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

• mvc...
• December 3, 2009

For Birth Control "I am 22 years old and recently got married. I am so glad that I waited until after the wedding to start Loestrin. The side effects have been horrible. I knew there were some possible negative effects, but I seem to be experiencing them all! I have gained weight, am extremely tired all the time, and cannot ever seem to get enough rest. Also, I have absolutely NO motivation. I have lost interest in everything, including my husband! I have ZERO sex drive. I am constantly depressed and have severe and uncontrollable mood swings."

• Anonymous
• February 1, 2012

For Birth Control "Was on this for 6 months, glad it worked for others but wasn't that great for me. Kept me from being pregnant and also had no period, which was great! But, also had all the side effects - always being tired, weight gain, no sex drive. But, every woman is different."

• cam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 15, 2014

For Birth Control "This is effective in preventing pregnancies, but I've had some other unpleasant side effects. I've been on this for 9 months. During the first three, I would always break out real bad around the time of my period. Then for a couple of months, the acne stopped, but other symptoms began popping up: spotting, sometimes an early period, extreme mood swings, weight gain (20 lbs). The last two months, when my libido began to suffer, I decided to switch. No sex drive. None. It's killing me. Even if I want to have sex, which is rare anyway, my body says no. The end of this pack is it for me."

• Sam...
• May 13, 2014

For Birth Control "Lo Loestrin Fe works really well for me. I went on this birth control because I had a very irregular period and terrible cramps. Sometimes I would skip months, and sometimes I'd get it twice in one month. I'd have to use a heating pad, and even that didn't help very much. It was a mess. I've been on Lo Loestrin Fe for almost two years now. No period to speak of and no cramps. I had a very light period for the first few months I started until it eventually disappeared completely. I have no bad symptoms. No acne or mood swings. My only complaint is that my sex drive is DEAD when I used to have quite the active libido, which is the only reason I'm thinking of switching birth controls."

• Dag...
• April 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on this pill for four months. A week after I started it, I noticed my hair was significantly thinner than normal. The hair loss kept getting worse over the next few months, which is terrifying, I can assure you. I quickly fell into a black hole of depression, which I had never had problems with before. I also had no libido and horrible dryness, to the point that it hurt to even touch my labia. I also gained weight in weird places and had the 'pregnant woman body.' I quit the pill two weeks ago, and it's like a black cloud has been lifted off me. I'm crying reading these reviews because it's such a relief to know I'm not crazy. If you're on this pill, just watch out for the side effects and know it's not you, it's the pill."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on Junel FE 1/20 for the 3-month adjustment period. Once I finished the 3rd pack, I decided not to continue because every 3 weeks I was getting yeast infections. In total, I had 4 infections during the 3-month period. As for my acne, it got worse the first 2 months and then better. Skin was really dry, though. Sex drive decreased. I didn’t gain any weight, though, which was nice, and my emotions were very stable even with my history of anxiety and depression."

• Jan...
• June 19, 2009

For Birth Control "Wow. It sure did the job. No pregnancies because I lost my sex drive and became dry. I don't do any drugs nor smoke. And I had mood swings that were insane. Once, I got to the point where I couldn't go to sleep at night and went through my boyfriend's phone and accused him of cheating. So just please beware, and if others are noticing symptoms, I hope they speak out because I didn't come to terms with it until I reached a scary point."

• Anonymous
• November 6, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been on it for almost a month now and LOVE IT. Prior, I was on the NuvaRing because I've always been scared about forgetting to take a pill on a daily basis. But with NuvaRing, intercourse was painful, and libido dropped significantly. So far, LOVE Lo Loestrin. I feel happier, want to engage in sex more, and best of all, my small 32A breasts are growing! Went bra shopping yesterday and so excited! Hopefully, these great benefits keep coming. Will keep everyone posted!"

• Anonymous
• November 6, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been on it for almost a month now and LOVE IT. Prior, I was on the NuvaRing because I've always been scared about forgetting to take a pill on a daily basis. But with NuvaRing, intercourse was painful, and libido dropped significantly. So far, LOVE Lo Loestrin. I feel happier, want to engage in sex more, and best of all, my small 32A breasts are growing! Went bra shopping yesterday and so excited! Hopefully, these great benefits keep coming. Will keep everyone posted!"

