Mononessa and Acne: What Users Say

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been taking Mononessa for a little over 2 months now, and I love it! My periods used to be absolutely horrible (dreadful cramps and heavy bleeding), now they're not bad at all! I only had minor cramps on the first day. The flow was so light I never even needed a tampon. It hasn't affected my mood at all, coming from my fiancé. No nausea or headaches. The only reason I give it a 9 instead of 10 is I feel like my acne is a little worse around my chin area :/"

• asm...
• March 31, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on and off different birth controls for the past 6 years, including the Mirena IUD, NuvaRing, and other pills. The Mirena made me lose weight and have bigger boobs, but it also made me crazy. Like a psychotic to my husband, and my acne was horrible. The NuvaRing cleared up my face amazingly well, but made me gain weight like crazy, which in turn made me depressed. Some other pills I tried (can't remember names because there were probably 3 different kinds) worsened my acne or made me have crazy mood swings. A year after having a baby, my doctor put me on Mononessa, and it's the first time I have been happy with my birth control ever! My face is normally clear, weight is normal, mood swings low, periods normal to light."

• jus...
• June 27, 2013

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Before Mononessa, I tried four different birth controls (can't remember the names), but all of them gave me bleeding constantly, it was horrible. Finally, I tried Mononessa. It's helped so much, my periods are much lighter, no more acne, and I didn't experience any weight gain like the other reviews I have read. Also, it is a lot cheaper. This pill is the one I've been needing."

• use...
• May 13, 2017

For Birth Control "My experience wasn't that bad! When I first started taking the pill, I was very hormonal and nauseous, but once a month or so kicked in, everything was fine. My periods only lasted five days and were always consistent. I did make my acne fade, and I didn't gain any weight, the only sort of bad thing is that my bra size increased by a cup. I've been on it for a year now, and so far so good!"

• Nik...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I took this pill for about 2 and a half years. It worked great, only had a few pregnancy scares from forgetting to take the pills on time. I usually always remembered, but it was sometimes a hassle to remember every day. I had good and bad side effects. It got rid of all of my acne and made my periods regular. I did gain about 25 pounds and had a much lower sex drive, though. I did spot occasionally, but not too often. If I decided to take the pill through my period rather than stopping, sex would start to hurt deep in my uterus eventually. That happened many times. I decided to get off that birth control a few months ago, and I could tell that I had a complete change in my body. I lost weight and felt happier. My sex drive went up incredibly."

• Anonymous
• September 22, 2011

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Before this, I had been using the Depo shot and then Yaz for a year and had constant bleeding and spotting on both. Once I started taking Mononessa, my bleeding stopped in two days. It's been two weeks since starting the pack, and all is still good. I have noticed a tiny increase in pimples, and my breasts have become slightly bigger and tender, but not painful. I have high hopes for this pill."

• Van...
• February 25, 2014

For Birth Control "All in all, Mononessa has worked very well. I've been taking it for about a month, I'm just getting into the green-colored tablets. I woke up at 4 am the second day throwing up, but ever since then, I haven't been nauseated. I have pretty bad acne, it hasn't really helped. I was hoping it would. But I haven't been overly emotional (no more than usual, that is), and it seems like my period is going to start right on time. It's great. I tried Yaz before this one, and I spotted for a whole month. Was not going for that. But anyways, yeah, Mononessa's great! Glad I'm taking it now."

• kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2014

"The only reason I am prescribed them is to stop my period for several months (I skip the inactive pills and start a new pack). The first month was okay, but into week 3 of my second month, I started having heavy 'spotting,' enough to need a tampon. Two weeks later, I called my Dr. to inform them that I had been bleeding for two weeks straight and ask what was going on. They insist that my body is just getting used to the hormones and to keep taking them. It has now been over a month, I'm almost done with my third pack, and the bleeding/spotting every day is STILL an issue. On the rare moments when it's light enough for sex, forget about it. I have no desire and dry as the desert. I'm also extremely tired and have had random breakouts."

