Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone and Acne: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Jez...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 21, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on this BC for three and a half years now, and it's been amazing. I was on two other types of birth control before: NuvaRing and another oral pill that drove me crazy-nausea, crazy mood swings, cramps, heavy periods, the works. It made me never want to go on BC again, but I'm so glad I gave it a second chance. With Lo Loestrin Fe, I haven't had any period, cramps, backache, mood swings, decrease in sex drive, weight gain, or acne. The only problem I've had is that it seems to lessen my appetite, so I try to make sure I eat before taking it, otherwise, I forget. At first, I was concerned that I wasn't getting my period, but I talked to my doctor, and he said it was fine as long as I was comfortable with not having one."

• htl...
• January 6, 2015

For Birth Control "I wish my doctor would have told me that one side effect (if you can call it that) is no period! I've been panicking, thinking I'm pregnant, and after reading all the comments, this is totally normal! I've been on it for 3 months now, and I love it! Now that I know I'm not pregnant! I still get cramps and bloating, a few breakouts, but no other side effects. A bit pricey, $75 for a three-month supply. Hoping my new insurance will cover some of it though."

• 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."

• Kia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control, Junel Fe 1.5/30, for 3 months now. It is good at regulating my period and preventing pregnancy, however, I am extremely emotional and angry all the time, and I have gained weight. I cry more easily now, and I lose my temper pretty easily. I would say my acne has actually gotten worse, and my appetite has definitely increased. Sex drive, however, has not been affected. Do not recommend if you already suffer from anxiety/depression."

• Oli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 28, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on this birth control for about 2 months. The side effects were awful, I've used other birth control, but none like this. I developed cystic acne and became an anxious and depressed mess. I cried almost every day and so easily. Please do not take this birth control!"

• mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 6, 2020

For Birth Control "Honestly, Junel FE 1.5/30 is the best birth control I've ever had! No side effects. I’ve been taking this BC for about 4 years now, and it’s great! My boyfriend always finishes in me, and I am not pregnant! Haha, I love it! Before Junel 1.5/30, I had Microgestin 1.5/30, and it was horrible! I would get horrible pimples, and I would get mood swings, and I was miserable! I would just be so sad with these pills, I hated them! Switching to Junel was the best thing ever! I have not taken any other birth control because I love this one so much!"

• Bnw...
• November 19, 2011

For Birth Control "I am very sensitive to hormones. This pill is great...no side effects. I am very active and in tune with my body. No weight gain, no acne, no bleeding, no change in libido. Great pill! Worth every cent."

• Tea...
• July 6, 2016

For Birth Control "Like most of you probably are doing, I took it upon myself to look up some reviews as to how women felt, responded, liked, or disliked Lo Loestrin Fe. STOP RIGHT THERE. I read nightmarish reviews after I took my first pill and was paranoid I'd experience some of the 'symptoms' and 'side effects' others did. The day after my first pill, I felt sleepy and my body felt weak; aside from that, NOTHING. My transition was seamless. Granted, everyone's different, but after feeling no difference, I began to think maybe the things said here were all in their heads? I have absolutely no complaints about Lo Loestrin Fe. My sex drive hasn't been affected in the slightest; I'm very, VERY big on taking care of my face and skin, and I haven't had any acne, pimples, etc. Go for it!!!!"

• Tea...
• July 6, 2016

For Birth Control "Like most of you probably are doing, I took it upon myself to look up some reviews as to how women felt, responded, liked, or disliked Lo Loestrin Fe. STOP RIGHT THERE. I read nightmarish reviews after I took my first pill and was paranoid I'd experience some of the 'symptoms' and 'side effects' others did. The day after my first pill, I felt sleepy and my body felt weak; aside from that, NOTHING. My transition was seamless. Granted, everyone's different, but after feeling no difference, I began to think maybe the things said here were all in their heads? I have absolutely no complaints about Lo Loestrin Fe. My sex drive hasn't been affected in the slightest; I'm very, VERY big on taking care of my face and skin, and I haven't had any acne, pimples, etc. Go for it!!!!"

• 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."