• pet...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 16, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for a while now, probably a year. I love the fact it makes my periods super light and super short. I even skip periods often, which is scary but a relief at the same time. The biggest downfall is the fact I am depressed a lot and have zero sex drive. I blame the birth control because I have gone without it for a few days because I ran out, and I felt like a new happy woman with a sex drive."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2015

For Birth Control "Initially, I read many of these reviews and became horrified at some of the side effects people were listing. Seemed totally not worth it. Don't be turned off or scared by these select few! I would recommend this to anyone. Being on this BC has not affected or altered my body in any way whatsoever. No personality/mood swings of any kind, no weight gain/bodily changes, no acne, no migraines or back pain, no loss in sex drive, etc. If anything, there's been an increase in my sex drive, and I’ve noticed small bumps I may have had on my face clearing easily. My pre-period symptoms before and during my long and heavy periods were awful. Days off school and work since I was 11, nausea, fever, severe cramping, night sweats, headaches, back pain, etc. All this is now completely gone! Light and short period right at the end of the pack, I didn’t even notice it. It’s a dream come true. No pregnancy despite regular unprotected sex and lighter periods. Hopefully, it continues to be just as wonderful. Give it a go, people."

• Sad...
• November 18, 2015

For Birth Control "I began this birth control in January of 2015 (after about 10 months of being off BC). I moved, so I got a new doctor who prescribed Junel Fe 1/20. I had never had an issue with BC before, so I never thought this pill would put me on the downward spiral that it did. Let me state that it took me 10 months to realize this pill was to blame because I lived with my in-laws while purchasing a home and planning a wedding...stress was becoming a close relative. But this pill gave me back acne, weight gain, chin hair, migraines, a cyst on my breast, no sex drive at all, and mood swings so bad that suicide or divorce would cross my mind. Worst pill ever. Strongly advise against."

• Van...
• December 18, 2015

For Birth Control "This birth control is the worst kind I've ever taken in my life. I thought I had a bad experience with Seasonique solely because of the weight gain, but Microgestin Fe was 100 times worse. The first month I was totally fine, then after a while, I started getting really emotional. I cried at the most absurd things, and I'm not usually a crier. It made me so irritable and cranky with my family, my boyfriend, and even his family. Not to mention it caused me to get a yeast infection, which I never had before and haven't had since I got off the pill. And the worst part, it made me go from someone with an extremely high libido to someone that cringed at sex. Getting off it was the best decision I've made."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 19, 2018

For Birth Control "This birth control is the absolute worst! I got this prescription for my irregular periods and it’s made it worse. I have a history with depression, and it completely triggered it again. I would wake up crying and picking fights with my boyfriend all the time. Not only that, but my sex drive is gone. My boyfriend and I haven’t had sex in almost two months because 1) my libido is at an all-time low 2) my self-esteem is at 0 3) I feel tired all the time. Do not take this pill."

• 123...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 12, 2019

For Birth Control "I found Junel Fe 1.5/30 pretty good. I did not have any of the side effects that people keep talking about. I didn't take this BC for 3 months after it was prescribed because I was so scared of the side effects, but I have none. Remember, birth control is super common, and a majority of people don't have any side effects at all. Noticed a bit of increased appetite and less sex drive, but overall I do not feel a difference at all. My periods are so, so, so much better, and it helped a lot with my iron deficiency. I'm also on Zoloft and have severe anxiety, and it didn't make a difference, and the Zoloft still works how it worked before I started BC. I don't have any anxiety at all with these 2 drugs. Just don't knock it till you try it!"

• oh_...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2020

For Birth Control "For me, this pill is bad. Yes, it's prevented pregnancy, but the side effects were not worth it when there are other good options on the market that work for me. Side effects: - depression and anxiety during PMS - extreme emotional sensitivity/weeping for no reason - migraines all of a sudden - decreased sex drive. I will never go back. Blisovi worked way better for me."

• Sin...
• November 15, 2020

For Birth Control "I took Junel Fe 1/20 for 6 months, it was prescribed to me to help with my (moderate) acne and also to help with my painful, uncomfortable periods. The first two months, my bleeding was very irregular, but it stabilized after 3 months. In regards to helping with menstruation, it’s great! However, it did virtually nothing for my skin and actually made my skin break out more frequently on my chin and around my mouth area. I recently switched my birth control to Nikki, which is a generic form of Yaz. If you struggle with hormonal acne like me, I would not take Junel for that. Take a birth control pill that contains a progestin that’s anti-androgenic (like Nikki, Yaz, Beyaz, Ortho Tri-Cyclen). In regards to mood on this pill (Junel), I didn’t really notice a difference. I did notice that I lost weight on this pill, perhaps it’s just a coincidence. And this pill lowered my libido substantially. That’s the side effect that does kind of suck. Overall, I wouldn’t really recommend this pill."

