Lo Loestrin Fe and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Jay...
• January 14, 2021

For Birth Control "Personally, I had an okay experience with Lo Loestrin. I was on it for a couple of months. During these few months, I had gained 15-20 pounds, got stretch marks around my thighs and breasts, and my boobs went from C’s to DD’s. I was very unhappy with this weight change because it was extremely drastic. I had my period only a couple of times, and when I did, it was so short and light that it was as though it was never even there, which was amazing. My mood swings were the same, no change. I have been off the pills for over a year now, still haven’t been able to lose this weight or lower my cup size. I may not have given my body the ability to regulate itself to the hormones, but I really didn’t want it to get any worse than it was. I’m currently trying new birth control pills, which unfortunately have a higher dose of estrogen, but weight gain isn’t a popular side effect."

• Anonymous
• February 9, 2012

For Birth Control "I am about to finish up my fifth pack of Lo Loestrin. Lately, I've been noticing weight gain, even though I have changed my diet and started working out 3-4 times a week. I have gained about 10 lbs in the last 4 months and continue to gain 1 lb per week. At first, I didn't think it could have anything to do with this pill, now I'm starting to wonder. My skin has been clearer, and I have not had a period or bleeding at all since I started this pill. But the weight gain is a big deal for me. My breasts have gotten bigger and are a lot more tender. Mood swings have been tremendous, didn't notice a change in sex drive. I think everyone is different, and every birth control you take is going to affect each woman differently."

• B_C...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 22, 2017

For Birth Control "I have nothing bad to say! This is my first time taking any birth control, so maybe I'm a little biased. I was very hesitant to take any birth control due to the known side effects that come along with most oral contraceptives. However, after two separate ruptured ovarian cysts, my OBGYN said birth control is really the only way to prevent it in the future. I've been taking it a little over 6 months now - no weight gain, no acne, no mood changes, no loss of libido, and my periods are so light now, mostly spotting, no cramps, and a shorter duration! I definitely recommend this!"

• Fab...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 1, 2016

For Birth Control "Worst birth control ever! I was taking this pill for a little over a year, and yeah, I gained about 10 lbs and had breakouts, but the real issues were that it made me extremely irritable, emotional, as well as depressed. My sex drive became nonexistent, and I was having severe dryness, plus yeast infections. So I guess, yes, it completely worked as an effective birth control because I just didn't want to have sex, plus what boyfriend would want to have sex with their emotionally crazy girlfriend who is dry or having a yeast infection? Honestly, I've been off of it for 6 months, but I remember even after the first week off, my body was normalizing, and I felt radiant! Stay away from this pill! You've been warned."

• bfr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 19, 2012

For Birth Control "I was taking this pill constantly to stop my periods because I have endometriosis. It did the job, but I did notice I gained quite a bit of weight from it. When I stopped taking it, I noticed a month later that I had actually lost weight. Other than that, not really any side effects."

• Gol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2014

For Birth Control "This is my second time around on this. I took it about 3 years ago for a full year and totally loved it, hence why I got back on it. This time it was a much different experience. The 3 months I was on it was constant breakthrough bleeding pretty much every single day. About 8-10 lbs weight gain (fairly active, in my late 20s, eat clean). Sex drive was nonexistent. No acne, thankfully. I also experienced some depression, never suicide but just down and blue most days. I am switching to Microgestin Fe 1/20 because my OB said Lo Loestrin may have been too low of a dosage for me."

• pis...
• September 9, 2016

For Birth Control "Just when I thought that this birth control was working great..... Boy was I wrong. The first week I was feeling great, no side effects, no problems..... life was great. Then week 2 hit and everything went to hell. Now I'm bleeding uncontrollably. It's been 3 straight weeks. Guess what? I AM STILL BLEEDING! I have gained weight in my sides making me look like I've just consumed a baker's dozen donuts. I am emotionally unstable, as you can tell from this review......!!!!! I am hungry all the time, I am eating everything I can get my meaty hands on, and my snack supply has depleted by 2/3. My sex drive is GONE like a bird that hit the damn window. Unless you want your life to be turned upside down in a month like mine was.... DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2012

For Birth Control "I'm on my 9th day of the pill and feel depressed and have been crying nonstop. I had to call in to work because of this. I have gained 6 lbs in the last 9 days and have no sex drive. I have been bleeding for 9 days now and there are no signs of that letting up anytime soon. This is severely atypical for me. I am usually the happiest person you will meet and now I can't stop crying."

