Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone and Acne: What Users Say

• Liv...
• January 13, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Lo Lo for about 7 months. Initially, I was put off by all the bad reviews, but because of my failed experience with the higher dosed birth control pills, I still gave it a go. Yes, I did break out a lot in the first month. Yes, my mood swings were out of control. No, I did not gain any weight, if anything, I'm finding that this medicine is helping me keep my weight more stable. After 7 months passed, I still have no weight gain, my skin cleared up so much after the first 2 months (other than the occasional pimple when my EXTREMELY light period comes), my overall mood has been elevated. Before Lo Lo, I had terrible mood swings and bouts of depression and sadness. Lo Lo has helped me regulate my hormones altogether. Ladies remember, people will often times leave a bad review over a good one. I wanted to give up on my birth control because of how bad it made me feel at first, but I’m so happy I stuck it through and found a pill I absolutely LOVE."

• Liv...
• January 13, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Lo Lo for about 7 months. Initially, I was put off by all the bad reviews, but because of my failed experience with the higher dosed birth control pills, I still gave it a go. Yes, I did break out a lot in the first month. Yes, my mood swings were out of control. No, I did not gain any weight, if anything, I'm finding that this medicine is helping me keep my weight more stable. After 7 months passed, I still have no weight gain, my skin cleared up so much after the first 2 months (other than the occasional pimple when my EXTREMELY light period comes), my overall mood has been elevated. Before Lo Lo, I had terrible mood swings and bouts of depression and sadness. Lo Lo has helped me regulate my hormones altogether. Ladies remember, people will often times leave a bad review over a good one. I wanted to give up on my birth control because of how bad it made me feel at first, but I’m so happy I stuck it through and found a pill I absolutely LOVE."

• Bee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2021

For Birth Control "Before I started on Hailey 24 Fe and I was reading the reviews on this site, I was really nervous for bad side effects. I am happy to say my fears weren't all justified. I just started my second month on Hailey 24 Fe. So far, my symptoms have been as follows: - Loss of appetite - more emotional but it has steadied out - Larger swollen breasts - Can't stand the smell of fish or cooked bacon - Super mild periods - Barely any cramping or bleeding - No weight gain - No acne. Overall, starting Hailey 24 Fe has been almost stress-free and everything is manageable."

• Emi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 2, 2023

For Birth Control "Obviously, some of these symptoms could be related to other issues… but I firmly believe this pill is ruining my life. I’ve been on it for over a year now, and I have never in my life been more depressed, anxious, irritated, or exhausted. My skin has been so dry (and breaking out). I’ve gained a TON of weight. I have zero sex drive. I won’t get my period for 4 months, and then randomly I’ll get the worst one of my life that lasts 10 days, and I’m practically bedridden, and I am tired ALL THE TIME. My boyfriend literally calls me “sleepy bish” because I’m always so tired and moody and mean for NO REASON. I know everyone is different, but I felt I had to share in hopes it saves other ladies out there from the same miserable experience I had :("

• Kat...
• May 8, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking Junel because I was on Lo LoEstrin and had horrible anxiety, mood swings, and was miserable. I took it for 5 years because it was the only birth control that didn’t make me super sick! I got on here to read the reviews and was horrified and almost didn’t take it. I'm SO GLAD I DECIDED TO TAKE IT ANYWAYS. I’m 22 years old, 5’5” tall, and about 110-115 pounds when I’m not on birth control. Now I’ve been on it for almost 2 months and have not gained any weight, my boobs may have gotten like half a size better. I’m 113lb in the morning and 115lb at night. On Lo Loestrin, I was a constant 120lb. My crazy moods are better. I don’t have acne like everyone says in their reviews (I take biotin every night and have been for months because my acne is pretty bad). I’m not a heavy bleeder, and this pill has worked great for me. I am literally the most sensitive person to anything hormonal, so if it can work for me, don’t be afraid to try it because of bad reviews!"

