Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 4)

• Don...
• October 5, 2016

"I loved this pill! Was on it for 14 years. I never gained weight from it or had mood swings, my period was always light and predictable. I went off the pill completely 9 months ago because I am married and 30... but I have decided that I want to enjoy some years with my husband and don't want to use condoms or worry about becoming pregnant. Dr. apt booked later this month to get back on this pill. While I was off the pill, I have been having headaches, insane PMS, cramps, my skin has become oily, and my boobs have decreased in size :-(. Hoping when I'm back on the pill this will subside again."

• Sma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2020

"I was on Yaz for 6 years, and it seemed to stop helping with my hormonal acne over the years, so my doctor prescribed me Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. Only on the third pack now, and my period has been normal and almost no cramps, as well as helped with my acne, but is making me absolutely crazy. I can’t sleep at night, but I always feel exhausted, I don’t have any energy to do anything anymore. I have headaches, any minor inconvenience makes me cry. My anxiety is through the roof, and I feel paranoid all the time. I have never felt like this until I started taking this medication. It’s honestly a relief that other people have had these same symptoms, and I’m not just crazy. Definitely going back to my gyn to get off of this after this pack."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2021

"DO NOT recommend. I went from a happy, silly, chill, laid-back girl to absolutely crazy. My mood swings are completely uncontrollable, I have the worst anxiety I've ever had, I became depressed. This pill had me waking up in the middle of the night throwing up, constant panic attacks, and absolutely zero sex drive. I went to my OB, and she suggested I stop. I stopped it last night, hoping to get back to my old self."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 25, 2012

"This was the first and most amazing birth control I have taken. My breasts went from a large B, almost C, to a solid D cup, and I was slightly more emotional, but all of that went away after a few weeks. My skin was flawless, and my hair felt healthier and thicker, and even my eyelashes were thicker. My sex drive seemed to increase, and to be very honest, I no longer had any use for lubricant other than what my body produced. However, after about a year and a half, a horrible smell started, and my periods were mostly just intense discharge, and sometimes it would last for a couple of weeks. I wish that hadn't happened, because now all the birth controls I've tried have been horrible to my body. I wish I could go back to it!"

• Lad...
• July 30, 2013

"The pill helps regulate my period and I know when to always expect it. I do not get any mood swings or nausea. I started going on the pill because my period was irregular. I would get my period twice in one month with excruciating pain. Once I began the pill, the pain stopped and my period is normal."

• ASJ...
• July 31, 2013

"I just started on my pills, I'm 37 years old. I experienced a headache for 1 day, and noticed that my taste buds are weird to certain junk foods. Other than that, it's great. As long as you drink a lot of water, I believe everything will be fine. Everyone is different. My stomach did hurt in the beginning. I also noticed that when I try to swallow the pill, it tends to sit in my throat for a while. Very hard to swallow."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2014

"I am always crying and moody (my poor boyfriend). Sometimes, it is never that serious, and I would realize that the next day. I'm 21 and in college, and that is stressful enough. I have my sex drive still intact, but I am always hungry (I've always been this way but know it is out of control)! I eat everything in sight. This is becoming really expensive for me and my boyfriend. Other than that, I have regulated less painful periods, no bloating, and they are very on time. I like it because of the low hormone levels, but I am emotional."

• Mcc...
• October 26, 2015

"I started Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo 4 months ago. The first month wasn't that great, I got my period twice and had severe cramping. The second month I only got my period once during the placebo pills. Since I was 14, I started to break out, and all the way to high school and college it still continued. Even after multiple dermatologist visits, laser treatments, antibiotics, nothing ever helped. I decided to give this a try, and to be honest, my acne has vanished about 100% of it. The first 2 months I still would break out, but I noticed month 3 my skin was clearing drastically, and by month 4 (in which I am now going into month 5) my skin seems flawless. I will get a breakout every once in a while, but overall it has helped!!!"

• AJD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2012

"I'm 19 yrs old, going on 20 soon. I've been using Tri-Cyclen Lo for 3 months now, and I must say that this is the best birth control pill out there! I've tried Diane before, and I was nauseous every morning, and I had to stop it before I could even finish a week. With Tri-Cyclen Lo, I have not had any bad side effects, except an increase in breast size (happy me!). I wasn't nauseous from it, didn't gain any weight, not much difference with my pimples, and most of all I haven't changed as an individual; no mood swings or change of personality. I'm more than happy with this!"

• pla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 24, 2013

"I've been taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo since February, with a 3-month break in the summer. I actually experienced very low appetite, when I'm at the end of my sugar pills, I'm starving, but the rest of the month I never feel hungry, so I think the pill has helped me lose weight. As for acne, no real difference, I'm still struggling with acne, but over the last year, being on or off the pill hasn't made a difference. I haven't ever been nauseous or sick at all, but I do take it at 7 pm. The biggest side effect I've noticed is low, low sex drive. Absolutely no interest in it at all. And very low energy. I plan on going off the pill to see if it's causing this side effect."

• Dem...
• November 10, 2013

"I took Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for a year and gained 15 lbs on my 5'1" normally 105 frame. I am 19 and run 50-70 miles a week for track and cross country. I knew there was something wrong, as before I would lose up to 10 lbs during the season. I told my doctor I thought the weight gain was due to the pills, but she insisted it wasn't. As soon as I got off of OTCL (became single and didn't need it), I lost those 15 lbs in 3 weeks and shocked my doctor. The pill definitely can, and was, the reason for weight gain. At least I never became pregnant. I have switched to Apri since, and I hope I don't go through the same again, anyone have any stories about their experiences with Apri?"

