Nortrel 1/35 and Bloating: What Users Say

• Nin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 28, 2018

For Birth Control "I was terrified to take this after reading reviews on here, but I actually have had a good experience with this birth control. I didn't really get any side effects, except I've gained 5 pounds, which could definitely be due to my eating habits. My skin has cleared up and my periods aren't as painful or long as before. It has also prevented pregnancy very well, basically, it does everything it should. I previously took Trinessa and Yaz, and my body hated them both (cystic acne, bloating, nausea), so Nortrel has been a breath of fresh air."

• Anonymous
• February 9, 2011

For Birth Control "Nortrel is the third birth control I've tried. I have been taking it for 2 months now. I haven't experienced any breakthrough bleeding, which was my problem on the other two pills, but my periods on this pill have been unbearable. This pill has caused me to have extreme cramps, major mood swings, bloating, back pain, breast tenderness, and a very, very heavy period. It lasts about 5 days, but it's far heavier than my period has ever been. I thought that my body just needed to get used to it, but my second period on this pill seemed considerably worse than the first."

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

For Birth Control "I took Necon in my 20s-30s. I am 40 now and have been on Nortrel (generic of Nortrel) for 3 months. My pros: regular, 3-4 day periods, light flow, no to little acne, intense sex drive in week 3 (no dryness here), no depression/anxiety, or lack of sleep (I take clonazepam), rare headaches, rare spotting. My cons: extreme bloating (Midol helps), weight gain/increased appetite, mood swings, irritability, fatigue, cramps, nausea (I take ondansetron), gas, backaches (I take 800 mg Ibuprofen). Besides weight gain, there are 2 cons that can be age vs the pill. I see cellulite on my legs and my hair is thinning. I noticed most reviews are from girls younger than me, so I can’t compare. I love the light, short, regular periods. I am able to live with the majority of my cons. I am looking at ways to diet & become more active. Take at your own risk, but note your symptoms. See what you can live with, medicate (if you are okay with it-it helps). For me, this is not the best, but it's not the worst either."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I began taking this birth control when I was 17 (I am now 20) because my periods were normally 10-15 days long, very heavy, and very painful. Overall, the birth control works (I never got pregnant), but I experienced so much nausea and vomiting within the first year, and any time I would forget a pill, this same nausea and vomiting would occur. I also experienced symptoms like migraines, bloating, and swelling in my breasts, but my periods were much more bearable. Overall, it accomplished what I initially wanted, but I think it’s caused me more harm than good."

• Kel...
• February 17, 2019

For Birth Control "Pros: no acne, no pregnancy, regular periods. Cons: weight gain. Water retention and bloating. Had migraines but went away, still get headaches a lot. Breast tenderness. Hair was thinning out. Dry skin, eyes, vagina. No sex drive, even if I did, the outcome would be dry. Mental cons: crazy mood swings. Anxiety, insomnia mixed with depression. Stopped the pill for a month. Felt like myself again. Slept sooo good, like my body felt like it was healing itself. My groin was feeling flutters like it was on relapse. I was so calm and felt like my outward attitude on everything was way more content, happy, and more clear. Not agitated so easily. Starting losing weight already for that month. Now I'm switching to another form of BC, but had to get back on the monster pill until I get that. To make sure I don't get pregnant (IUD). So I'm feeling like crap again. Good luck, ladies. Experiment, 'cause everyone is different until you find the best for you. This BC just didn't work out for me personally."

• Van...
• March 26, 2018

"Been using it for 6 weeks now. Periods are now every 2 weeks with 1 week off. Bloating, increased water retention. Menstrual cramps are horrible. Sex drive has decreased. Only been using this to decrease menstrual flow and seen no difference, now hate the product. Only upside: my breast size increased."

• Mhm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2020

For Birth Control "I had been on less strong pills before switching to this one, and I wish I never switched. This pill is absolutely awful. Prolonged bleeding and continuous spotting, terrible. TERRIBLE. Constipation and bloating, and extreme anxiety and depression. Only pro is that my skin has been doing better. I wouldn’t give this pill to my worst enemy."