Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 3)

• bre...
• December 29, 2011

For Menstrual Disorders "Wow! I LOVE this medicine! I am excited about the hope of bigger breasts, aren't we all ladies? It apparently has increased my sex drive. I am 35 years of age, married for 18 years and have 5 children. I cannot say anything bad at all about this medication, I love it! Oh yeah, it regulates my periods so I have them more often with less cramps. I also have lighter periods, which is always a plus."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 23, 2018

For Birth Control "My insurance switched me to this pill from Lo Loestrin Fe. I had migraines the first few weeks and horrible cramps. My doctor said to just stick with it. It's been a few months and the migraines and cramps are gone, but now I'm worried about my lack of libido. I'm only 25."

• mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2013

For Birth Control "I'm on my 9th month; just about 40 years old, given to me for severe cramps and horrible bleeding that has worsened over the past 2 years. My daughter is 15 and just started her first pack about 3 weeks ago. She has been sick more days than I can count, not sleeping well, lost 10 pounds, gets lightheaded often, nausea usually in the evening, as well as moody. She's had the breakthrough bleeding just like I did. What I noticed is when we talked is we've both been suffering from the lightheaded feelings quite often at any given time and any place. We both tend to feel tired at the end of most days; headaches and the nausea, as well with the light-headedness, seem to be the worst."

• Dan...
• July 29, 2013

For Birth Control "For a little over a year, I have been on Lo Loestrin Fe. It's great, after the first month, no more cyst symptoms. My period, which has been heavy (super tampon had to be changed every 2 hours or flooding would occur), is now down to extreme light spotting on the last 2 pills only. It's great, I love it. No more tampons or the resulting cramping. I do not have any period symptoms at all now, except a hair-trigger temper on the last 2 pills (which coincides with my weekend, so I let my family know not to bother me). After a year, this has calmed down, though, to where it's almost not noticeable anymore. There are so many pros to this medicine that having a bad temper for 2 days a month is definitely worth it. But it is expensive."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2019

For Birth Control "I took brand Microgestin for a year, and it was the worst. I had yeast infections constantly. My periods would last over a week. I had horrible moods and bad cramping. My sex drive was low, and when I was in the mood, I was as dry as a desert! Sex was incredibly painful, and I absolutely hated it. Well, a couple of months ago, my insurance stopped covering the brand Microgestin, and they switched me to Junel 1.5/30. I was afraid at first, but now I'm pleasantly surprised! I haven't had any yeast infections. My periods only last about 3 days, and my moods are normal! My sex drive is up, and it's not painful! I'm so sorry to all those that have had really bad experiences. I'm glad I was able to find a birth control that was right for me. We all have different bodies, and they react differently, of course. I hope you all can find a suitable birth control that is right for your body!"

• KD1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2020

For Birth Control "After a long time of being off birth control, I decided it was time to go back on in an effort to help my endometriosis, which had become 20 times worse since having my baby. I was drawn to Lo Lo due to it being an ultra-low dose pill with the lowest estrogen on the market. I only made it a month before I had to stop. It made me exhausted all day long, even when I switched to taking it at night to try and counteract that. It gave me weird leg cramps, but worse than that, it also gave me horrible anxiety and panic attacks. I went from never struggling with panic attacks to calling an ambulance on myself in the grocery store because I literally couldn’t breathe. It was embarrassing and awful. I had to stop that day. As soon as I did, no more panic attacks. Everyone is different, and everyone will react differently to this pill. It just didn’t work for me. Currently trialing another pill with a different progestin in it."

• scu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2014

For Birth Control "I'm rating it a 10 for effectiveness because it does what it does. It's birth control. First month, some cramping (during period only), normal bleeding (yet lasted 10-13 days), no headaches, hormonal jawline acne cleared right up. Got my period irregularly still. Second month, no cramps, no headaches, hormonal acne still gone, somewhat still fighting steady acne, yet it's MUCH better, gained a few pounds, breasts got noticeably larger (especially for my boyfriend). Got my period on the first brown pill. I'm looking forward to month 3. Hope this helped."

• Anonymous
• October 16, 2012

For Acne "I'm 19 years old, and I've taken Loestrin 24 Fe for 4 years now - I absolutely love it! From age 12, I had 9-10 day irregular, extremely heavy cycles. My cramps were so bad that I couldn't get out of bed and would start vomiting, and my acne was out of control. Once I turned 15, my mother suggested birth control. The first month was rough; I started the pack the day after my period ended, and a week later had another full period. The next month was a drastic change - my period was 4 days, no cramps, and my skin has looked amazing ever since! Went from taking muscle relaxers for pain to an occasional Advil every few months! My insurance is great - 3 months for $22! That's less than $7.50/month! Sadly, no increase in breast size, but no weight gain, either!"