• NYC...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 16, 2014

For Birth Control "I felt compelled to review this medication because of how scared I was when reading such scary recipes and side effects. I had tried taking Yasmin which made me gain weight, become increasingly moody and depressed and eventually stopped taking that. When it was time to start up again I was so nervous with Junel but I have nothing but good things to say. No weight gain, no acne, no moodiness, I have a very light, scheduled period, and it does what it's supposed to - prevents pregnancy. I've been on it about 2.5 years now. Love love it."

• Roa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2019

For Birth Control "*PLEASE READ* I never put reviews for medication I have been on, but I wanted to WARN all the girls who have to be put on this generic pill for some reason. I used to take Lo Loestrin, and it was amazing, however, my insurance stopped covering it, so I was given Larin Fe. WORST MISTAKE OF MY DAMN LIFE... At first, I didn't have any symptoms, but within a month, I've hit the darkest of spots in my life: insomnia, shakiness, HORRIBLE anxiety, breakouts (not severe), acid reflux, lack of appetite. Sadly, there was not a single day in that month where I felt normal, I was going crazy with mood swings, depression. I barely could leave my bed, I even had several panic attacks. I wish I could say a positive side to this drug, but THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING POSITIVE ABOUT THIS DRUG. Believe these negative reviews, please, and if you don't feel any side effects right now, the second you feel it, please switch to a different birth control. It won't get any better waiting."

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2021

For Birth Control "I just wanted to put this review out there for people who are really nervous about starting birth control like I was. I’m 5’6”, 115 lbs. I haven’t gained any weight, however, my boobs have gotten a lot bigger. My skin has always been pretty clear except for the occasional period pimples. On this birth control, my skin has been very clear. However, in the beginning, my skin did break out for a few weeks, but now it’s perfect. My period hurt very badly the first time on the pack. Also, I had spotting for about a month, but it could have been from a UTI I had at the same time. Normally, my periods are 8 days and heavy. On this birth control, it was 2-3 days and light. My emotions are completely normal as well. Once the meds regulate, this is a very good birth control. Overall, I recommend this birth control and have had a very good experience on it."

• ECB...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2022

For Birth Control "This was prescribed for endometriosis/PMDD. Obviously, everyone's experience is different, but taking this pill actually improved my quality of life. My 'periods' are very, very light and last maybe 2 days at most, so it may be more alarming for someone who is sexually active, but for me, this is way better than horrible cramps and bleeding through my pajamas the first two nights of my periods before going on the pill (and I spend like no money on sanitary supplies anymore). Any bleeding is predictable (I'm not spotting before my placebo pills). My PMDD gave me brain fog, fatigue, attention issues, mega cravings, and really bad emotional symptoms (all the symptoms people say the pill will give you). After only one month on Hailey 24 Fe, these symptoms were way reduced, if not gone. My acne may have gone down slightly, especially on my back. No weight gain. This pill seems to get average to bad ratings, but if you're suffering from endo/PMDD, I would recommend at least giving it a shot. It's made me super happy."

• Khz...
• October 13, 2020

For Birth Control "I wanted to get on birth control to regulate my period, but please, please, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS. I gained 30 pounds in a 3-month timespan because it caused my appetite to skyrocket. My appetite went back to normal after stopping it, thank goodness. I had my period for 20 days straight, broke my eczema out on my face really bad, acne everywhere, constant headaches, my mood was horrid, and I felt so exhausted 24/7. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. But again, everyone’s body is different, so it might work for you! But still, be wary."

• Anonymous
• April 9, 2019

For Birth Control "This is the first birth control I have ever been on, and I was skeptical after reading all the bad reviews before ever even trying it. I let the first pack sit unopened on my nightstand for almost 2 months before finally working up the nerve to take the first pill. Everyone’s body reacts differently to different hormones. So far, I’ve been on Blisovi Fe 1/20 for 3 months and haven’t had any major side effects. The only cons I can think of are that I spot a lot, and I have noticed an increase in appetite, especially cravings for unhealthy foods, so that’s weird. Even if your birth control is making you hungry, you ultimately control what you put in your body (even if it feels like you don't!). If you eat healthy and stay active, you should have no problems. I had bad hormonal acne, and now it’s pretty much all gone. It’s also helped with my period cramping. Don’t let the negative reviews scare you away because you may be pleasantly surprised. If you don’t like it, just try something different."

