago, and I’ll update as much as I can. So far, I had some foggy days in the beginning and felt pretty weird, but then it went away, and the nausea has been on and off (which they say is normal). I do drink a lot of herbal tea already, so that has probably been helping it (peppermint, etc.), and now my only complaints are this random brown discharge today (first time, kinda) and itchy/burning bumps/pimples that keep popping up everywhere the past few days. I do have sensitive skin already, but I hope I get used to this pill. I am on the second week! Will report back soon."

• Anonymous
• March 29, 2011

For Acne "This pill certainly works for birth control, and my periods are significantly lighter and shorter, but the acne on my face worsened, and I suddenly had back acne as well. I had to get another prescription for acne medicine to get that under control."

• Anonymous
• March 29, 2011

For Acne "This pill certainly works for birth control, and my periods are significantly lighter and shorter, but the acne on my face worsened, and I suddenly had back acne as well. I had to get another prescription for acne medicine to get that under control."

• ABa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 17, 2018

For Birth Control "Before I started this medication, I had read reviews of it, and I was horrified. It's now been a year and four months that I've been on Junel Fe, and I honestly haven't encountered any issues. Before I was on birth control, I was depressed, had anxiety attacks very often, always tired, had my period for at least six days, and had a lot of cramping. I never had any issues with having acne. Ever since I started, I feel like a whole new person. Zero anxiety attacks, no longer depressed, very light periods that last three days (at most), no cramping at all, and still no issues with acne. I constantly see reviews that other people leave saying that they're constantly nauseous or having headaches or gaining weight, but I personally haven't had any of these issues. Although this medication doesn't work well for some people, it works perfectly for me! Don't let other reviews discourage you. I almost didn't start using this medication due to the bad reviews I had read. I'm also glad I'm not pregnant."

• KLT...
• February 16, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm in the middle of my fourth month on the pill, and during this month, I feel much better! I had some weight gain at first, but that's okay now. My face is having a lot more issues with acne, so that sucks. The worst thing was during the first three months I had spotting for two weeks, then would be off for a week and would spot again for two weeks. It was light, but constant and annoying!! I kept telling myself I was going to change and make an appointment ASAP, but hesitated because I wanted to wait it out and give it more of a chance. I recommend people to do that with this pill because it's all evening out right, it just took time."

• Bri...
• January 20, 2016

For Birth Control "I think this pill is amazing. I went on it because I wanted something with lower estrogen that still prevented pregnancy, but less hormones (mood swings, breaking out, nausea) was horrid. I was on Sprintec for 3 years. With Junel Fe, I have maintained weight and have not seen a significant change in my body physiologically. Not pregnant... The only 'con' is that it's so low estrogen that I have not had a period in about a year... which may seem great, but not really knowing if you ever 'skip a period' to indicate if you're pregnant."

• Ave...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2014

For Acne "I am currently halfway through my 3rd month. I was on the NuvaRing, which made my skin immaculate, but because it caused low libido, I stopped. After 4 months of being off of the ring, I started getting acne again. I finally decided to try birth control again to help with my skin issues, and my doctor recommended Junel. My skin has gotten way worse than it ever was. I am getting acne on my back and neck as well."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on Junel FE 1/20 for the 3-month adjustment period. Once I finished the 3rd pack, I decided not to continue because every 3 weeks I was getting yeast infections. In total, I had 4 infections during the 3-month period. As for my acne, it got worse the first 2 months and then better. Skin was really dry, though. Sex drive decreased. I didn’t gain any weight, though, which was nice, and my emotions were very stable even with my history of anxiety and depression."

• KPo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 28, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Junel Fe 1/20 for a year and a half. I can say that Junel does its job at preventing pregnancy. It has helped my periods become regular and has helped my acne! I’m super thankful for Junel."