Microgestin Fe 1/20 and Bleeding: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• May 13, 2009

For Birth Control "My doctor put me on this medicine for dysmenorrhea. I LOVE this birth control pill. I have NEVER had any bad side effects from it, no acne, no mood swings. I only have light bleeding/no bleeding and cramping when I do have my periods, which only last 2-4 days. But the best part, NO WEIGHT GAIN. I have actually lost 30 lbs since I have been on it. I really love this pill and would not go to any other birth control pill."

• bee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2020

For Birth Control "I absolutely hate this medication. They gave it to me because my Junel Fe was on backorder. Horrible mood swings, zero sex drive whatsoever, symptoms of depression, breakthrough bleeding, and lack of interest in things I previously loved. I didn't use this for the purpose of preventing pregnancy, but it didn't even work for the things I needed it for. Everyone is different, but I have never experienced such dark emotions in my life, and this was a horrible experience."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Microgestin for 3 weeks. I started taking it on the 1st day of my period, and it made my (normally VERY regular period) last for 8 days (it usually lasts 4-5)! For the entire time, I have been very moody, bloated, retaining water, have had cramps, nausea, acne, breakthrough bleeding, EVERYTHING. THE WHOLE TIME. I literally feel like I have been on my period for 3 weeks. I keep hoping that eventually, my body will get used to these hormones. My doctor said it will take 1-3 months to regulate, but I don't know if I want to live like I'm on my period for 3 full months."

• A R...
• May 10, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been taking these pills for the past two months. Usually, I'm a very rational person, but after taking them, I have extreme mood swings, and minor disagreements turn into week-long fights. I stopped taking them last night due to it almost ending my relationship. No pill should be able to cause such a drastic difference in personality. I also have irregular bleeding between periods, but hey, at least I'm not pregnant."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 13, 2013

For Birth Control "Whenever you start birth control, you're supposed to give it a three-month trial before you determine if it's garbage or not. The reason being is that your body is adjusting to the new birth control, and of course, you're going to experience breakout bleeding, common birth control side effects, and of course, being overly emotional. On the other hand, despite the breakout bleeding and the mood swings I get from time to time, I love Microgestin! It's a reliable birth control if used correctly, so if you're forgetful, forget the pill and find another form of birth control! Within the past nine months I've used it, I had lighter periods, didn't break out as much, and I didn't feel any weight gain. I recommend this product to anyone!"

• ayy...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 30, 2016

For Birth Control "I wanted to write a review because I was researching this pill for my GWS class, and I noticed a lot of people new to the pill experiencing problems. I have been on this pill for 5 years, and while I didn't experience any terrible side effects in the beginning (that I recall), this pill has helped me a lot in 5 years. I originally took it to cure my severe acne, but it also helped with my severe cramps and heavy bleeding. Now, five years later, my skin is the clearest it has ever been, I haven't had a legit cramp in probably two years, and my periods only last about 4 days with minimal bleeding. All in all, I would highly recommend this pill."

• mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2014

For Menstrual Disorders "I have been on Microgestin 1/20 for about three weeks now, and the side effects were not shy. The first two days, I had bad migraines, the third and fourth, I had cramps, and the fifth to seventh day, I was extremely depressed. I cried over almost everything and anything. Starting the second week, it seemed like things were going okay until I started bleeding, and it hasn't stopped. Isn't that the whole purpose? I got over my period two and a half weeks ago, and now I'm getting it again, and there are no signs of it stopping anytime soon. The good thing is I don't have mood swings or anything anymore, but this excessive bleeding is now the problem."

• mom...
• July 1, 2021

For Birth Control "I'm starting my 2nd pack of this birth control. I was almost 4 months postpartum and was going through it. Depression and anxiety were at an all-time high. My periods were extremely painful and long. My antidepressants just weren't helping, so the doctor suggested this. I noticed a huge difference in just one week. I'm feeling back to normal again, and my period this time has been SO pleasant. My acne has cleared up, and I have actually lost weight. I believe this birth control has saved my life. I did experience 10 days of breakthrough bleeding, but would gladly take that over the mental and physical torture I was going through. Don't let the few bad reviews scare you into not trying this birth control, like they almost did me."