• Mel...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 7, 2016

For Birth Control "My doctor prescribed me Lo Loestrin when I was 15 to treat my heavy, irregular periods and cramps that would cause me to stay home from school/other obligations for days at a time. It worked perfectly for me for the 5+ years that I used it! My periods lightened and became extremely regular, and it worked as pregnancy prevention later as well. I didn't experience any abnormal weight gain, and it didn't affect my acne whatsoever (neither lightened it nor made it heavier). I would definitely recommend LLF!"

• doo...
• February 13, 2012

For Birth Control "I was skeptical at first trying it because I had never had birth control before. I'm 23 and a hypochondriac. My 1st month (Nov), I started taking it on the 16th during my period. It lightened it by 3 days. A week after, I spotted lightly for 2 weeks straight (nothing serious or worrisome). In December, I got my period on time, again, it was light and short. Then in January, I didn't get my period but had really, really light spotting for 1 day, and my doc said that was my period. Basically, I had no other symptoms at all being on this pill, aside from a really sweet tooth craving chocolate and sweets, which made me gain about 5-7 lbs. Other than that, thumbs up."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2016

For Birth Control "I switched to Lo Loestrin after being on generic Loestrin for about 3 months. My body is high estrogen to begin with, so I needed something with less hormones. Generic gave me terrible anxiety, depression, mood swings, weight gain, and hormonal acne. After switching to Lo Loestrin, within 3 weeks I had lost 5 lbs, had glowing skin, and overall felt amazing. Every woman's body reacts to birth control differently, so my advice is if you feel awful, it definitely couldn't hurt to try something new, right? Lo Loestrin was amazing for me, but some people have terrible experiences."

• lol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2019

For Birth Control "Over the years, I have been sensitive to the hormones in BC pills, so my Dr. prescribed me Lo Loestrin Fe in hopes of a better option because of its low dose. I have been taking this pill for 3 months, I committed to 3 months to allow my body to adjust. The first month was okay, I noticed my hunger increase, but I figured that was a side effect I could adjust to. By the second month, I had become extremely tired, irritable, and very depressed. My eyes hurt and are blurry, my period has become irregular and lasts on and off for 8 consecutive days. I have gotten 3 yeast infections since starting the pill. I'm super hungry ALL THE TIME and have gained 10 lbs that will not come off! I am going to be stopping this pill at the end of the pack (as per recommendation) and looking into a copper IUD. I literally cannot wait to get off this garbage and get my life back!"

• Cat...
• December 5, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 19 years old and I eat somewhat healthy and get moderate exercise almost daily. I was put on Lo Loestrin in April of 2016 because I was starting to be more sexually active and I also hadn't always had the most regular period before, so that was a hope of mine too. For the first couple of months, I didn't notice any side effects, but now after having taken it for almost 8 months and reading these other reviews, I'm realizing that the 15 lbs in weight gain, (abnormal) emotional breakdowns, mood swings, underarm/face cysts, hair loss, brown spotting, tiredness, etc. are most likely from this pill! I didn't even put two and two together and I'm so glad I found this thread; I am going to go to the doctor tomorrow to get my pill changed!!!!"

• Mad...
• January 12, 2015

For Birth Control "Have been on it for about a month and no spotting. It's obviously effective because I'm not pregnant, but the only problems I have are weight gain (I'm eating like a horse) and the worst acne I've probably ever had in my life. I'm going to wait it out and see what happens, but hoping it goes away. Was on Sprintec, and it made me throw up every day, had to get off, and so far, those are the only downfalls of this one."

• Anonymous
• April 7, 2015

For Birth Control "Been taking for 6 months. During the first month, I had extremely sensitive breasts (even clothing touching against me was sore). Other than that, my experience has been positive - a little random mid-month bleeding, but no side effects such as headaches, weight gain, mood changes, etc. I plan to stay on it."

