Lo Loestrin Fe and Spotting: What Users Say (Page 2)

• hil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2019

For Birth Control "I started this birth control about two months ago. Within the first two weeks on the pill, I was spotting every day and experiencing terrible abdominal pain. I thought nothing of it and continued taking it. A week later, my anxiety started to build up. I was having frequent panic attacks and angry episodes. I would lash out at everyone around me: my friends, my family. And I started to complain about everything my boyfriend did. I was never happy. One little thing would tick me off, and I would be down about it for the entire day or sometimes the entire week. I cannot stress enough how angry the pill made me; I was pushing everyone away. My experience with this brand of birth control was not great, and I would not recommend it if you have experienced these side effects with different birth controls or if you are prone to depression."

• VS1...
• March 29, 2015

For Birth Control "Been on Lo Loestrin Fe for 6 months now. The first month I had spotting for 3 weeks and was quite emotional (can't specifically relate that to the birth control though - could have been caused by other factors). The second and third months I didn't get my period at all. After that, my breasts grew, and I got regular periods that usually last 1-3 days and are very light. Love this birth control, and I've had no problems!"

• ber...
• June 6, 2014

For Birth Control "I took this pill for 8 months and had zero side effects except no period. I stopped taking birth control for 4 months, then started again with the same pill. Have been taking for 4 months now. For the first two months, I broke out a little and didn't get my period. In the third month, I had very little spotting for 4 days, and I'm about to end the fourth pack. I've had very minor side effects. I personally enjoy not having a period to worry about every month, instead just light spotting every 2-3 months. I haven't broken out since the 2nd month, I guess my body was getting used to the birth control."

• Jay...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 21, 2019

For Birth Control "I started this Lo Loestrin Fe birth control when I was 18 and am now 25. When I first started this pill, I had breakthrough bleeding/spotting all the time for probably the first 6 months. It wasn’t the best, but I stuck it out to let my body adjust. I love this pill now. No weight changes, no period, it’s as if my body isn’t taking anything, but I’m protected from getting pregnant. Overall, everyone’s body is different. You can’t try a birth control based on someone else’s experience. What works for someone’s body might not work for you and vice versa. This pill has worked amazingly for me, and I love it. But you should try it for yourself and see how your body reacts."

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

For Birth Control "This is the third oral contraceptive I have been put on in my lifetime (I am 24). I am on my third month on LoLo (Lo Loestrin Fe) and was hoping by now my body would be adjusted to it, but I have had a week of spotting in the middle of each pack. I am currently halfway through my third pack and am bleeding enough to need a tampon. I still have been getting a light/medium period at the end of the pack as well, so basically, I am getting my period twice a month. The only positive thing so far is that I have lost about 7 pounds while on it, but I am not sure if that is because of the birth control. I have also had 3 anxiety attacks since starting this pill, and it has given me more acne around my chin. I wanted to give this pill a fair chance before leaving my review, but being at almost 3 full months on it, I do not believe it is for me and will be switching to something that hopefully does not make me bleed so much."

• Sus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2019

For Birth Control "I highly do not recommend Lo Loestrin FE birth control. I spotted half of the entire first pack, which I know is common, but I've never experienced it before. I have had daily headaches. My breasts have been extremely tender and have grown almost a full cup size. The worst is the anxiety. My anxiety has been through the roof and completely uncontrollable. I went a year on an entire bottle of Xanax, and since I've started this, I've probably used half of a bottle throughout a month because I've had so much nervousness and anxiety. Anxiety attacks galore. I never attributed this to birth control before, but I had these symptoms before when I was on birth control for 10 years and thought it was just me. It's not me. It's the birth control. I wouldn't even consider it if I were you. Also, lack of motivation to do anything or to be social, and I'm typically a very extroverted person."

• Lin...
• December 21, 2013

For Birth Control "I am about halfway through my 2nd pack of Lo Loestrin Fe. The first month, I had minor spotting on one day, no big deal. I also noticed that I had a couple of pimples, but since there were only a couple, I figured it could have been my normal hormonal changes during the month. However, halfway through this second month, my chin/mouth area has never had such acne! I had occasional acne, like many people, but 90% of the time my skin was clear before. Now, I feel like I wake up every day with a new batch of red spots. I want to stop this pill now (mid-pack), but don't want to give myself menstrual issues at the same time, so I'm trying to stick it out until the end of the pack."

