Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control since November, and so far I have had a good experience. It doesn’t make me emotional at all, and I now have a super light period (but most of the time I don’t even get it). My problem is that I feel like it’s been really hard for me to lose weight since I’ve started on it. I don’t think the birth control has made me gain weight, but I am just a couple pounds heavier than when I started in November. Just wanted to know if anyone else has had this issue on this birth control :)"

• 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 :("

• 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."

• Tri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 26, 2020

For Birth Control "LADIES. If you have had a bad pill experience, I hear you. Comments on how even if you’re having side effects like bad periods, migraines, weight gain, anxiety, or depression that “you haven’t been on it long enough to tell” need to stop. It absolutely isn’t ok to invalidate someone’s experience because they didn’t go through the 3 months of hell that is somehow a standard. If you’re having these side effects, they aren’t ok and your body is trying to clue you in. I was on birth control for 5 years, Lo Loestrin for over half of that. I thought the “good luck on not having your life ruined!” mentality was ok. Then the anxiety, depression, and ER visits hit. Nearly a year of my life was gone. It landed me on Prozac temporarily. I’ve never had mental health issues before in my life. I’m 5 months off the pill and am now feeling more like myself. My message is this: listen to your body. If something isn’t right, whether it be after a week or a year, it isn’t. Trust yourself."

• New...
• March 3, 2010

For Birth Control "I am 28 years old, 125 lbs, extremely active with dance, gym, and sports. I take the pill at just about the same time every day, give or take 15 minutes. I have a pretty healthy diet. I started Loestrin to prevent pregnancy. I've been on it for 3 weeks and for the most part, happy so far. Here are my symptoms: Week 1 --> Severe bloating, daily nausea. 5 lb weight gain, but I'm thinking that was due to not being able to work out due to feeling dizzy. Week 2 --> Bloating gone. Nausea gone. Feeling back to normal. Some mild spotting for a day. Increased a cup size. Skin looks great and feels smoother. Week 3 --> Feel perfectly normal. Lost the weight I gained the 1st week."

• 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."

• Liz...
• August 8, 2019

For Birth Control "I am 19 years old and have been on Junel 1/20 since I was 16 years old due to really heavy periods where I was bleeding through super tampons in 30 minutes. I thought I would share my experience since there seem to be a ton of bad reviews and wanted to shed some light. No side effects! Weight gain was zero. It has made my boobs bigger. Sex drive actually increased. No acne. I take the pill continuously due to my horrible periods and I never get a period unexpectedly. This is also a very low-dose birth control that I was put on because high-dose pills make me throw up, so if you have that issue, I suggest this medication! I highly suggest you give it a shot! I was so worried when I started it due to all the negative reviews, but everyone is different and it doesn’t hurt to try because you can’t always change."

• Anonymous
• December 30, 2009

For Birth Control "I am taking Microgestin FE 1/20 for a month now. I took the first pill and then decided to just read up on it. I was scared out of my mind after reading reviews. I tried to calm myself down by saying that people usually only give reviews with a bad experience. Rarely do people seek these sites out to give a positive one. Nevertheless, I was scared. I thought I was going to gain weight, be an emotional crazy person, suffer from bad eyesight, etc. I was especially scared because I would take the pill at noon and at 5 pm every day I would feel nauseous. I changed my time to 5 pm, and hey, problem solved. I am usually in bed by the time the nausea would start. Other than that, no weight gain, no headaches, no loss of sexual interest, and no breast tenderness. Everyone is different, and their bodies react differently. I would say I am very satisfied with this birth control."

• Suz...
• October 13, 2014

For Birth Control "Into my second year on this and very pleased. The first two months adjusting were definitely a bit tough: nausea, headache, breast tenderness, bizarre acne. I stuck it out and very glad I did! After those two months, zero side effects. No period, no weight gain, nausea, cramps, or breast tenderness... Nothing! In fact, I'm 37 & I've lost 20 lbs while on it. And most importantly, it's been effective in preventing pregnancy!"

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

For Birth Control "I was so scared to take Junel Fe 1/20 after reading all of the reviews. However, I am happy that I did. The first month I experienced a lot of breakthrough bleeding as my body was adjusting to the pill, but now I have my period regularly, and it is almost nothing! It is super light and just enough to let me know I am not pregnant. I didn't experience any side effect symptoms with this pill either, no weight gain like everyone says... however, I am fairly active and eat pretty clean. I would give this a try before taking any of these reviews into consideration, everyone's body is 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!"