• Mid...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 15, 2018

For Birth Control "I have endometriosis and am perimenopausal. Had laparoscopic surgery on my endometriosis 15 years ago and had easy periods for years after. In the past year, as perimenopause set in, my periods became unbearable and came every 2-3 weeks, so I decided to try Microgestin Fe to control symptoms and frequency of periods. The first 8 or 10 days were awful: severe nausea, lethargy, deep depression, and bleeding/spotting for 14 days. Someone suggested I take the pill at night before bed instead of in the morning. Immediately, like magic, everything normalized. It's now been 3 months - my moods are stable, no spotting, no bloating, no cramping, no breakouts. Only real side effect is constipation from the supplemental iron. Now I drink fiber beverages each morning and all is well. Every person reacts differently, but I wanted to share that the bad side effects aren't necessarily permanent."

• Tal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Microgestin Fe 1/20 for 4 months. Gained weight, mood swings, horrible cramps, and bleeding in between periods. I don't feel like myself at all. I've been bleeding for 7 days now. The only thing this has done for me is heighten my sex drive. I've decided to stop taking it. Going back to condoms."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for a month now. I was never really the type of person to get a lot of acne, but ever since I started on this pill, I’ve got super bad acne and hate my skin. I was “light bleeding” for over 2 weeks. I have gained a little over 10 pounds since I started because I'm constantly wanting food. Before I started this birth control, I weighed 115, now I weigh 127 in one month. Another thing is I'm always tired, no matter how much I sleep. The only “plus” side is that my cramps aren't as bad anymore."

• Anonymous
• October 8, 2009

"I've been on this pill for 7 months. I'd been having hormonal issues, so I thought a pill with less estrogen in it would help. Perhaps I am allergic to this pill. It upsets my stomach. The last few months, it has been like I have diarrhea. After every meal, I have an urgent need to use the restroom. My period has been unpredictable, heavy at first, then it lightened. One month I didn't get one. Now it's average in length, but my back aches, and I feel tired. I break out twice a month with mild acne. I have a 3-4 day window where I feel like having sex, and my body will respond. Other times I want to have sex, but I am dry, and my body is slow to respond. I am moody, easy to cry, and anger. My boobs itch, I get bloated, and I'm losing hair like crazy!"

• Anonymous
• October 8, 2009

"I've been on this pill for 7 months. I'd been having hormonal issues, so I thought a pill with less estrogen in it would help. Perhaps I am allergic to this pill. It upsets my stomach. The last few months, it has been like I have diarrhea. After every meal, I have an urgent need to use the restroom. My period has been unpredictable, heavy at first, then it lightened. One month I didn't get one. Now it's average in length, but my back aches, and I feel tired. I break out twice a month with mild acne. I have a 3-4 day window where I feel like having sex, and my body will respond. Other times I want to have sex, but I am dry, and my body is slow to respond. I am moody, easy to cry, and anger. My boobs itch, I get bloated, and I'm losing hair like crazy!"

• 41...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I had the Mirena for 3 years. It was the first birth control I've used since I got married 3 years ago... It was wonderful, except after a year I started getting hot flashes. I suffered for a bit longer and then had it removed. Hot flashes gone!!! I was given Microgestin. I took it for 16 days and bled for 16 days. Full-blown, heavy bleeding, huge clots, thought I would expel my uterus. lol. Dr. said keep taking, and if I feel like I'm going to pass out, come to the office. I didn't listen and stopped the pills. 3 days later, no blood. I've never bled like this in my life. Not sure why it made me bleed. Wish I understood this since it's supposed to make you not... Anyways, I'm going to take a break for a couple of months and maybe try a different pill..."

• 41...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I had the Mirena for 3 years. It was the first birth control I've used since I got married 3 years ago... It was wonderful, except after a year I started getting hot flashes. I suffered for a bit longer and then had it removed. Hot flashes gone!!! I was given Microgestin. I took it for 16 days and bled for 16 days. Full-blown, heavy bleeding, huge clots, thought I would expel my uterus. lol. Dr. said keep taking, and if I feel like I'm going to pass out, come to the office. I didn't listen and stopped the pills. 3 days later, no blood. I've never bled like this in my life. Not sure why it made me bleed. Wish I understood this since it's supposed to make you not... Anyways, I'm going to take a break for a couple of months and maybe try a different pill..."

• SPT...
• December 27, 2013

For Birth Control "I started this pill, and all seemed fine. I had some symptoms while my body was 'adjusting' to the hormones: breakthrough bleeding, a little weight gain, feeling blue. But I guess my body never fully adjusted because 6 months later, this pill is giving me headaches. I have breakthrough bleeding in the middle of the month every month, I feel slightly nauseous all throughout the day, and I still cramp and get acne. I didn't get pregnant, though, and my periods were super light and short, but this pill just doesn't work with my body, I think."