• Pyp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2020

For Birth Control "I have taken this birth control before, and I was not a huge fan, so I decided that when I need to start taking it again, I would. After about 6 months, I decided to get back on birth control. This time around, less than a week later, I started experiencing horrible mood swings. I have depression and multiple anxiety disorders, and since starting this pill, it made them all so much worse. I also got really bad sweats, and my acne got worse. I didn’t notice any weight changes. I also experienced spotting this time around, which was odd. I would not recommend this to a friend."

• gym...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2013

For Birth Control "GREAT PILL! Last year, after being on a brand of birth control pill for 20 years with light, predictable, and short periods, I began to have breakthrough bleeding, horrible cramping, and bleeding. Lo Loestrin was the third pill my GYN put me on, and after a week or so of spotting and light cramping, I haven't had a period since mid-December. So far, so good on this prescription, I'm happy to have tried it."

• Cal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 28 and switched from the NuvaRing to this. I work out about 4 times a week and try to eat healthy, but on NuvaRing, I gained about 15 lbs in 2 months (130 lbs to 145 lbs). I decided to switch because I needed something with low hormone levels. I love this BC, I quickly stabilized, back to normal weight, and lost my appetite as well. I was a little moody in the beginning, but now I am 4 months in and feel normal with a normal sex drive. I had some spotting in month 2, but that has stopped as well. I was advised to take a daily women's vitamin, along with a probiotic-the combination helps to stabilize hormones. This could play a part as to why I feel great too!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 23, 2012

For Birth Control "Pricey ($10 off with discount card, but still around $75), but WELL WORTH it for me. After some spotting in the first few weeks, I have had very little unscheduled bleeding, which is one of the more bothersome side effects I've experienced with other oral contraceptives. My mood is stable and much improved relative to being on other oral contraceptives as well. I have taken it continuously (skipped the inactive pills) for several months and have had no bleeding/spotting whatsoever, which I love, although I don't require a period to reassure me that I'm not pregnant since I'm that 'perfect user' they refer to in the literature. Take it every 24 hours on the dot!"

• kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 26, 2017

For Birth Control "This was the first birth control I ever took. At first, it caused some spotting before I got my period, lots of random cramps, and I got my period around 3 days late. Usually, I'd get my period for 5 days, now I was getting it for 7-8 days. I spotted the next two months as well, and my period stayed at the 7-8 day length. After 3 months, my periods went back to normal. My boobs grew a whole cup size. I went from a 36C to a 38D. I went from weighing 158 pounds to 182 pounds in the span of 7 months. My pant size went from a size 4-5 to 10. I got tired of being overweight, and I left these pills. It just wasn't cutting it for me. I am 5'5" and 20 years old. They work, but not worth the side effects (at least for me)."

• Anonymous
• January 3, 2012

For Birth Control "I am finishing my 2nd packet, and I am loving it so far. On my first pack, I had spotting in my 3rd week, then a very light period. I have not had any spotting in the second pack, and my period is VERY light. I used to have horrible cramps and heavy bleeding. This has worked out great for me."

• Anonymous
• February 24, 2012

For Birth Control "I am towards the end of my third month on Lo Loestrin Fe, and I'm wearing a pad for spotting half the month still. It tends to start the second week of pills in the pack and lasts about a week, then it goes away and comes back about 4 days before the white pills. I'm not really sure when the spotting stops and the period begins. The bleeding is mostly brownish. I have gained close to 15 pounds in the last three months, which is depressing, and I seem to be more moody than I used to be. I was hoping that the breakthrough bleeding would have decreased by now, but I have been keeping track on a calendar, and it has not. One good thing is that I do not have the weekly migraines that I had on my old birth control (Yaz)."

• flo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 27, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on the pill for about a year and 1 month now. This is my first birth control, and I got on it because my periods were horrible and extremely heavy and also because I entered a serious relationship. I was fine up until the half-year mark until I had spotting for 12 days before getting my real period 4 days late. Now I still have breakthrough bleeding right after ovulation, which always causes me to freak out. Other than that, the pill is fine. I actually lost weight on this pill, and I can't gain weight anything past 108. My sex drive is sometimes affected, it takes a while for me to get into the mood, and my boyfriend is supportive of it. It's just the darn spotting that irritates me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 18, 2012

For Birth Control "I have had horrible experiences with birth control, they made me emotionally crazy. This birth control is awesome! The first month I had spotting for a couple of weeks, but by the second pack it all went away, and my periods are around 3 days and light. I used to have heavy, heavy bleeding and barely be able to get out of bed. This has been great for me!"