• Haz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2020

For Birth Control "Before starting Lo Loestrin, I read a lot of horrible reviews about it and was a bit nervous to try it. However, after being on it for a few months, I can happily say that there have been more pros than cons. I have endometriosis, and being on this pill has helped with my pain significantly. I have very minimal cramping before my period compared to before and don't experience any of the other painful symptoms as often. I will warn you, though, this birth control did make me very emotional, and I experienced a reduced sex drive. These aren't dealbreakers for me, but may be for someone else."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 26, 2025

For Birth Control "I have been on Nortrel for about 5 years. I am considering getting off the pill to let my body breathe and balance my hormones. Since starting the pill, I have noticed my hair has thinned a bit, mood swings/irritability, low libido, and I usually need a nap throughout the day (I know this is common with many BC pills). Also, over the past 5 years, my blood work has changed quite a bit negatively, and I can’t help but think the pill is contributing to it, as I eat a healthy diet and work out. This past year, I developed a benign tumor in my breast (a fibroadenoma), which my doctor said can be linked to hormonal birth control. I had to have surgery to get this removed and am using this as my sign to get off birth control in general. The pros of this pill are it cleared my acne, and I haven’t gotten pregnant. I am considering getting an Oura ring and seeing how it goes tracking ovulation naturally."

• Anonymous
• October 13, 2009

For Birth Control "After only taking this medicine for 9 days, I've already decided to discontinue use. My side effects are as follows: 1. Mood swings/depression/anxiety: none of these were present before I began taking the pill. I cry for no reason and have a constant feeling of deep, deep worry. I have begun questioning everyone's motives and feel hopeless. 2. Constant sleeping: before the pill, I would have to force myself to go to bed by 10 to be able to fall asleep by 11. I am exhausted by 8 pm now and generally crash by 9. 3. Cramps: stabbing pains, like with a period. 4. Breast tenderness. 5. Pain during intercourse. 6. Acne. 7. Severe nausea. I am stopping this now and getting my life back."

• Kat...
• March 25, 2012

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I had a very bad experience on Lo Ovral (angry all the time, dead sex drive, hungry constantly) in the past, and was not sure how I felt about going back on the pill for my PCOS. But it turns out Microgestin has been okay on my system. I'm about a year in, and within the first 3 months, my breasts definitely grew half a cup size. My sex drive decreased, and my nipples are tender. I did feel paranoid for about 3 months, then it normalized, and my mood has been fine since. I am convinced it has made me gain weight around the hips, ugh-however, I have not actually gained real weight. After being on it about a year, my sex drive is coming back finally, and mentally, I feel normal. My periods are nice and light, they linger about 5 days total."

• ano...
• May 6, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been on Microgestin for about a year now. My OBGYN said it would be best if I took it continuously, so that's exactly how I've been taking it. I take it consecutively for 3 months and then I take a break for a week. Ladies, I haven't had a period in over a year, and although it sounds scary, believe me, it is totally fine. Zero nasty side effects like headaches, cramping, long periods, moodiness, etc. The only thing is lowered libido, but hey, after all, there is no perfect pill that won't have any side effects! Good luck with this medication."

• You...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 12, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Lo Loestrin for about 5-6 months, and my periods are either light or non-existent, which is great! My cramps have even lessened, and I don't have to take anything for them anymore, which is fantastic! However, I've been bloated for 6 months, so much so that my clothes are tight, and it's embarrassing as I work out 4 times a week and am very healthy. My face breaks out all the time now with painful, cyst-like red dots that never form into a pimple, and my face has always been clear. My loved ones are complaining about my short fuse and major crankiness, which isn't like me at all. My sex drive is gone, and I'm in my early 30s, it like happened overnight. I'll be switching to something immediately, as I was hoping all this would go away."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 10, 2017

For Birth Control "This pill is great. I have been on it for nearly 4 years without any major problems. I started this pill solely because my bleeding was so heavy, I couldn't maintain my everyday routine when I was on my period. Now, I do not get a period whatsoever, which is AMAZING. I have had no weight gain, no breakouts, and no mood swings. The only drawback: low sex drive."

• Pis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 17, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking Tarina Fe 1/20 for lighter, shorter periods. So far, I've bled almost every day since I started taking this (2 months ago). I've noticed a bit of hair loss, eczema breakouts (which I haven't had this badly in years), depression, mood swings, decreased sex drive, increased appetite and weight gain, and I can't sleep at all. I'm done taking this as of today, and I don't intend to touch it ever again! The only slight upside was I went up a bra size, but my chest hurts all the time now, so that's a 50/50 win regardless. I would not recommend even trying this!"