• Lis...
• January 16, 2019

For Birth Control "Keep in mind that most reviews are negative. This is because negative experiences motivate people to write comments more than positive ones. Each body responds differently to types of hormonal birth control (BC) pills. All BC pills have about a 3-6 month adjustment period, meaning you may experience some negative side effects during this time that will likely be gone after that. I had nausea and headaches during the first 3 months, which are now gone. You are also at risk of side effects if you do not take the pill correctly. If you miss pills or take them far apart/close together, you can have negative side effects. Take them at the exact same time every day. Negative side effects (first 3 months): headaches, nausea, increased appetite, light cramping. Positive side effects: extremely light bleeding on break weeks, no or rare cramping, acne gone, helped hormone depression, helped blood sugar, weight loss, no pregnancy. I love this pill, I've been on it for a year. It does so much good for me."

• CG4...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2013

For Birth Control "I was on Loestrin 24 Fe for 3 years with no problems. I loved it. My periods lasted less than 2 days, cleared my skin, and I didn't gain weight. Then I was forced to switch to Minastrin, which is supposedly the same pill, but just chewable. It's been a terrible experience. I've had a chronic yeast infection straight through the 3 months I've been on it, and it won't respond to any prescription medication. I've also had severe cramps during my period and acne. There is no way this medication is the same, and I want Loestrin back."

• Bri...
• April 14, 2021

For Birth Control "At first, it wasn’t too bad, but by the second month, I could immediately notice the side effects. I suffered a lot with anxiety and depression when I was going through puberty and had long since outgrown it, but by the second month on this pill, I literally felt like I was back in middle school. I’m a nervous wreck and sad at the same time all the time, and it only gets worse the closer I get to my periods. What doesn’t help is that my periods are still fairly painful and last me almost the entire placebo week. I decided today that I’m not taking this pill anymore and am scheduling an appointment with my doctor to talk about starting a new one. Unless you are using it strictly as birth control, I wouldn’t recommend this pill, even women with the strongest mental health seem to struggle emotionally while on this pill, and it just isn’t worth it in my opinion."

• bri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 13, 2025

For Birth Control "I will start that I do NOT do well with birth controls. I have tried everything under the sun and have had issues with them all. This has been the best one yet, but that doesn't mean I haven't had issues. The issues have just been a lot less than others. I switched from the patch, which was just all around a nuisance and I hated it. I've loved being on this pill, but about 4 months in, I started bleeding, and not just spotting, full-fledged period, clots, headaches, cramps, acne, and I bled for a month. I DO NOT LIKE THAT. I take BC so I don't have a menstrual. I always skip the placebo. I searched and searched for answers and found nothing, until FINALLY I found one single thread on a forum where somebody said they had the same thing happen and it would happen randomly and it was almost the body's way of forcing you to shed the lining of your uterus, and all she had to do was take the placebo pills for 7 days and then go back to the regular pills and she would stop bleeding. IT WORKED!"

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2018

For Birth Control "Coming from someone who already struggles with bipolar and anxiety, this made me feel like I was losing my mind. I’ve been in a mental hospital and felt more sane. The cramping and vomiting were the cherry on top. If you struggle with mental health issues, please, please stay away from this."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 31, 2012

For Birth Control "In February, I started Junel. It's been very good with almost everything, but it hasn't helped with my cramping. I have regular periods that aren't heavy or light, they're just sort of painful. I haven't had any breakouts, major weight gain, or bad nausea. As for spotting, it only happened for a few weeks during my first month on Junel. My breasts also grew about a cup size."

• Amb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2013

For Birth Control "I am 26 years old and very sexually active with my partner. My doctor started me on this pill because of breakthrough bleeding I was having in between periods. I only tried this pill for 2.5 months and did not like it. I had breakthrough bleeding more often than before, extreme fatigue at the start of the 3rd month. I experienced extreme fatigue, dizziness, and normal period-like symptoms: heavy bleeding, painful cramping, and bloating when I wasn't supposed to be having a period. Also, sometime during the 2nd pack of pills, I had a horrible acne outbreak that I couldn't figure out. It was very frustrating that I was having so many in-between periods when that was the reason I started taking the pill."

• Mor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I started using this Junel 1/20 a couple of months after having my first baby. At first, it made me pretty nauseous the first couple of months. I’ve been on it about 5 months now, and my periods are regular and shorter and lighter. I rarely get cramps anymore either. For a while there, I would have some anxiousness randomly. Not sure if it was the pill or just from being a new mama. It seems to have calmed down now. My skin has also been very clear as well. Hoping this works out for me."