• Lea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2017

For Birth Control "I was nervous to get on this pill because of the reviews, but I started anyway. I've been on this pill for almost three months, and I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who has not experienced the bad side effects. This pill actually made my sex drive increase, and it does its job well. The only con is that I do break out a lot when it's time to take the seven inactive pills, but once I start the active pills, my acne clears, and it's also cleared all my back acne! No mood swings, no vomiting, no nausea, no weight gain (I do work out most days of the week), no fatigue, no cravings. Like I said, I'm one of the lucky ones. Best birth control I've been on."

• Kat...
• February 3, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on Mononessa for two years. I started on it while young and then switched to Implanon, which I absolutely hated, but after being back on the pill, I feel so relieved! I rarely have skin breakouts, my cramps used to be awful, but now I hardly have them, if any at all. Only downside is dryness, but nothing lube can't fix!"

• Nik...
• October 6, 2015

For Birth Control "This birth control works and does its job, it's just the mood swings that have been terrible for me. I cry all the time over nothing, and I go from being happy to angry to depressed. I feel it putting a strain on my relationship, and I am considering going off it. On the plus side, however, my period cramps are now nonexistent. I haven't experienced any weight gain or cravings (I've always eaten a lot, though, so it's hard to tell!). My acne actually got better, but only slightly, and that could be due to other factors. I just feel like the mood swings outweigh the benefits, and I just want to feel better."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2017

For Birth Control "I hate it so far. I'm not one to break out, and suddenly I have acne. These random pimples are on my back too! So depressing. My anxiety spiked, dizziness, and I feel at times I'm going to faint. Seeking new birth control ASAP."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 26 and have been on this birth control for 4 months. One of the main reasons I am on birth control is for acne, this pill has cleared up my face. My periods are lighter, and overall my mood is stable, a little more needy, and I cry a little more (con). I have noticed I am a darker skin tone since I've been on this pill (tan without tanning, this is a plus, and this is a listed side effect) no weight gain. The cons: my hair on my head has thinned out a lot, and I have noticed more facial hair (some neck hairs and a noticeable mustache that weren't there before this pill), I even bought Nioxin for my hair. My sex drive isn't horrible, but it has decreased for sure. Switching pills."

• Can...
• September 13, 2015

For Birth Control "The very first three days of taking Mononessa, I always feel very nauseated. Mood swings aren't that bad. I crave a lot, breasts are always sore. Periods are pretty normal, cramps are kept to a minimum. I am sexually active, and so far, no pregnancy. I've noticed there's more vaginal discharge, but my sex drive is pretty low. I don't have as much acne. So far, this pill has been going great for me. Side effects depend on the person."

• Kcr...
• May 22, 2015

For Birth Control "So I have been taking it for almost a year now, I am thinking of switching. I have gained 20 pounds over the time I have taken it. Can't lose the weight either! My cravings are really bad, which also does not help the weight loss. I get super moody at times, and I'm always tired. The first few months of taking it, my sex drive plummeted. I didn't want my man to touch me, look at me, I was so moody. My acne before and after my period is horrendous. The only good thing about this medication is my period is lighter. I received this medication from a Planned Parenthood clinic, I will definitely be going to a GYN next month to change this."

• oli...
• February 11, 2017

For Birth Control "I got my prescription from PP after previously using Chateal and having an awful experience, so my expectations were not high. However, since using Mononessa for 3 months now, I have had the best experience. No weight gain, feelings of depression, or pregnancy. My period is a day longer, but all in all, it is lighter and less painful. The only negatives I have noticed are that I have small breakouts and cravings."

• Mia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Trinessa, but since it has been discontinued, I switched to this. It's working great for acne on my face, but I am getting back acne more than usual. The main problem I am experiencing with this birth control is that I am so tired all the time. No matter how much or how little sleep I get, I feel like a zombie."

• Yas...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 22, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I'm 19, and I've been on Mononessa for about two years now. I originally started it to help with extremely heavy periods, but it has helped with so much more. I don't get any acne anymore, periods are so much lighter, cramps are almost completely gone, and cravings and mood swings are not near as bad. I highly recommend!"