• Nay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2016

For Menstrual Disorders "Microgestin is terrible! Although it stops periods, you cannot run out of packets at all with this medication. I missed a pill due to delays while I was in Texas, and right after, breakthrough bleeding started. It happens every month. You cannot miss a pill. The minute you do, breakthrough bleeding starts immediately after."

• Ava...
• October 30, 2016

For Birth Control "I began this pill a little over a year ago, and the only positive thing it did was prevent pregnancy. This pill gave me breakthrough bleeding, and I consistently missed a period every other month even when I took the pill religiously. I began to realize that the pill has been the reason for my extremely bad acne (that began when I started this pill), depression, and mental fog that I always seem to be caught in. I do not recommend this pill because a lot of my friends who have tried it have experienced the same side effects. Please be careful with this pill."

• Mac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I switched from Aviane to Microgestin after the former caused awful side effects like constant bleeding, irritability, cramping, and breast swelling. Unfortunately, Microgestin didn't work out for me, seeing as I've had the exact same issues with Aviane, except a little worse on this pill. The weight gain was worse, my skin looked good, but I wasn't prone to breakouts anyway. It's an effective birth control, but I can't handle the side effects. It also completely zapped my energy."

• Ano...
• January 25, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Microgestin Fe 1/20 for several years, and I loved it. I never had a period. I also never experienced any moodiness, bloating, fatigue, or weight gain while I was on the pill. It was wonderful. When my husband and I decided to start trying to conceive, I went off the pill and had very heavy bleeding for weeks at a time. It took about three months for my cycle to regulate and resume a somewhat normal cycle. At about this same time, we conceived. After having our son, I decided to go back on this pill. I have been on it for about 7 months now, and it has been a totally different experience. I have not had a normal period when I am scheduled to. It is never the same and is either light spotting or a random heavy gush."

• LRH...
• July 24, 2014

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "Not a fan of this pill. Throughout my teenage years and twenties, I took either Ortho Tri-Cyclen or Yasmin. After the birth of my second son, my doctor switched me to Microgestin as I was searching for a lower dose option. Over the past several months on this pill, I have begun to experience acne, breakthrough bleeding, mood swings, and, just recently, intense cramping and lower back pain. The pain was so out of place that I requested an ultrasound and was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. While I certainly don't believe that Microgestin caused me to develop PCOS, I do believe that it has done a very poor job in controlling the symptoms and has left me with multiple, undesirable side effects. I will be going back to Ortho Tri-Cyclen."

• You...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2018

For Birth Control "This is the worst birth control I've ever been on. I asked my doc for Loestrin 24 since it's worked for me perfectly in the past, but this generic Microgestin was so, so bad for me. Only 7 days in, I have horrid acne. Migraines every day, all day. My depression has gone from mild to severe. I'm fatigued, mood swings, on day 7 of bright red bleeding with no end in sight. I'm not taking any more of this medicine. I do not recommend."

• say...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2013

For Birth Control "I've only been on Microgestin Fe 1/20 for like 2 weeks now. I love it. I started the first day of my cycle, very skeptical at first about birth control in general. But I started my cycle, was two days longer than usual with extremely light bleeding the last two days, I guess you consider that breakthrough bleeding. Other than that, I have not experienced many side effects, which I am so glad about. Other than being very emotional, I'm already a ball of tears, so it kind of made me extra sad, but not too much. One day my feet were swollen... don't know if that's a side effect. But once again, nothing serious. I'm hoping my breasts do go up a size or two. Definitely recommend for first-time birth control."

• Mad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2016

For Birth Control "This drug worked at preventing pregnancy. So it does get some stars for that. It's my third month on it, and every single month I had breakthrough bleeding that began about the second week. I thought it was spotting at first, but then it was heavier and lasted until my actual period started with the sugar pills. I would also get bloated and have bad cramps beginning about the second week of the pill pack. No weight gain happened, and my sex drive stayed the same. But I was also very moody! Things that would normally make me just upset for a day would now bring me to tears and upset me for weeks. And my acne got worse, I would normally get pimples around the time of my period, but now I always have three or more pimples at a time that would scar."

• Joy...
• November 18, 2013

For Birth Control "After being on this for 18 months, I am happy to try something new. Where to start? All seemed fine, then it started to snowball. Mood swings (crying over commercials!), no sex drive, breakthrough bleeding that lasted longer than actual periods (3 days period, and 2 weeks breakthrough) and increased headaches."