• Joa...
• December 2, 2009

For Birth Control "I have been on Loestrin 24 for about 4 years now, and I thought I would share my excellent experience on here, since no one usually goes on the internet to post about their good experiences! Loestrin is a miracle drug in my opinion. The 24-day regimen made a huge difference as opposed to a 21-day regimen. This means that there are only 4 placebo pills at the end of the pack instead of 7! My periods were reduced to almost nothing (but didn't completely disappear, for those that like the assurance of bleeding). I need one panty-liner a day for about 3 days a month. It's amazing! I never gained any weight, and I would say it helped my acne only a little bit - I get pimples no matter what I do. Try Loestrin! You won't regret it!"

• Lio...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2020

For Birth Control "Let me just start out by saying, WOW. If I wanted a prescription that aggressively shook my hormones and emotions down to my core, this would have been my #1 choice. (And yes, I did mind the excessive breakouts of blemishes/cystic acne that accompanied it.) My mental clarity was in danger. Woman to woman, I HIGHLY recommend against! We're better than that."

• Lio...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2020

For Birth Control "Let me just start out by saying, WOW. If I wanted a prescription that aggressively shook my hormones and emotions down to my core, this would have been my #1 choice. (And yes, I did mind the excessive breakouts of blemishes/cystic acne that accompanied it.) My mental clarity was in danger. Woman to woman, I HIGHLY recommend against! We're better than that."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 31, 2021

For Birth Control "My pharmacy quit carrying Blisovi 24 FE (I was on it for three years). I switched to Hailey for a month and am stopping birth control altogether because of it. My breasts are very sore, my face broke out like crazy, no libido, skin is itchy, and I'm very emotional."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2015

For Birth Control "The very first day I started on this pill, I went looking for reviews. To be completely honest, I have no idea why I did this because it just scared the crap out of me and made me believe I was going to have some crazy side effects or symptoms. I believe most of us go out of our way to write a review when a product is negative, therefore we see all the bad. From my personal experience, this pill was AH-MAZING. Firstly, I was terrified of weight gain. I already struggle to keep my weight low and suffer from a slow metabolism. I have to work out and eat healthily regularly. I have gained no weight. I've had a regular period. No breakouts and no long-lasting spotting. No sex drive issues. No mood swings. I have been completely unaffected :)"

• Jes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on this Blisovi 24 FE after Minastrin became unavailable on my insurance. Previously, I was on Loestrin 24 FE, and all of these birth controls have had the same effect. I used to have extremely heavy periods without BC, and now I almost don't have a period at all. Seriously, no negative side effects, no weight gain, acne, etc. I'm surprised to see such negative reviews."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 9, 2025

For Birth Control "I see a lot of negative comments about this BC, so I thought I should weigh in. I’ve had a VERY positive experience with Junel Fe 1/20. I tried multiple pills before and had terrible side effects. This pill has worked for 3 years, and I’ve never noticed any negative side effects. I skip the placebos and haven’t had a period in 2.5 years. No spotting/breakthrough bleeding, no acne, no anxiety, no weight gain. I love it and will continue to take it, even though I’m not sexually active at the moment. BC affects everyone’s body differently. What works for you might not work for someone else."