• Meo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 14, 2020

For Birth Control "I'm 27, tried this pill for over a year (been on BC since I was 15, trying to find one that doesn't make me hate my life). The only great thing about it for me was that it works well as birth control. The first 3 months, my cycle was normal on it, but after that it was SO irregular. Gave me terrible cystic acne and also acne on my back (which is very rare for me). Basically, my new mantra was 'another day, another cyst' because basically, every day a new one would appear and they take FOREVER to clear up and hurt so bad!! I work out 3 times a week and have an active lifestyle and mostly eat healthy, haven't gained weight, but I'd imagine I would've if I wasn't active. Besides not being able to lose weight and having terrible skin and abnormal bleeding, I definitely felt moody and like my hormones were imbalanced on this pill. I started taking 'Nikki' a few weeks ago and am starting to feel better and have had no breakouts, so hopefully that does the trick."

• Bre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I wanted to add to the less scary comment section for if you were a nervous first-time user like me looking at other people’s experiences! I have been on Hailey FE for about 5 months. The first month, I gained 10 pounds but mainly just water weight/bloat, which is expected, I think? I went through a few cycles when my skin was worse than normal, but nothing too, too bad. My moods were fairly normal (I am prone to anxiety and sadness), it only got really bad for one week near my birthday (so it could have been due to that outside variable). All in all, it could have been worse! My periods are super light with hardly any cramping and no pregnancy! So yay! Give it a go! (:"

• meg...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 10, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on this birth control for a little over a year. It was the only pill that didn’t give me acne, make me gain any weight, or give me migraines. However, this pill gave me severe mental health issues. I felt depressed, anxious, and not even like myself for a year. I was miserable to the point where I needed to seek therapy. My therapist suggested an antidepressant but told me to get off of Blisovi first in case that was the issue. Once I decided to get off of it, my mental health was restored in the matter of a week. I didn’t know that birth control could have such a severe effect on me, and I am so relieved that I got off of it. My sister began taking Blisovi a little after me, and it had a similar effect on her as well. If you begin this pill and notice that you are feeling depressed, GET OFF OF IT IMMEDIATELY. Don’t put yourself through it for a year like I did. After going through this, I have decided to give up on the pill altogether. Not worth it for me."

• amb...
• May 22, 2021

For Birth Control "HORRIBLE. I have been taking birth control for 7 years and have tried multiple brands. This is by far the worst one I have ever tried. I started this pill after my pharmacy changed my prescription from Bisolvi without my consent! I have been on this pill for only two weeks. I have been bleeding the entire time. I’m having awful cramping and acne. I have back pain and I am nauseous. I am diagnosed with depression and anxiety, so it is normal for me to feel low on a daily basis. But oh my goodness, I have been crying 2-5 times a day every single day. I am completely emotionally unstable. I am crying over everything and very jumpy/scared. If you are having problems with this pill, get off of it ASAP! I am miserable and exhausted."

• Anonymous
• November 10, 2008

For Birth Control "I have been taking Loestrin 24 Fe for 13 months now, and I have no complaints. It is the first birth control that I have tried. After 3 months of taking the pill, it completely ended my period. I was a little nervous about it, but my doctor assured me that not having a period was normal (especially if you were light before) and that it would not affect my ability to have children later. Also, the pill took away all of my acne, which is always a plus!"

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 16, 2021

For Birth Control "This pill was good in the beginning, but after a few months, I no longer got my period at all. Some may like this, but I, however, prefer to feel like my body functions. My acne began to come back after 6 months, and I have 0 sex drive, which destroyed my relationship. Even with foreplay, sex was painful and disinteresting. (For reference, we'd once had a very frequent healthy sex life.) Any combination pill is likely to kill your sex drive, so if you don't have acne, I'd recommend a progesterone-only pill."

• sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2020

For Birth Control "Taking Lo Loestrin Fe was not a fun time at all. I only took it for a week and a half, and it caused me a horrible yeast infection, made me cry every day, and made my skin break out. As well, it made me hungry 24/7, and I gained weight. I don’t recommend."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 30, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on this medication for almost 6 months. This pill finally stabilized my periods. Everything was going well until the 4th or 5th month, I began experiencing a horrible increase in appetite. I noticed I gained weight on my face and that my acne got much worse, especially on my neck (which I never used to get). Being such a low dosage, I didn’t expect for this pill to have such a high impact on my body, but I was wrong. Birth control works differently on everyone, but I still would not recommend this pill."

