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

• MAa...
• August 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I have had very bad experiences in the past with birth control pills (depression, weight gain, etc.). I tried Lo Loestrin Fe after the birth of my daughter and was happily surprised at how well my body reacted to it. I took it for 2 years and then stopped as I wanted to have a second child. I will get back to it soon. After stopping it, my periods came back as well as bad PMS. It seems like everyone has a different reaction to it, so I would suggest testing it and seeing with your OBGYN if this one is good for you. Because when it works, it is a true relief to be able to rely on a birth control that your body likes."

• Lea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 1, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been taking Junel for a little over four years now. This birth control, I didn’t gain any weight, but it did make my boobs a size bigger. My acne is minimal (but I am also prescribed other acne face washes and stuff to keep my skin clear). My periods are to a T every month, periods are light, and I haven’t had cramps since before I started. I have had absolutely no complaints until this past year. Now my sex drive is completely gone, and it's nearly impossible for me to reach orgasm. The only thing I can think of is my birth control doing this. Other than that, I think this pill is awesome, but the lack of sex drive is super concerning for me since I do have a long-term boyfriend, and it's just not there anymore."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I really like this birth control. I was on Ortho Tricyclin Low for 8 or 9 years. When they discontinued it about a year ago, I was pretty bummed. I was given a few different generic versions of Ortho TriCyclin Low, but I had bad physical and emotional reactions to them. I asked my gyno for Lo Loestrin and have been really happy with it. I might have initially gained 2-3 pounds (lol, or maybe it was just winter fat!), but I quickly got the weight off. Since then, I haven’t had a single side effect besides never having my period. I miss the normalcy of it, I guess, and I end up taking a pregnancy test every few months (mostly just because I’m a little neurotic). But anyways, I really like this birth control overall. I was initially quite scared when I read the negative reviews, so I figured I’d throw a positive review in here to even it out."

• 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."

• lin...
• August 13, 2013

For Birth Control "I started taking this pill last October and have not had a period since. I've noticed being extremely tired and moody. I'm not that type of person, also, I have NEVER had an issue with weight gain until I started this pill last year. I have very slowly gained 12 lbs. I eat very well and workout, and I can't get off even a pound. It's really upsetting."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 22, 2022

For Birth Control "I originally started out with Sprintec and could immediately see weight gain, swollen breasts, and severe mood changes. So I switched to Junel, and my breasts were no longer swollen, and I lost weight. My skin has been incredibly clear, very regular periods, light, and no cramps really… but this pill has affected me sexually. I am constantly having back-to-back UTIs, despite cleaning thoroughly after intercourse. And I no longer have a sex drive. The first year my bf and I were together, I was completely different, but since Junel, I have a hard time wanting to engage in ANY kind of sexual act. It has also put my emotions on blast. I am incredibly angry, I cannot control how I feel anymore. This pill seriously has damaged my mental and physical health. I know a lot of people have a great experience, so don’t let my review turn you away. But if you feel this way on this pill, know you aren’t alone. I thought I was crazy, but I am about to get off this pill."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 7, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been taking this birth control for over 2 years now, and I LOVE it. I haven't had a period since I started taking this pill, and I barely have any acne. The pill, however, did make me gain a few pounds, but that's pretty standard for birth control. My insurance does not cover my birth control, and luckily, this product is extremely affordable! I highly recommend this product."

• Aud...
• May 6, 2018

For Birth Control "First and foremost, most of the reviews that are negative are due to the fact that women aren’t patient enough to bear the immediate side effects. You need to wait 3 months before you decide to switch or stay on the birth control. I’ve tried several different birth controls and this one has worked the BEST! However, the first month you’ll be hungry, constantly. Try to drink tea or have smaller meals throughout the day to avoid weight gain. I really, really love this medication. I feel back to myself, I gained probably 2-3 pounds the first few weeks, actually, but it’s been 2 months and now I can control my appetite. I recently got my period and didn’t experience ANY PMS. Just the first day I got my period, I was moody. Little to no bleeding, still got minor cramps, but not bad enough to take Midol. Overall, try this medication. But stay on it. If you really don’t like it after 3 months, then you can switch."

• Anonymous
• April 17, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been using Generess Fe for about 10 months. The first few months I had breast tenderness, but that went away. I may have had some weight gain, maybe about 5 pounds, but they may be just from unhealthy eating also. I have not experienced any other bad side effects and no pregnancy. The first few months I had a normal period exactly when I should. It slowly started decreasing in length and in heaviness. Now my period is barely spotting, not even enough to wear a pad. It's easy to use since it's chewable, tastes like mint. So for people that have trouble swallowing pills, this is great. It can be swallowed whole as well. I haven't used any other birth control before, but this has worked really well for me."

• Anonymous
• September 1, 2009

For Polycystic Ovary Syndrome "I just wanted to say that I love this birth control. Besides helping me with my cysts, it has given zero side effects. I tried Yaz before this one, and I felt like a monster! It gave me horrible mood swings, migraines, and I gained weight! Will never get off this Loestrin Fe 24. Remember that everyone's body reacts differently to the hormones in these contraceptives! Try it out before you decide on one, if you get a side effect, move on to a new one! Oh, and one thing, with this pill, I had breakthrough bleeding the first month only, and you MUST be very specific with the timing with this pill, and I get my period for 2 days only (which is also a plus)."

• 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."

• War...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 18, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Junel Fe 1/20 and was prescribed this as a substitute when it wasn’t available. This drug made me feel more anxious, depressed, and disgusting than anything else that I have ever taken. I have gained 20 lbs on this pill and can’t seem to stop eating when I take it. I can’t seem to get off it either since every time I call Walgreens, they tell me that they can’t get my original medication. If your pharmacy tries to give you this prescription as a replacement for your prescription, please ask for something else."