• Kot...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 5, 2021

For Birth Control "Not sure why there are so many negative reviews, I've had nothing but an easy time with this medication. I've been on it for about 7 years now. Initially, I was on another pill, but I deal with depression on and off, and my period cramps were awful, so my doctor switched me to Junel because it's lower estrogen. My periods last 2-4 days and are relatively light, hardly any cramps, no acne... I've never had an issue. There's speculation that maybe it causes weight gain, but I work out regularly, so it's not enough to mention."

• 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 :)"

• Wei...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill since September. Love the low dose hormone vs. regular. I don’t feel moody or anxious compared to past pills, but I have had a few days where I feel nauseous and can’t figure out why. Not sure if it’s the pill. No side effects except MASSIVE weight gain. My appetite is out of control, and I am constantly bloated. I have put on 20+ pounds since I started and am freaking out about it. Not sure what to do, I don’t want to keep gaining."

• 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."

• Bri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2020

For Birth Control "I started taking Blisovi after my pharmacy switched me from Taytulla. I was only on it for a month and a half. Aside from the fact my skin was completely clear, the side effects were horrible for me. I gained some weight, and my mood swings were horrible. I've never in my life experienced severe anxiety until taking this pill. I genuinely thought I was going crazy. I never struggled with panic attacks until this pill. Every morning I woke up anxious. I also experienced really bad cramping and pelvic pain, and mild breast tenderness. I ended up convincing myself I was pregnant. I’ve been off of it for a week now, and I feel like my normal self. I’d be cautious on this one."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2019

"Ladies, this pill, Blisovi Fe 1/20, has been the biggest, most positive life changer I've been so fortunate to have. I took it for adenomyosis. I've spent many years trying different hormone and non-hormone birth control options and had absolutely sworn off any and all hormones since I had tried pretty much everything on the market. Over the last couple of years, I've developed extremely painful periods that have kept me from functioning at all. I became open to whatever my ob/gyn wanted to try, so we tried Blisovi Fe four months ago, and not only have I been able to bypass my period completely, I have zero side effects :) Nothing at all!! No spotting, weight gain, headaches, tenderness - nada. I'm so grateful for this, you have no idea!!"

• Pau...
• December 18, 2020

For Birth Control "Everyone's body is different, but for me, Blisovi's side effect was getting too much for me to handle. I think I should start with the pros because not everything was bad. PRO: I liked how it kept me on schedule. Period change from 6 days to 4 and lighter flow. And, of course, it kept me from getting pregnant. Cons: I couldn't keep control of my weight and gained 20 pounds really fast, no matter the exercise or healthy foods I was eating. I have a family history of diabetes, so I try to make sure my weight is manageable. At first, I correlated it to COVID and being stuck indoors, so I ended up doing more cardio outside almost every day, but for the life of me, I couldn't change my weight. Went from 130 to 150 pounds, and I'm 23 with a history of consistent weight before I took the pill. If I took a break for a couple of days, I'd gain all the weight back plus more. Lastly, my sex drive was nonexistent. I've been on the Blisovi Fe 1/20 for 8 months now and decided another birth control method is best for me."

• Anonymous
• November 12, 2011

For Birth Control "I've tried several types of birth control/contraceptives, and this is by far the best. In the past, I have had insane mood swings, random periods that last for months, serious weight gain, headaches/nausea, extremely low sex drive, etc. Since I started taking this, I feel like a normal person again. I'm not randomly mean to my boyfriend, I want to sleep with him too. I have noticed that since I've started taking this pill (I'm on my 3rd month), I've been able to lose weight a little bit easier, unlike the last pill I took. I will continue taking this."

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• November 4, 2009

For Birth Control "I'm 21 years old and have been on this birth control for almost a year now, and I absolutely love it. No weight gain, no headaches, no acne, no side effects really, except I no longer have a period at all. Just to be cautious, I take a pregnancy test every month, but so far there hasn't been a need for it. My sex drive is the same and hasn't changed at all. The pills are easy to swallow. I would never switch birth controls!"

• Jul...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 25, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m not great with keeping a specific time, but I always take this pill between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. This pill should take about 3-6 months to regulate in your body. Within those months, it’s normal to feel some mood swings, slight changes in period, and/or weight gain, so don’t worry. Prior to this pill, my periods were 5-7 days tops. The first period while being on this pill lasted 2 weeks, the second lasted a week. From the third month moving forward, my periods last about 3-5 days tops with no ovulation. My period dates also shift a bit. I didn’t notice any mood swings until about the 6th month. To today, I sometimes feel sad or depressed, and I won’t know why. I also cry a lot easier now. It’s nothing I’m concerned over though, not too bad, and the mood swings are easy for me to quickly get over. Positive side effect: my breasts have gotten noticeably bigger. My boyfriend has also “finished” in me multiple times with no pregnancy outcome, so the pill has been doing its job. I’d recommend."

• 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."