• lol...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 24, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got prescribed this birth control for abnormal periods, and I've continued taking it for 4 years. I'm switching because of all the side effects. When I started taking it, I felt very emotional, anxiety-ridden, depressed, terrible moodiness, and felt insecure. It was at the same time I started taking it. I'm constantly nauseous and can barely eat, but will still gain weight. My face is always dry or oily or red, my scalp is always itchy. I also have troubles with sex, like libido and lost my natural lubricant. I also started getting acne and get extremely depressed when I'm on my period and the week before. I've had to go on anxiety meds because of this. But I will say I never got pregnant, only plus side."

• Sg8...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2016

For Birth Control "Started taking this bc after norethindrone was making me feel 'empty' inside, and I honestly did not like it. I'm a healthy 28-year-old who doesn't smoke or drink, and it caused me to constantly feel nauseous, that's the main reason I decided to switch to something else. Even when I would take it at 10 pm, I was still nauseous all day. I started breaking out a lot, but my skin would clear up completely once I would take the inactive pills. I was also extremely hungry all the time, and once I would start the inactive pills, I would have my usual appetite back again. PROS: my period was lighter. I gave the birth control 3 months just to see if the side effects would go away, but they did not. Had my doctor switch me to a lower dose bc."

• Bro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been taking Mononessa for about a week now, so my opinion probably doesn't mean much yet. My period was still bad the first day or two, but then it got very light, to where I barely felt like I was even on it. I do get the 'sick to my stomach' feeling a little in the evenings, but it's not terrible and I haven't thrown up. Yesterday and today I have had a constant headache, which I'm assuming is coming from the pills because I don't get frequent headaches. I had a little bit of breakouts on my chin, and it has gone away already, but that could also be attributed to just the fact that pimples go away with time. I haven't had sex yet, so I'm not sure about whether or not my intimate relationship will change."

• hor...
• January 12, 2018

For Birth Control "I had irregular periods since I started having my period. I also had terrible acne and nasty cramps. After taking Mononessa, my acne went away, with the exception of the occasional blackheads. I have absolutely no cramps while on my period, and I get my period every month for 3-4 days."

• hor...
• January 12, 2018

For Birth Control "I had irregular periods since I started having my period. I also had terrible acne and nasty cramps. After taking Mononessa, my acne went away, with the exception of the occasional blackheads. I have absolutely no cramps while on my period, and I get my period every month for 3-4 days."

• Fan...
• February 3, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been on Mononessa since 6 weeks after I had my son in 2014. It was fine at first, up until about a year ago, everything started changing. My face was breaking out badly. My normal face wash wasn't working at all, in fact, it seemed to make it worse. My emotions are constantly screwed up, and I mean JACKED UP. I get upset at things I wouldn't normally be upset with, get mad about it even, and stay mad (that is not who I am!). I am nauseous 3 weeks out of the month, all day, every day, and I am so tired and exhausted and flat out dizzy that now I have to lay down when my husband gets home from work so he can hang out with our little guy. Normally, I would be up doing things, making food, cleaning, playing, etc. Going to the doctor to get a different type. Would like to be on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo because I was on that for 12 years and it was great. I'm just a hot mess thanks to this pill. I never did get pregnant, so that's a plus."

• but...
• January 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been on Mononessa for about 2 1/2 years now, and in the beginning, I can honestly say I had no complaints. It completely minimized my periods, my acne was non-existent, my sex drive was strong, and I was able to maintain my weight well! About a year and a half ago though, things took a turn for the worse. I was getting headaches and migraines practically 3-4 days out of the week, my periods were getting heavier again, my sex drive was on and off, my face started breaking out, and next thing I knew, I had gained 25 lbs. I can't shake that weight, despite eating even healthier and working out 2x/day, which is leading to insecurity and depression. Definitely wouldn't recommend using for longer than a year."