Microgestin Fe 1/20 and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Sky...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2020

For Birth Control "I originally went on Microgestin to help control acne, and it did the opposite for me. I’m in month 4, and my acne is worse than before I started. Overall, the first month contained a lot of mood swings, bleeding for a few weeks, and very tender breasts. All of the other side effects have lightened, but my hormonal acne is a lot worse. It might work for some people, just didn’t work for me!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2017

For Birth Control "Microgestin has more pros than cons for me. I have been on for almost a month now, and not only am I not pregnant, but I went from a 34C to a D cup (yeah boi). I have also gained like 7-8 pounds, but that could be from the hearty eating. My chest acne has pretty much cleared up, my face is eh, though. My sex drive is through the roof. I've gotten a lot of minor headaches, and I'm a little emotional. Eager to see what my results will be after three months. This pill ain't too shabby."

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2014

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Slowed down my abnormal bleeding after a few weeks, it stopped altogether, then started up again, but not to the degree that it was before I was taking it. I've gained 10 lbs from it. I eat half of what I used to and eat an extremely healthy diet. I do 30 mins of cardio and 30 minutes of weight training 5-6 days a week, plus bicycling 7 days a week. I've had awful mood swings and depression, bad headaches on top of it."

• Nik...
• June 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I started to take this pill on my first day, which fell on a Sunday. It was my first time in years using birth control again, and NEVER EVER AGAIN!! I only took the pills THREE days before I started noticing side effects. First off, I was always tired no matter how much I sleep, I still woke up tired, all through the day TIRED!! And then I always had an attitude every day. But really, it made me so emotional, WEDNESDAY, I burst out in tears, and I don't even know why!! I wouldn't dare take another one of these!!"

• Bro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2016

For Birth Control "Horrible!!! I decided to give this a try, but in the first month I gained 10 lbs. My appetite increased so much. I couldn't control myself, it was worse than the munchies (420). My husband and I started having issues because I was never in the mood for sex, and I mean NEVER. Horrible, horrible, horrible. Mood swings, I would get really sad out of nowhere, pretty depressing. I was very negative, started losing confidence, which is not me. Only good thing this pill did was give me super clear skin. Today is 1 month and 1 week, I am not taking it anymore!!!"

• Pri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2016

For Endometriosis "Well, my experience so far has been really bad. I have had excessive weight gain, acne breakouts here and there, not too bad though. I've had no period for a long time, but now I'm somewhat bleeding, and it's not even heavy. The bad thing is I'm getting really bad ovary cramps. I feel very bad with mood swings, they're driving me crazy, and I'm eating like I'm pregnant. I have pregnancy symptoms without being pregnant. I don't know, I wouldn't recommend this for anyone, but I have to suffer on it for like 2-3 more months."

• Ana...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2016

For Birth Control "This pill might work well for younger women (late teens). I took Microgestin at 16 and had no problems with it. It worked great, but now retaking it in my mid-twenties, I experienced insane emotional breakdowns with this birth control. Those side effects are real! I have taken 2 other types of birth control (Loestrin and Depo), and neither gave me bouts of intense crying. Very unpleasant, and I had to stop taking it. I also experienced nausea and tummy aching if I took this pill without food. I think at 16 my body tolerated the excess estrogen differently. Now in full adulthood, my system reacts terribly to this birth control. Emotional breakdown and super intense crying is a real side effect."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2023

For Birth Control "Horrible. I just switched to this birth control, and I’ve decided to stop birth control completely until I can go back to my original. I’ve been taking it for a month and have experienced the worst mood swings, weight gain, and constant acne outbreaks. I haven’t had acne since I was 15!"

• Dsc...
• April 2, 2016

For Birth Control "This pill was not a fit for me at all. They told me it would take up to three months to regulate me, and I took it for nine months and never became regular. I have always been to the day with my cycle, but I never got my period back after nursing my second for a year. This pill made me bleed every two weeks and sometimes once a month. It was all over the place. I got migraines and had major mood swings. I said goodbye to it."

