Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone and Bleeding: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Gol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2014

For Birth Control "This is my second time around on this. I took it about 3 years ago for a full year and totally loved it, hence why I got back on it. This time it was a much different experience. The 3 months I was on it was constant breakthrough bleeding pretty much every single day. About 8-10 lbs weight gain (fairly active, in my late 20s, eat clean). Sex drive was nonexistent. No acne, thankfully. I also experienced some depression, never suicide but just down and blue most days. I am switching to Microgestin Fe 1/20 because my OB said Lo Loestrin may have been too low of a dosage for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 18, 2023

For Birth Control "I was put on the pill for heavy periods, which caused 5 iron infusions. First, I was on Lo Loestrin, which caused very clear skin and 2-day light periods and was great at first, however, after a few months, I had breakthrough bleeding and anger. The doctor had to make the dosage higher, so I switched to Blisovi, which is 100 times WORSE! The first week, I was crying every day, having panic attacks and at first had a 12-day period. The period eventually regulated and lightened, but I was told to push through another month to adjust with the emotions. I am still anxious, depressed, on edge, angry, mood swings, and no sex drive at all. I have no desire to look at a man. I am stopping this pill! The only pros to this pill were that I did not gain weight from it. I really hope I find a pill that works for me soon."

• Liz...
• January 5, 2020

For Birth Control "I am on my second pack and third row of medication. I have depression and anxiety and started the pill because my PMS was horrible, and it was really irregular. My doctor put me on this medication, and the non-physical aspects of my PMS were reduced greatly, and even the physical aspects were reduced. I was so happy. I had breakthrough bleeding and abnormal discharge but then started having some heavier breakthrough bleeding, which was a little strange. It cleared up my acne significantly as well. I started having nausea and stomach aches this past week, and I don’t know if that’s because of my eating habits/stress or because of the medication. I also had, just today, some breakthrough bleeding like a light period with dark, almost brown-colored blood and cramps. I assumed this was just because of the medicine, and it didn’t really affect me too bad today. I have been so incredibly happy on it, it pretty much changed my entire life. I feel like a whole new person."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2012

For Birth Control "I am on my 3rd month and have had breakthrough bleeding half of the time, except the week my period is supposed to be. I was put on this because I am in my 40s, and the doctor said I should reduce my pill strength. I've been using birth control pills for my entire adult life, except for maybe 5 years when I was trying to get pregnant. This non-stop bleeding is affecting my mood, my attitude, my attention span. Based on all of the comments, either this pill works well after the first month or doesn't. My doctor keeps telling me that it will just take time, but there has been no change for the last 2 months. I don't know how to convince my doctor that this is not the pill for me."

• Jil...
• January 12, 2020

For Birth Control "Reading these comments is actually the most scary thing I think anyone trying a new birth control could do. I have been on Lo Loestrin Fe for 5 years now, and honestly, I have very little remembrance of what I was like before the pill, so I could be biased, but I feel that I have had a pretty good experience. I rarely have my period, and when I do, it is super light (maybe 3-4 days). I never broke out. I didn’t gain weight. I would say I am super emotional, but I also never thought to blame it on the birth control. After 5 years of feeling certain ways, I also know how to control my emotions and blame them on hormones. I am now switching to a new birth control for one of the reasons being just in the past 6 months I have experienced cramps getting worse and a bit of breakthrough bleeding, and honestly, I just want to try something new! Each birth control is different for everyone, and I know it takes time to adjust, so I would definitely say give it a try!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2012

For Birth Control "I'm on my 9th day of the pill and feel depressed and have been crying nonstop. I had to call in to work because of this. I have gained 6 lbs in the last 9 days and have no sex drive. I have been bleeding for 9 days now and there are no signs of that letting up anytime soon. This is severely atypical for me. I am usually the happiest person you will meet and now I can't stop crying."

• kel...
• June 16, 2017

For Birth Control "The first and only hormonal birth control I've tried, and it's A+ for me. I've been on it for a few months now, and the only side effect I've had is my boobs getting noticeably larger and fuller. I haven't experienced any weight gain or mood swings, and I haven't had a period since I started it! I experienced a tiny bit of breakthrough bleeding the first month, and then it was smooth sailing from there. My skin is completely clear of acne, and I feel like I don't break out as easily as I used to. My sex drive has also been through the roof, although I did still have a high libido before starting the pill. Overall, I find this to be a great pill, and it feels great not having to buy tampons anymore!"