• 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."

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I only started taking Blisovi Fe 1/20 three weeks ago, and I have cried at least twice every day since. I am an emotional wreck, and it’s ruining my relationship. Maybe that’s how it’s an effective form of birth control, it just makes you so emotional and depressed that your partner doesn’t want anything to do with you. I advise against it. Oh, but I did gain 10 lbs and big boobs out of it!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2016

For Birth Control "I feel like because there aren't many positive posts on here, I should share one. I got on this pill because of recurring ovarian cysts and also to relieve some menstrual pain during periods. I'm on the third month, and I have had no negative side effects. The only thing was I had black, disgusting discharge for about a week at the beginning, but it stopped. However, I noticed that if I don't take the pill at the same time every day or relatively close to the same time, I begin having that discharge again. However, I have not experienced any mood swings, weight gain, or any other negative side effects. Every pill affects every woman differently, so please don't get freaked out by negative reviews like I did, actually, don't even read them."

• 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."

• yss...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 12, 2019

For Birth Control "DO NOT shy away from Blisovi Fe 1/20 due to horrible reviews. Most people are usually only motivated to post a review when having a bad experience with a birth control, people who are satisfied usually do not share their experience. However, I've been taking this for about a year now, and it has controlled my PMS by like 95% and has lightened my period almost completely. I have acne-prone skin, and I can confidently tell you that my face, as well as my friend's skin, has completely cleared up after a month of using this BC. Experience may definitely vary between people, but my friend who uses Blisovi Fe 1/20 has such a positive experience and recommended it to me, and I can say the same. I have not seen any noticeable weight gain or weight loss. Give it a try for at least 2-3 months before trying something else! It takes a month or so for your body to get used to the hormonal changes and may not experience full benefits until then."

• Ems...
• December 30, 2013

For Birth Control "I got on this birth control around 6 months ago. I had no problems. It took about three months to adjust. I don't get periods on it. Unfortunately, after 3 months, I began putting on weight rapidly (around 15 lbs in two months), which is a lot for my small frame. Despite working out 6 days a week and eating clean, I could not lose the weight. Other than the weight gain, this was a great pill. The only reason I'm changing is because of the severe weight gain."

• all...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 22, 2014

For Birth Control "I never had a bad experience with this pill. I freaked out when I first started taking it because I didn't have a period. But I fell in love with it. I don't have periods. I don't get any weight gain or mood swings. I have been on this pill for about 4 years now. It does take a bit for you both to get used to a pill. So don't hate it. It will take a month to a few. I haven't had any problems with it."

• 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."

• Nik...
• March 4, 2015

For Birth Control "Best birth control I've ever taken. No weight gain, no periods (due to low hormone, doc said that was normal). However, why am I paying nearly $100 for this pill? I have insurance too! I want to continue using this pill because my body is taking it really well, but I'm going broke!"

• Tay...
• July 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I started taking Minastrin in November after Loestrin was discontinued. I was told it was the same pill, just a different name (I disagree). Like Loestrin, I take Minastrin every morning at 8 a.m. I have been taking Minastrin now for almost a year. I find I have cramps all the time, I get mad very easily, no sex drive whatsoever. I'm not sure if this is related, but I get hot and sweat very easily now. I have gained a good bit of weight in my thighs and lower stomach, again, not sure if that is related to Minastrin. When I go for my yearly exam, I will be looking at switching."

• Rae...
• April 14, 2019

For Birth Control "Six months ago, I was switched from Glidess to this. After switching, I had absolutely no sex drive and was moody. Three months after I started this medication, I had gained 10 lbs (I work with a trainer and eat healthy) and started to become sick. I had horrible cramps, with constipation or diarrhea and nausea every day. I went to see a specialist and was advised to take tests to see what was wrong (really expensive)! I finally made the connection that it could possibly be my birth control, even though my pharmacist and doctor said there was 0 chance that was it. I stopped taking this pill, and days later, I was fine. No more cramping, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, and bloating. (I’m losing weight back to my “normal self.”) My sex drive is back to normal too. I wrote this so others who have the same issue can be warned. I thought I had celiac, a food allergy, or an intestinal issue, that’s how sick I was. This pill ruined my life for six months."

• Han...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 19, 2020

For Birth Control "Don't take this unless you want problems. Junel will make you gain a lot of weight. I gained 45 pounds in 10 months (I was 140 pounds 1-2 months postpartum, so I was only 5 pounds overweight before starting Junel), more than likely caused me to have hypothyroidism, feeling tired all the time no matter the amount of sleep, dry hair, dry skin, mood swings, severe anxiety, migraines for days, random numbness of feet, weird 1-day periods with brown clots after the first 2 months, no sex drive at all, this makes me feel like I'm dying, just too many side effects."

• Kit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2017

For Birth Control "Life-changing in a good way. I'm sorry to all of you who had terrible side effects. This is the third pill brand I've been on and by far the best. I'm not taking it to prevent pregnancy, though. I suffer from terrible PCOS that left me sick for over a year. We are talking extreme anemia, constant nonstop heavy bleeding for months on end, fatigue, crippling cramps, weight gain, and no sex drive. Taking it 4 months now (note I take nothing but continuous active pills to level out my hormone imbalance) and I have experienced zero bad side effects. I'm healthier than I've been in years, weight loss, glowing skin, thriving sex drive, no cramps or endless painful periods. It's been a real lifesaver."