• Ran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 20, 2021

For Birth Control "Reading the reviews on Junel 1/20 before I started did put some anxiety into me, but personally speaking, I’m having a pretty good experience with it. For the first 3 months, I did experience some breakthrough bleeding, but this was expected as my body was adjusting to the hormones, and after that, everything has been great. My periods are lighter and shorter, I didn’t go through mood swings, no weight gain, no vaginal dryness, no acne, and (I’m not as active anymore), but no pregnancy as well. So pretty much whatever negative side effects there could have been, I thankfully didn’t get any."

• Jur...
• December 31, 2020

For Birth Control "I was previously on Microgestin for 5 years prior to this. The only reason for the switch is because Walmart doesn’t always carry the same generic. I didn’t realize it then, but realize now the awful side effects this caused me. ‘They’ say all generics are the same, but I don’t believe that for a second. Microgestin was great. Junel gave me regular yeast infections, lots of bloating and water retention, more acne, and did nothing to help my pre-menopausal symptoms (night sweats and hot flashes). It also made me way more emotional than I normally am. I hated this pill and wish I would have put two and two together more quickly."

• Ani...
• May 25, 2014

For Birth Control "Honestly, I LOVE this birth control! I am very sensitive to birth control, and this is the first one that has helped me. First off, for anyone who doesn't have insurance, GO TO THE WEBSITE! There is a discount card there that you can sign up for that works for 12 scripts. My monthly script is $30 now. First off, my periods were AWFUL. I had cramps so bad. This has increased my breast size by a cup, cleared up my acne, haven't gained any weight (I am a very healthy eater, although) my periods are light, maybe lasting 3 days, my cramps are very mild, if any (Aleve liquid gels are the best). Be sure you take this at the SAME TIME every day! Stay safe and healthy!"

• Anonymous
• January 8, 2013

For Birth Control "For anyone reading reviews and unfamiliar with birth control, you must understand that one must be on a pill for 3 months for the body to get used to new hormones. The first 2-3 months is typically rough on any pill. For me, that manifested itself in painful acne deep under my skin on my chin for 2 months on any new pill. I hated it! After 2-3 months on a pill, it would only occur during my period week. I've used Generess Fe for a year. I tried numerous other pills and Nuvaring. After 1 month on Generess Fe, I have not had any acne. I am 26, and I had those bumps since I started my period at 12. I love this pill. I cannot believe how it changed my complexion! P.S. I had 6-day periods, it's only been 1-2 days now, and very light! Love it."

• Hed...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2014

For Birth Control "Before this birth control, I had very irregular, very painful, and very heavy periods. Along with that, I had 'abnormal' hair growth and fluctuating breast size. Since starting this, all of these things have improved immensely. I love knowing when my period will come, it's so much more tolerable and lighter than I literally thought possible. The downsides: I have tender breasts (not bad though), occasional nausea, and acne. I've never had acne before, but it is something I am able to control and deal with easily. OH! The best part: I'm not pregnant! Everyone reacts differently to different birth controls. If you have way out-of-whack hormones like I did, I highly suggest this birth control. Besides, it's inexpensive."

• Nik...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 20, 2012

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I've read a lot of reviews on this birth control, and everyone writes negative reviews, so I'm going to give a positive one. I used to get very heavy 10-day periods before I went on this pill, and I am now down to light to moderate 4-day periods, and let me tell you, what a relief. I also used to get cramps so bad that sometimes I couldn't walk. Three months on this pill, and the cramps had gone. I was 23 with horrible acne. I had it everywhere: cheeks, forehead, but especially on my chin. Three months after starting the pill, and my skin cleared up tremendously. I hardly ever get a pimple, but when I do, it's usually a small one around the time of my period. I gained no weight, and my sex drive is as high as ever. I love this pill!"

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 22, 2013

For Birth Control "Lo Loestrin = Acne cysts! I have always had clear skin (with the occasional breakout, but nothing serious), and since switching to this pill about 12 months ago, I've had a never-ending cycle of painful and ugly red blemishes. My dermatologist assessed my skin, and after two minutes with me, determined that I had Lo Loestrin skin. She said it is absolutely the worst for skin because of its significantly lower estrogen levels. Anyway, I just wanted to share this knowledge. I'm switching back to Yasmin."