• cer...
• April 12, 2012

For Birth Control "I am in school, so I was limited to the birth control pills at the school's health center. I have been on this pill for about 7 months. Last month, I didn't get my period and had to take two pregnancy tests, which were negative. Most of the months, my periods are very, very light and only last one day. I really hate not knowing if it's the pill or if I am pregnant. Since starting this pill, I get horrible night sweats, bad enough where I have the fan in my window blowing cold air into my bedroom...in the dead of winter. I notice more hair falling out, horrible mood swings, sore boobs, increased appetite, water retention, ahhhh! I feel bad that my fiancé."

• Kar...
• February 25, 2016

For Birth Control "When I first started taking this pill, I had irregular periods and some slight mood swings for the first couple of months. Now I have regular periods that are very light and last about two days. No cramps or nausea, and I haven't noticed a weight change. The cons for me are lack of sex drive and tender breasts."

• amd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I began this birth control when I was 17, and my experience wasn't pleasant. I began taking Microgestin Fe 1/20 in June 2015. When I first began the pill, I had pretty bad nausea and was extremely emotional for the first month. In my second month, I became depressed and began to have anxiety attacks for just about everything. When my boyfriend and I would have relations, he would tell me I was shedding more hair than normal. I paid more attention to it, and my scalp began to hurt as if I had my hair in a ponytail and just took it out. Every time I'd shower or brush my hair, chunks would come out. By the third month, I had lost about 30% of my hair and had noticeable bald spots. Not a pleasant experience. Life got better when I stopped taking it."

• BWh...
• October 28, 2017

For Birth Control "I have mixed feelings about this pill. Took this birth control for about 3 years, my periods were great! Very light and regular. But for about the last year, my mood swings have been terrible, and I’ve developed anxiety. I’ve also noticed my hair has thinned tremendously, which is devastating for me as I’ve always had the thickest, healthiest hair until this pill :( so I’m now switching pills, and hopefully my hair and normal moods will come back!"

• jwa...
• August 3, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been taking this birth control for a while now. My skin is super clear. I have gained weight. I am 5'8" and weigh 145 lbs., but I work out and live an active lifestyle. I probably gained 15 to 20 lbs. while on this because previously with other birth control I remained a cool 120-125 lbs. This was a beneficial thing to me because I have used the weight gain to my advantage and turned it into muscle. Mood swings... eh, honestly, I have no idea if that is from the pill or just from my personality, but I usually don't think my mood switches too often. For whatever reason, I'm not sure if it is my body or just the pill, but I always spot for a solid week either on the 2nd or 3rd week of the pill cycle, which I hate and don't understand. Pretty sure it's just me. I feel like I'm hungry ALL THE TIME. I think it's because I work out though. I would recommend the pill for people who want to have a weight gain."

• Rac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2018

For Birth Control "I switched to Microgestin FE after my insurance removed the patch from their list of covered medications, which made me sad because Xulane worked really well for me other than having a low libido. This one was not a good fit for me. I've been taking this for almost 3 months to see if the side effects would go away, but they're only getting worse. I've been experiencing insomnia, especially during the first two weeks of taking the pill, and I also get super itchy on my arms, back, and legs, which is a side effect I've never had with any other birth control. The cystic acne has only gotten worse, and I've just contacted my doctor to switch to something else because this pill makes me feel horrible. My moods are also off the wall, and I get upset/easily irritated very often. The very idea of sex annoys me. I am not myself on this pill... I can't wait to switch!!"

• Anonymous
• June 15, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for about a month. Since then, I've been feeling very lightheaded at times. Also, I noticed that my appetite has increased drastically. I feel more tired than usual, and the mood swings are terrible. On top of all that, the acne won't go away! This pill is okay, but I wouldn't suggest it for long-term use."

