Microgestin 1/20 and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• Mae...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2017

For Birth Control "Severe acne, low sex drive, vaginal dryness, extreme nausea and vomiting at the start of each pack, turned me into a raging psycho most of the time (literally felt like a different person on this pill, it was amazing getting off this and feeling like a cloud of anger and anxiety had been lifted off my shoulders). But the real kicker was when I started experiencing random shooting pain in my right front thigh, followed by right leg numbness. Fast forward a few more weeks and both legs started going numb, and I got shooting pain that would travel up to my chest and arms. Doctors couldn't determine what was going on exactly (my BP was normal) but advised me to get off the pill, which I gladly did. Craziest BC experience of my life by far."

• Kat...
• March 25, 2012

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I had a very bad experience on Lo Ovral (angry all the time, dead sex drive, hungry constantly) in the past, and was not sure how I felt about going back on the pill for my PCOS. But it turns out Microgestin has been okay on my system. I'm about a year in, and within the first 3 months, my breasts definitely grew half a cup size. My sex drive decreased, and my nipples are tender. I did feel paranoid for about 3 months, then it normalized, and my mood has been fine since. I am convinced it has made me gain weight around the hips, ugh-however, I have not actually gained real weight. After being on it about a year, my sex drive is coming back finally, and mentally, I feel normal. My periods are nice and light, they linger about 5 days total."

• ano...
• May 6, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been on Microgestin for about a year now. My OBGYN said it would be best if I took it continuously, so that's exactly how I've been taking it. I take it consecutively for 3 months and then I take a break for a week. Ladies, I haven't had a period in over a year, and although it sounds scary, believe me, it is totally fine. Zero nasty side effects like headaches, cramping, long periods, moodiness, etc. The only thing is lowered libido, but hey, after all, there is no perfect pill that won't have any side effects! Good luck with this medication."

• Izz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I got on this pill, Microgestin 1/20, so I wouldn’t have periods, as I was basically bedridden during that time of the month. I missed one pill in June and took one pill 6 hours late a month later in July. It is mid-August, and I have been spotting with cramps for a little over two months. I have absolutely no sex drive. It’s completely disappeared, and that’s hard for me, as I am in a long-term relationship with my boyfriend. I love him so much and want to be intimate with him, but I just have zero libido for it. I also feel like I’m crazy. My emotions have been all out of whack. I’m either sad, angry, or numb. My last birth control lowered my sex drive and made my emotions funky sometimes, but it was NOTHING compared to this. Would not recommend to my worst enemy. I give it a 2 out of 10 because I’m not pregnant, which is the ONLY upside."

• CC ...
• December 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on Microgestin for 4 months now, and I hate it. I have not found a birth control yet that doesn't screw up my period, which I used to be able to count on every 30th or so of the month. This is my 3rd birth control. Mood swings, depression, sadness, lower sex drive, increased appetite, and, oh yeah, a whole lot of bleeding. My period is completely out of whack. I tried to skip ONE period. Well, it worked. But then, out of nowhere, I bled for 19 days straight (not light bleeding either). I don't know what to do! My body hates birth control. My mom said that it was like that for her as well. Not sure what to try next."

• Ser...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2019

For Birth Control "When I first started this medication, I became very, very irritable. Like anything at any given moment could set me off. I also had a very dry area, but after about a month and a half, both went away. I’ve noticed my sex drive is quite low. I’m not pregnant, though."

• JuA...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 24, 2015

For Birth Control "Took it for a year, and although I loved it in the beginning (lost weight, no acne), after about 6 months, I realized I was feeling sad, tired, with no energy or no sex drive at all. Also experienced hair loss and nausea. Going off now and will try something else."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I did not do well on this pill, my pharmacy suddenly switched me over to this drug about 4 months ago. Not to mention, about 80% of my prescription gets delayed, and then I go a week without starting a new set. My first month was pretty standard, however, I haven’t gotten my period now for 3 months! I’ve tried taking tests, yet they all come up as not pregnant. I guess it’s doing its job, but I’ve never had my period become this irregular. I’ve gained 15 lbs since the switch, I have severe insomnia, and no sex drive whatsoever. I get depressive episodes and find myself irritable with my significant other when I don’t mean to be. I just consulted with my doctor and am now switching to an IUD because I’m surely over this pill."

• kp2...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 17, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on this pill for 5 years, and while it helped my heavy periods immensely, I stopped feeling like a person. I was numb to everything- not happy or sad, I really only felt anxious or angry. I didn’t feel like myself and had no sex drive either. I’ve just gotten the IUD and didn’t realize the impact until now. If you begin feeling this way, listen to yourself, you are not overthinking it! I wish I would’ve listened to my body/family, who was telling me I was acting so differently."

• Her...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 3, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for a year to treat PCOS. My periods were very irregular, and I experienced spotting and a low sex drive for the first three months after starting. Then I was having normal 3-4 day periods every other month. I also had trouble with nausea and an upset stomach, but it subsided after a week or so. I continued to work out and eat somewhat healthy, and I was still able to lose weight. My only complaint was that after starting the pill, my skin got very sensitive to the chlorine in the pool."

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 24, 2022

For Birth Control "I have taken Microgestin consecutively for a year. I have also been off of it for about 3 months. When I first started it, I dealt with nausea until my body got used to it. Then, it seemed to be okay. It was right after having my first child. But, once I stopped, I realized that it really demolished my sex drive, which is not okay for me since I am married. Now that it has gotten all out of my system, I feel so much better. It did a great job of not getting me pregnant, which was the upside. It was also covered through my insurance. I don’t really have any complaints except the aforementioned."