• Hai...
• February 20, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this medication for 3 months now, so my body is used to it. The only problem I experienced in the first month was breakthrough bleeding or spotting around the 2nd to 3rd week of the pills. My physician told me this might occur if I didn't wait until my next period to start it (which I didn't). Other than that, I have not experienced any other symptoms. The pills have made my period a lot lighter and my cramps less severe. They also regulated my extremely irregular period! They haven't caused any weight gain, which seems to be a big concern for people when looking for a pill to try. I've actually been losing weight (with diet and exercise) with no added trouble due to the pill. My skin has cleared up great too!"

• Ano...
• January 15, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Minastrin for maybe less than a year, and for my body, it works great! I had no nausea, less cramping and bleeding, and cleared my acne up. However, I did gain about 10 lbs and lots of bloating. Overall, it worked great. My periods were much lighter and lasted about 2-3 days, plus I haven't gotten pregnant. Unfortunately, my insurance company does not cover it, so I've been paying around $80 per month. Keep in mind everyone's body reacts to birth control differently, so do not get overwhelmed with the negative reviews!"

• mtg...
• November 2, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm 20, and I've been on this birth control for about a year, and it's been nothing short of fantastic! The low dose is great, I get no noticeable side effects like I did on some of the higher dose generics, which were pretty bad. I also love not getting periods... I'll maybe have one day of light bleeding every once in a while. Highly recommend! Lo Lo is awesome!"

• MJ_...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 25, 2016

For Birth Control "This is the only birth control that doesn't make me crazy. It does take at least 3 months for your body to get used to it, and you have to take it at the exact time to prevent spotting and/or breakthrough bleeding. I don't gain any weight while on it, and it clears up my acne. Once my body became used to it, my periods were not painful, lighter, and shorter. Everyone is different, but the key with this one is you must take it on time!!"

• TER...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 31, 2019

For Birth Control "I truly wish I could’ve seen the reviews to this horrible medication before I started taking it. I was put on birth control at 15 and took it for 3 years. I didn’t have any issues with my previous birth control. I stopped taking it, though, at 18 and was just recently prescribed Junel to help break down my ovarian cysts. Worst decision ever. I bled for nearly 3 weeks, my breasts doubled in size (I already have large breasts, so this made them massive), making them painful and heavy. I haven’t felt severe depression or really dark thoughts in years, but since starting Junel, I was completely out of control of my own thoughts, and every day felt like I was going to have a breakdown. Felt like a completely different person, and I couldn’t stop it. Gained easily 10 pounds, and my body became extremely itchy, like rashes and hives. I am so glad I decided to stop taking it. DO NOT USE THIS BC."

• Bri...
• September 15, 2020

For Birth Control "I started Junel Fe four months ago and never had a period on the days I took the hormone-free iron pills. The first month I had lots of breakthrough bleeding and bled for two weeks, threw up almost every day, had headaches daily. The second month, I bled for four days, thought, ohhh yes! I can get used to this. A couple of weeks later, into the third month, I bled for two weeks again in mid-pack, my face broke out to the point of scarring, my thoughts have been awful. I’ve been anxious, and then going into the fourth month, I was emotionally unstable, crying, raging. I am a stepmom of four kids and a mom to a daughter of my own. I can’t be acting like this or bleeding to the point I think I’m bleeding out. I was supposed to start a pack Friday before Labor Day, and I didn’t. I’m not and won’t ever again. I don’t recommend it to anyone. Now hopefully, I won’t get knocked up, lol."

• Tri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2019

For Birth Control "Do not take this pill!!!! This is the worst birth control experience I have ever had!!! I've been on it for 5 months now, and within the first month, I was extremely depressed, and it lasted for 3 months. I didn't want to get out of bed, lost interest in everyday activities, and was very sad every single day. In the 4th month, I was not as depressed, but still have mood swings from months 4 to 5, and am very emotional. I started the pill due to heavy cycles, and my cycles are light on the pill, but I am also bleeding all the time in between cycles now. I can't even have sex without bleeding. It is extremely uncomfortable and embarrassing. I have gained 7 pounds in less than 5 months. My blood pressure is also super high now. I tried to give the pill some time for my body to get used to it, but I can't do this anymore. I've already gone to my doctor to request a different pill to start once this month's pack is done. This pill is poison!!!!"

• kid...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been taking Lo Loestrin for 5 months now. My body has not adjusted to this dumb pill. I've had 2 weeks of periods, one week without bleeding, then I start again. I'm feeling depressed, all I want to do is cry. I haven't had sex with my husband because of the bleeding, and all we've been doing is fighting. I hate this pill. I'm done taking this damn pill, it's no good."