• hel...
• April 30, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Lo Loestrin for an entire year, and I love it! I am a nineteen-year-old sexually active woman. When I first began to take Lo Loestrin, I did get dizzy, felt mood swings, weird cravings, weight gain. You will gain weight, I am unusually small, so the weight gain wasn't devastating (I went from 98 pounds to 115). After a month or two, my body adjusted to the pills, and everything balanced out, and it's been very effective. I've had about three periods in the last year, which has its positives and negatives. I personally love Lo Loestrin."

• Bri...
• November 4, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on this medication since August when I had to get my Mirena IUD removed. I had never been on the pill before this, so I was nervous about its effectiveness, but it has been wonderful so far! I have had no weight gain, no acne, no crazy mood swings... I have had my period regularly when I was supposed to on the white/brown pills. Last month, I didn't get my period for the first two white pills and got very worried, but I had a very light period on the two brown pill days. I have slight breast tenderness sometimes, but nothing major. It is great that it is such a low dose of estrogen, which significantly lowers the risk of blood clots. I would highly recommend this medication to anyone looking for a great birth control."

• Jew...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I have PCOS, and my doctor decided to put me on this and try it out. I have very irregular periods and was hoping that birth control could help manage my PCOS. After about 3 months on this pill, I had gained a rapid amount of weight, and my periods were so bad that I would be crying in pain! I finally had had enough and changed to a different birth control, and I feel amazing!"

• Bel...
• August 3, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been taking this pill for 5 months now and LOVE it! Periods are two days, if that, no acne, no weight gain (actually lost 15 pounds in the first 2 months), no libido changes. I had severe migraines when prescribed this medication of up to 3 a week. Since I've started taking it, I've had one a month."

• hap...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 20, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm seeing so many negative reviews, and I understand everyone's bodies react differently, but I have zero complaints about this pill! I've been on it for almost a year now (was put on for heavy/painful periods and acne), and it solved all of my menstrual problems! I have not had a period since starting this pill, which has been great for me considering how bad they were prior. My acne has cleared, I haven't had mood swings/weight gain, etc.! I couldn't be happier! 10/10!"

• Cro...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 7, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on Lo Loestrin for just over a year now (after I finished breastfeeding my son) and have had no negative side effects. The pill has not caused any weight gain or loss, change in attitude, or sex drive. I haven't had a period in about 4 months now, and it is slightly alarming that the pill is changing my cycle so much, but as long as I can still have more children when I am ready and my period comes back once I go off of Lo Loestrin, I consider this to be an excellent birth control pill!"

• Anonymous
• February 1, 2012

For Birth Control "Was on this for 6 months, glad it worked for others but wasn't that great for me. Kept me from being pregnant and also had no period, which was great! But, also had all the side effects - always being tired, weight gain, no sex drive. But, every woman is different."

• Anonymous
• November 6, 2011

For Birth Control "Have not stopped bleeding since I started the pill 3 weeks ago today. I have gained 10 lbs, and the nonstop bleeding is enough to make me go back to my painful irregular periods. I am stopping the pill immediately."

• Dag...
• April 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on this pill for four months. A week after I started it, I noticed my hair was significantly thinner than normal. The hair loss kept getting worse over the next few months, which is terrifying, I can assure you. I quickly fell into a black hole of depression, which I had never had problems with before. I also had no libido and horrible dryness, to the point that it hurt to even touch my labia. I also gained weight in weird places and had the 'pregnant woman body.' I quit the pill two weeks ago, and it's like a black cloud has been lifted off me. I'm crying reading these reviews because it's such a relief to know I'm not crazy. If you're on this pill, just watch out for the side effects and know it's not you, it's the pill."

• 23Y...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for 4 months. The first month, my period was normal (for me - quite heavy), the second month, my period was very light, and ever since, I have not had a period. I still notice bloating and slight weight gain before my period, but no other side effects. Although the pill itself is quite expensive, it is worth it because I no longer have to buy hygiene products since I don't have a period."