• Hai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2019

For Birth Control "In the beginning, Larin FE was a little rough. I was nauseous 1-2 times a day. Luckily, I had Zofran. I had acne terribly. I was moody and had random stomach pain. But that was the beginning. DON'T RATE THIS WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF TAKING IT. If I went by the bad reviews of people who had only taken this a couple of weeks, I wouldn’t have gotten it. First off, your body hasn’t even had time to adjust to the medicine in that amount of time. I’m halfway through my second pack and now I don’t have acne, maybe a small blemish occasionally, no weight gain yet, no more nausea, no headaches. It’s great now that my body is used to it. I bled lightly for about three days the first week I started it, but since then I’ve not had a period. I had spotting for one day about a week ago, and usually, my period is 3 days and a regular flow but painful, so I don’t mind skipping it. If you try this birth control, give your body until maybe a few packs to adjust. Any meds you take, you have to adjust to the hormones before you know if it is good for you or not."

• kri...
• December 17, 2011

For Birth Control "I cannot believe the negative reviews on this. They did scare me, but I still gave it a shot, and have NEVER been happier with a birth control! My acne has cleared up, my sex drive is still incredible, I have LOST WEIGHT, and my periods are almost NON-EXISTENT! The only thing I wish is that I would have gotten on this sooner! I love this birth control, and I suggest trying it before buying into the negative reviews. Everyone is different."

• ash...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 7, 2021

For Birth Control "I've been using this birth control since June of 2020 and haven't had a period since. I don't have any complaints with using it, and I have no symptoms. I don't get cramps or acne or headaches. It seems to be affecting me just fine."

• Jad...
• April 14, 2014

For Acne "I used to be on Ortho Tri-Cyclen until it made me an emotional basket case. I then switched to Junel Fe 1/20, and I felt completely normal again. I took a year break, and two months ago I began to notice I was getting acne like a teenager again, I'm 30. Mostly hormonal, jaw and chin area. I decided to get back on it again. I've been on it for almost 2 months, and my acne cleared up. 2 weeks into it, I noticed bloating and breast swelling. I also noticed I went up 3 lbs. However, all that went away my 2nd month in. I'm back to my normal weight, no more swelling in the stomach area, although my breasts are fuller than usual. These were my only symptoms. If this happens to you, give it 2 months at least for your body to get adjusted."

• Kal...
• July 30, 2013

For Birth Control "I had been very hesitant to begin taking birth control pills for fear of gaining weight. As a 20-year-old female, I am very conscious of maintaining my weight and was unsure about how this would affect me. I got a prescription for the 21-day Junel birth control pill at my yearly physical with my doctor about two months ago. Since then, my mild acne breakouts have cleared up, I haven't gained any weight, my periods are extremely light and tolerable, and I really have had no negative side effects. It took me a few weeks to get used to the pill, and my skin broke out a little at first, but now I seem to be on the other side. My experience was very positive with this medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 4, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been on Microgestin FE 1/20 for a couple of months now, and it's absolutely fantastic! I switched after 6 months of Lo Loestrin, which caused me to gain 10 pounds, constant spotting, and worse acne. With Microgestin, my periods are actually regular and even lighter. I had horrible cramps that I used to have to miss school and work because of, and now, they're almost nonexistent! Zero weight gain, I've actually lost 7 pounds, and my acne is gone! Love this pill!"

• Aly...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2021

For Birth Control "I see a lot of these reviews sharing depression and anxiety symptoms. I have never been a person to say I struggle with those, and for the most part throughout the 5 months being on it, I didn't notice anything. But looking back on it, I definitely see the correlations. It would come to me in spurts, though, the sadness wasn't throughout my whole experience. But I noticed I was sad about things that I had already gotten over/accepted previously, which was odd. Anyway, my BIGGEST concern is the ACNE it causes. IF YOU HAVE FOR THE MOST PART CLEAR SKIN, DO NOT TAKE THIS. It will ruin your skin so badly. I stopped the pill because of this. Never in my life had I had acne so badly, and within just 5 months. Also, my breasts are huge and so sore, had to get new bras. Got fitted, went from an A to a borderline C, they said. Never in my life... that was so crazy. Either way, the acne was so bad I couldn't stand it. Not even for bigger boobs..."