• Ali...
• October 22, 2013

For Birth Control "I would say I've had an overall good experience. I just took my last pill from my first pack. It was a little rocky at first. I did experience some unusual heavy bleeding that lasted about 10 days mid-way through the pack. But it has calmed down. I've had no mood swings or emotional/mental side effects. My weight is pretty much the same, and I didn't get sick or have headaches. I'm just going to monitor the bleeding on my next pack of pills. I also have to see if my insurance will cover it. I got my first three packs from my ob-gyn as samples to see if I like it. I'm going to continue using it, and I'll update you guys in 28 days lol. I hope this helped someone."

• 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."

• Aly...
• January 24, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been trying to find the right birth control for me for about three years now, and this is by far my favorite! I've been on it for three months, and it's helped me a lot with my cramps. I barely even have any, and when I do, they are very manageable. I didn't gain any weight, and I didn't have any breakouts. I did have some mood swings in the first month, but by the second month, I didn't have any. I did have a little breakthrough bleeding the first month, but that only lasted about two days. I just finished my third pack, and I have to say, it's amazing. I didn't have any cramps, and I also didn't have a period! YAY! It's a keeper."

• Anonymous
• September 19, 2011

For Birth Control "I will be finishing my first pack next week. My only complaint so far is that I've had a lot of mid-cycle bleeding. This is the 10th day of my period, with no signs of slowing down. I know that it can take a while for your body to adjust to a new birth control pill, so I'm going to stick with it for a few months. Other than the bleeding, I've had mild breast tenderness and some bloating. Like I said, it is only my first pack, so hopefully these side effects are short-term."

• Anonymous
• November 9, 2011

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "For the past 5 months, I have been having severe periods with extremely heavy bleeding to the point where I had to wear a pad and a tampon, and I would bleed through both in a matter of hours (overnight pad and regular strength tampon). So I went to my OB/GYN. Turns out I have a big fibroid tumor, ovarian cyst, and most likely endometriosis, which would explain why I had really bad cramps for a long time. She put me on Loestrin, and I'm literally on the fourth pill, and it has slowed down my bleeding so much. I did bleed through a little, but I was only wearing a pad because I have surgery next week, and I'm not allowed to use tampons before it. So I know this is a pretty early review, but I'm really happy so far. No cramps at all."

• Lb3...
• June 24, 2015

For Birth Control "I wanted to write this review because I see others really struggling with Minastrin at first, and I want to tell you - take heart! I'm in my second month on this pill, and the first was rough. I had mood swings, bloating, and bleeding every day for a month. I felt miserable and was convinced I would stop taking this. However, I took the very first pill of my second pack, and every single symptom disappeared overnight. I don't have a single issue anymore, and the bleeding stopped. Not even experiencing spotting. I know every body is different, so I'm not saying this will work for you as well, but in my case, sticking it out that first month was so important. I'm really glad I stayed with it, and I hope you give it a chance too."

• Mul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2019

"I've been on the pill for 2 weeks now, hopefully, it was supposed to regulate my cycle. I hate it. Since I've started it, I've been in constant pain and bleeding non-stop, and I've been bleeding for just over a week now. With each passing day, the bleeding gets heavier and darker. Super tampons last 1-3 hours at most, overnight pads last about 2-5 hours. The pain is indescribable. It is from the waist down to my feet. The pain started after I started taking the pill."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 25, 2017

For Birth Control "This was my first birth control, but I've got to say that it is probably the best birth control you can get since it has the lowest dosage of estrogen, which means you have the least side effects. Since it has such a low dosage, it's pretty dang pricey. The first month on this birth control is rough, and your first period will be a very bad period if you react to it like I did. I was bedridden from cramps, and I bled a lot, but honestly I was used to it since the reason I'm taking it is because of nasty periods. After the first period, it was amazing. My periods lasted 3-4 days, barely any bleeding, zero cramps, and I had no side effects! No weight gain, no acne, no mood swings, or nausea. It's wonderful. I highly recommend this birth control."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 27, 2019

For Birth Control "This was prescribed to me by my psychiatrist because I had major mood swings and worsening depression during my periods that affected my daily life. I can say that I've been on this birth control for almost 2 years, and I really enjoy it. I've had some months where I bleed a normal amount, but mostly just brown discharge, and that's it. Lighter period = less depression and PMSing. I see a lot of bad reviews on this drug, but I used to get really heavy periods, and it was so bad, especially bleeding on my pants at school a few times and constantly having to use the bathroom every hour. If you're looking for a lighter period, this is it! As for acne, I don't really think it helped or broke me out."