• Ali...
• January 27, 2016

For Birth Control "While it prevented pregnancy, but the side effects actually got worse over time. I started out on Loestrin 24, which was great after I got used to it. Then I went on Gildess, which was okay. Then my pharmacy switched me to the Microgestin. It was cheaper, so I stuck with it. I think I was on it for 1.5-2 years before I couldn't stand it. I just became so insanely emotional and PMS-y. It started 2 weeks before my period. I also had the breast tenderness and sugar cravings like crazy. The awful moodiness went away once I switched birth control. I didn't have a lot of spotting-although I also didn't have a period for the first 3-4 months. I had semi-bad cramps during the inactive week."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 20, 2016

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "My gynecologist put me on this for PCOS. I took it for two years. My periods are few, random, and unpredictable. I didn't have regular bleeding at all. I had one or two periods a year on it. The periods were much less uncomfortable, and my PMS symptoms were of lower severity. Didn't help with my high insulin, which is my big problem. Didn't help with my ridiculously bad adult acne, a big problem. It went back to before. For a short period, I think it decreased my acne by 10%. The only pro I can think of is that it dealt with my higher risk for developing endometrial cancer due to lining buildup from unopposed estrogen. If I miss a dose here or there, I have awful mood swings. I'm going to a new gynecologist because I need better management of my PCOS."

• Joj...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 4, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Microgestin for 8 months. In that time, I had horrible, horrible mood swings. Extreme irritability that came out of nowhere. Anxiety through the roof, depression that made me never want to get out of bed, literally no libido. I also developed a horrible rash all over my back and on my bikini line that my doctor just attributed to having 'sensitive skin.' I did not connect the dots until I read these reviews and stopped taking it immediately. Everything has improved drastically since NOT taking this pill for only a week. Steer clear, if you're on it currently, PAY ATTENTION. I would never recommend this pill to anyone."

• Mic...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 27, 2021

For Birth Control "This birth control was awful. I have taken it 2 separate times in my life for about 6 months each, and it made me feel terrible. I had really bad mood swings, my anxiety was at an all-time high, and it all around was just a bad experience. I switched to Junel and felt so much better in all aspects."

• Ros...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 6, 2021

For Birth Control "Only been on it a week. After taking it, I feel severely nauseous and have vomited. I have lost 10 pounds. And my mood swings are so bad. I have no appetite or interest in food, period. And have missed or left university three times in the past 5 days."

• Anonymous
• May 24, 2010

For Birth Control "I've been taking the pill for about 26 days. It's my first time taking birth control. My doctor put me on it to help regulate my estrogen bursts before my period. So far, I've gained 3 pounds every 2 weeks, my face has exploded with acne, my hair seems to be falling out, I get mood swings, I get teary-eyed over everything, and I get horrible period-like cramps. The only good part is my period is much, much lighter. It lasts a little longer, but I don't mind."

• Bum...
• June 20, 2016

For Birth Control "This birth control was pretty terrible. I should preface this by saying I only took it for a month and not the 3 months that is recommended for your body to adjust to a hormonal birth control. However, there was no way I was going to subject myself to 3 months of this pill. The first two weeks, it caused me to have insane mood swings. I'd get extremely mad at virtually nothing. The two times I accidentally took the pill a few hours late, I immediately started spotting and would continue to spot for a few days. It also made my skin break out, despite the fact that I have a good skincare routine and rarely experience acne."

• cri...
• February 27, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been taking this pill for 2.5 years and am completely satisfied. The first month taking it I had mood swings and nausea, but this is normal! It's the side effects that I feel most birth controls come with. I rate this a 9/10 because this pill has kept me from pregnancy and cleared my breakouts on my back and chest, but not my face. I can hide my chest and back, but not so much my face! Great contraceptive. I would recommend this to a friend or family member. The 'periods' are SUPER light, if anything, you probably won't spot during the sugar pill week. There are many negative feedback about this pill, and I wanted to share my good experience with this birth control. Give it a month or so to kick in, and it'll be worth it!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 7, 2016

For Acne "As we all know, birth control has different effects on everyone. As for myself and the 2 other people I know who have taken this pill in the past, it has been nothing short of miserable for all 3 of us. I've never related to others when they talk about mood swings during menstruation until I took this pill. Except now my mood swings can happen at any point, and I constantly have anxiety. On top of this, I am constantly nauseous, have random chest pain, and I've developed the worst acne I've had in my entire life. It's a good day if I have one or fewer breakouts appear on my chin area. As stated before, this pill has different effects on everyone, but as for me, I can honestly say it has impacted my life and not in a good way."