• Mel...
• May 14, 2020

For Birth Control "I just started my third month of Junel Fe 1/20. The first month, I was very nauseous, especially at night, even though my doctor told me to take it at night to avoid nausea. I still experience the nausea, but not as often as I did the first month, and I avoid eating gooey, creamy things in the evening around the time I take my pill, which I notice does help a lot. However, if it’s really bothering me, a dose of Pepto-Bismol usually does the trick. I feel that my skin is breaking out more often than normal, not badly, but I definitely notice it. Usually, I only get one or two small pimples around my period, but now I get four each month, especially around my chin. My periods are definitely lighter and only last about 4-5 days, but I’m still experiencing cramping. I didn’t notice any mood swings or weight gain. I actually feel sexier these past couple of weeks. Sex drive is the same, energy levels are the same."

• Loa...
• October 1, 2019

For Birth Control "I wanted to share my experience because when I researched Lo Lo, I found negative/horrible reviews. I was taken off my BC when my new ob/gyn realized I had been on it for over 16 years straight. I took a year off of BC, and my periods were getting so bad that we began to think I had endo. I was throwing up, crying, backaches, migraines.... So, I had to try something. I gave in and tried Lo Lo. The first month I bled/spotted the last 3 weeks of the pack, had cramps, and I was so bloated - very bloated. However, by the second pack, I was thinning out again, I did not have a period, and I did not have any cramps. I'm now on my third pack, and things are going normal. I don't like not having a period, I hope I get one after another month on the pill. I hear I won't, though. Please do not be scared to try the pill. Everyone is different. You have to give it 3 months to see if it is right for you. I wanted to quit at 1 month with bloating and pain...but I gave it a longer try, and I am glad I did."

• Gab...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 20, 2012

For Birth Control "Around December of 2011, my OBGYN prescribed Junel to me. Honestly, it's been great. My periods are lighter than they've ever been before. Previously, my cramps when I got my period were absolutely horrible. Now, I can only tell my period's coming when I'm on the fourth row of pills. Being regular is a huge plus. Also, my fiancé and I have not found ourselves in any trouble while using it. As much as a couple may find themselves having sex, we have never once had to face the consequences. These have been great to me and my relationship!"

• Col...
• September 19, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve only been taking this pill for about a month, but so far I am very happy with the results. I was very nervous to start Junel based off the other reviews, but I’ve had a fairly positive experience. Before taking Junel, I would get terrible cramps (that would cause me to cancel plans/responsibilities) and extremely heavy periods. I now only have very minor, if any, cramping at all during my period and a significantly lighter flow. The only semi-problem I’ve experienced is a little acne, but I’m sure this is just because my body is normalizing to the hormones and hope this begins to go away. I hope this helps and reduces some of your nerves about this pill :)"

• blu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 22, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm on my 7th month of this pill, and it has been great. The first month was a little rocky, I broke out a lot and had really bad anxiety and depression, but it went away after the first month! Everything has been good from there. My periods are SUPER light and last 3-4 days. They used to be heavy and last up to 7 days. I also rarely get cramps anymore, and when I do, they are bearable. It hasn’t affected my sex life, and I’ve always been anxious/depressed, but this pill hasn’t made it worse. Also, not pregnant! So it works."

• Tam...
• July 29, 2011

For Birth Control "I was on Triphasil and had migraines for years. I was put on this by the doctor in March of 2011, and the first month I felt a complete change, no migraines. In month 3, I had a normal period for 4 days. In month 4, I have no period, but I have light cramps. That's okay because they were worse on the other one. But I don't know if I should freak out about not having one or throw a party."

• mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2014

For Menstrual Disorders "I have been on Microgestin 1/20 for about three weeks now, and the side effects were not shy. The first two days, I had bad migraines, the third and fourth, I had cramps, and the fifth to seventh day, I was extremely depressed. I cried over almost everything and anything. Starting the second week, it seemed like things were going okay until I started bleeding, and it hasn't stopped. Isn't that the whole purpose? I got over my period two and a half weeks ago, and now I'm getting it again, and there are no signs of it stopping anytime soon. The good thing is I don't have mood swings or anything anymore, but this excessive bleeding is now the problem."

• Tay...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 29, 2019

For Birth Control "I started off on the lower dose, and I hated it! It made me moody, and I had lots of breakthrough bleeding. Once they upped my dose to this, you would think the moodiness would get worse, but the exact opposite happened. I felt normal again. My periods last 4-5 days, with only cramping on the first 2-3 days. And the cramping is not bad at all compared to what I went through when I wasn’t on this pill. I’ve been on it for a very long time now, and no pregnancies or terrible periods. Definitely works for me."

• Ama...
• October 30, 2016

For Birth Control "Went to the pharmacy thinking I was picking up Gildess and got Blisovi Fe 1.5/30. Started it, and immediately after starting it, I had severe abdominal pains and cramps that were keeping me up all night. Took it for 4 days and no relief. Plan on calling my doctor tomorrow. Not sure if anyone else has had this experience."