• Emm...
• August 26, 2019

For Birth Control "I do have a history of depression, migraines, and am currently 44 years old and am going through peri-menopause. (I have fairly mild peri-menopause symptoms currently: occasional night sweats, and my period is still fairly regular, with monthly frequency differing by only a couple of days each month.) Please use Lo Loestrin with caution when you start this because by the beginning of my third week, I started waking up at night with the worst night sweats I have ever had. My clothes and hair were completely soaked, so much so that I felt like I had just showered. I also woke in the middle of the night, running to the bathroom to vomit, and thought I was sick because I had been feeling nauseous for days. I became extremely irritable and started spotting and came down with one of the worst migraines I have had in a long time. Once the migraine hit, I went into a severe depression and have been crying for a week. I stopped taking the birth control two days ago. Hope this helps."

• Lab...
• July 22, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on this medication for about 6 months now. I really love it. The first period I had on this pill was pretty rough, like crazy heavy with lots of clots/tissue. But that was a one-time thing. Then I would spot for two weeks at a time, and that got annoying. But now my periods are very light and last only a few days, but still with the same period symptoms. So far, no weight gain at all, but my breasts have gotten huge! I was an A cup, and now I'm a C. My skin is also very clear! I don't really have any complaints!"

• KC3...
• February 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on this pill for 2 years. It gave me mood swings in the beginning, followed by spotting, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, and a very decreased libido. I noticed about 1.5 years into taking this pill that my clitoris became way less sensitive to stimulation and that it actually physically shrunk (clitoral atrophy)."

• mad...
• February 24, 2013

For Birth Control "I am 18, and I started taking Lo Loestrin Fe about 3 weeks ago. I have horrible acne (on my face, back, chest, and shoulders). Since I have been taking this birth control, my acne is little to none, thank God! I did get my period while on the pill, and it was already lighter and shorter compared to my usual 6-7 day hell. I did have spotting the first 2 weeks, then it stopped. The only thing that is a bummer is breast tenderness (especially in the morning), my breasts are swollen, but I don't think they will get bigger than my already 34D. My Gyno gave me 2 packs, and my insurance is not going to cover."

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been taking Lo Loestrin Fe for 2 months now and have only had one week of no spotting. The non-stop bleeding is very aggravating because I am unsure when my period begins, which has always been very regular. I have also been very irritable and emotional. The only positive effect I have experienced while taking this pill is no severe nausea. If the bleeding and mood swings have not stopped by the time I finish the third pack, I will be switching immediately!"

• Bli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2015

For Birth Control "I just started my third pack of Lo Loestrin Fe, and so far I like this pill. I have been having a menstrual cycle since age 11, so I am ecstatic to have not seen a cycle in two months. There has been no spotting at all. During my first pack, there was very light spotting my second week and then nothing. The downside thus far is that my libido has dropped, and I don't orgasm as easily. Also, I find that my body is extra tender to touch, especially my breasts."

• tdh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I understand that this BC is not for everyone, but I have noticed that a lot of the 'bad reviews' didn't give this pill a chance for longer than 1-2 months! My doc told me it would take at least 3 months to adjust to the pill, and to wait it out about that long to see any side effects subside. As far as my experience goes, I have had a few very manageable side effects. The first week or two, I gained 5-7 lbs in water weight, had some minor mood swings/crying spells, and decreased appetite, but that all went away and returned to normal. The only thing negative so far for me is that I have had spotting/period in the middle of each pack, which is very light, as well as cramps for about 4 days straight. Hoping that part goes away soon!"

• meo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2017

For Birth Control "I would not recommend this birth control at all. I've taken BC in the past and had 0 complications. To begin, this BC is a low dosage, so it really shouldn't have this severe of symptoms. Two weeks after starting this birth control, I noticed a huge increase in appetite (causing me to gain weight), I had mood swings, spotting, and fatigue. I am now finishing up my 2nd month and am stopping this because I ended up having episodes of depression again, heavier spotting (had to wear a tampon), and got acne (in addition to the 1st month side effects). Do not waste your time, pain, and energy with this birth control."

• MMF...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2019

For Birth Control "I've tried several BC pills, and this one is the worst. Spotting all month long. Cramps, headaches, nausea, moodiness, very tired. Do not take this unless you've done well with low-dose pills in the past. I've tried this one twice and never make it to the end of the pack. A lot of times, if you tell your gyno you're having side effects, they'll lower your dose... Sometimes you actually need a higher dose. Try Sprintec... It's the best one I've used so far! Do not take Lo Loestrin, not even as a free sample pack."