Loestrin 21 1/20 and Bleeding: What Users Say

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 2, 2016

For Menstrual Disorders "I'm 31 and have used many birth control options, beginning with the patch at 19, then going to the pill within the year. My MD prescribed me the Loestrin 1/20 a year ago. This past year proved the best for me as far as overall health: fewer skin breakouts, much lighter and shorter periods (I frequently donate blood and am not iron-deficient anemic), better sex drive (husband loves), and moodiness not as bad. I have gained 7 pounds of weight but cannot pinpoint it directly to this pill as I have chosen a less healthy lifestyle the past year. The only negative about this pill for me was I did not stay on a 28-day cycle and had breakthrough bleeding. Today, my MD changed me to Loestrin 1.5/30 for this reason."

• ksh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2014

For Birth Control "I did not have a good experience on Loestrin. Breakouts got worse, had bad mood swings, and breakthrough bleeding. However, I was only on it for a month and a week, so this might not be a fair evaluation. Couldn't stand the side effects, though, so had to get off of it."

• Syd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 21, 2021

For Birth Control "Worst BC I’ve ever taken. I had previously been on Tri-Sprintec for years, so long I lost count. Started having breakthrough bleeding on that, so I was switched to this. About two weeks in, I started becoming irritable. Didn’t really click with me initially, but over the past two months, I’ve continued to be on it, my mood has become unbearable. I’m usually a chill, happy person. This makes me feel psychotic. I am raging constantly. For absolutely no reason. The thought of sex annoys me. Everything does. It’s made my migraine headaches worse. I have one at least every other day. I’ve decided to come off of it and go back to my previous BC. I’d rather deal with the bleeding."

• Can...
• November 9, 2019

For Birth Control "I went on this pill after trying Reclipsen/Apri, which made me unbelievably sad and had awful mood swings. This pill, so far, has been great except that I have breakthrough bleeding all the time, even taking the pill on the DOT every day. I believe it is just my body getting used to the low dose, but it is awful. I have yet to notice any awful depression symptoms, though!"

• Gho...
• August 3, 2017

For Birth Control "Been on this birth control for about 6 months now. I had tried so many other pills, and everything gave me side effects like extreme anxiety, weight gain, high blood pressure, and breakthrough bleeding. When I switched to this one, the only side effect I had was weight gain, but now on my sixth pack, I'm starting to get really bad acne around my chin and forehead, and my horrible menstrual cramps are back. Thinking about switching again. My poor skin has scars now :( It does, however, work to prevent pregnancy, though."

• Daw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I was prescribed this pill and was happy to try it as it's a 'lower dose' pill. Well, after the second week of taking this, it triggered my migraine-associated vertigo, which resulted in me being dizzy for 4 days straight and being sick, so I came off it straight away. I'm not really sure why this was prescribed to me in the first place if one of the side effects is dizziness! Also, after a few days, I had breakthrough bleeding, which I've never had before on any pill. I wouldn't recommend!"

• Chl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for a week, and I've had to stop taking it. I had to swap from Noriday to this as I was having irregular bleeding and very bad cramps. First day, no side effects as expected. But from the second day onwards, my period disappeared, I started to experience horrendous dizziness to the point I would class it as vertigo, and at one point, I was sure I was having a heart attack because I had a very dull ache in my chest and my blood pressure was 172/151! Not to mention my moods are all over the place!"