• Mis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 21, 2014

"I was on this birth control for over a year. It worked great for me. No pregnancy, regulated my period, and cleared up my acne. Only downside, I gained 15 pounds even after eating healthy and exercising 5 times a week. I got off it 6 months ago to see if the weight gain was because of the pill, and sure enough, it was. I've lost all the weight I've gained, but it took some time and effort. It's a great product, just don't like the weight gain."

• Esp...
• May 30, 2015

"I was on this pill for a little more than one year before I switched to an IUD (Mirena). Pros: -regular, short, predictable periods with little to no PMS -clear skin -went up a cup size (B to C). Cons: -increased vaginal discharge and odor -weight gain (20 lbs) with little to no change in diet/exercise -moodiness/days of low energy. I might have stayed on this pill because of the regular periods and clear acne, but the weight gain made me self-conscious, and a break from daily pills (with IUD) was appealing."

• chy...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 26, 2013

"I have taken this pill for 8 years. I am 23, 5'1, 110 lbs. Have never experienced weight gain and never had a pregnancy scare. I have always had clear skin, and it stayed that way throughout the pill. I missed a couple of pills last month and had spotting for a couple of weeks. But I swear by this pill! Although, once in a while, it did cause slight nausea and usually always low sex drive, as most others have agreed. Other than that, I think it's a great form of medication."

• Ano...
• January 16, 2016

"I have been on this birth control going on 5 years this May, and about 2-3 years ago, I noticed that I have been discharging severely (yellowish liquid) almost every day. Does anybody else experience this while on this BC? Also, the mood swings are terrible as well."

• Rac...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 20, 2012

"This is my 2nd time on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. First time was great. No side effects. I took it for around a year then decided to switch to Depo. Here I am again taking it, only this time is bad! I get a daily headache, really bad nausea followed by occasional vomiting, cramps, spotting, vaginal dryness, my sex drive has gone out the window, leg cramps in my calf, bloating, yeast infections, and frequent urinary tract infections. I'm not sure where or when my body changed to completely dislike this birth control. It has kept me unpregnant, which is the only good thing."

• HH2...
• January 29, 2013

"I struggled with symptoms of PMDD for a while, and finally my doctor put me on Aviane to regulate my hormone levels and, thus, mood. Aviane made my breasts larger but increased my acne and oily skin like crazy and made me more depressed and emotional! I normally have clear skin, so the acne was horrible for me. I asked to switch to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. Since I've taken OTC-Lo (for 6 months), I've noticed my skin cleared up (although I still have minor acne compared to when I was off the pill), and it helped with my mood swings tremendously. Although a bit more pricey ($15 copay), I am very happy with the improvement in mood that OTC-Lo has given me, which is a much better gain compared to the minor acne I am still experiencing."

• kmt...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 30, 2015

"I have been taking this birth control for about 4 years now, and I love it! It was my first birth control, which I had received free from Planned Parenthood. I have had literally no side effects, and my period is perfectly regulated each month. I would recommend this to anyone. Since it's low estrogen, I did not see increased breast size or decreased acne."

• Meo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 28, 2015

"I was on this pill for almost 7 years straight. I had zero issues with side effects. No mood swings, nausea, depression, or changes in appetite. Sex drive was the same, if not increased. I had fluctuated with weight on this pill, but it was because of bad diets. I ended up losing the weight with proper eating habits and exercise. The problem I have with this pill is that towards the end of my time on it, I started getting breakthrough bleeding. It is annoying. Otherwise, this pill is perfect for me. I went off the pill for a few years and went back on to this because of ovarian cysts. After a few months, the breakthrough bleeding still came back. Sometimes it's so light I don't notice, other times, it's like having a second period."

• Lin...
• September 20, 2017

"I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for about 3 years. I had to switch off this pill because my insurance didn't cover it anymore, and there was no way I'd be paying $109 per pack. I didn't have any bad side effects on this pill. I noticed I gained about 10 lbs over the years on this pill, but I wouldn't 100% blame that on the pill, I'd say it's more to do with me not working out and stuffing my face. My boobs grew 3 cup sizes. I was a 36C before, then worked my way up to a 32DDD. My acne cleared up completely, and if I ever did get pimples, it was always around the same time in the same spot. My periods were 3-5 days, and they were very light with little to no cramps. No condoms with my boyfriend and never had a pregnancy scare. I would recommend Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo."

• Hyl...
• October 25, 2016

"Out of both birth controls I've tried, (the other being Sprintec) this is my favorite. Although my period still hasn't regulated on it (either 2 weeks late or 2 weeks early), but I guess it's a lot better than bleeding every other week. Being a huge hypochondriac, that's of course the only downfall with this pill. Other than that, I have the same sex drive, I still don't PMS, my acne has gotten better, and this is far more accessible than any other birth control here. Side note: although it may have cleared my acne, I believe it may have triggered the psoriasis that appeared on my face. If you have skin problems, be cautious."

• Lee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2019

"I have been on this Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo pill for a little over two years now and just stopped taking it... HUGE mistake on my part. I should have stopped taking this a VERY long time ago. I have been super depressive and cry over absolutely nothing ALL OF THE TIME! The mood swings are unlike anything I have ever experienced, and I am usually happy-go-lucky. It has made me feel like I am not in control of my own emotions and absolutely crazy. I do NOT recommend this birth control."

• Jad...
• March 14, 2014

"I've only been on it for a month, but I'm really liking it so far. I haven't experienced any noticeable side effects. I have trouble with irregular and painful periods, acne, depression, mood swings, insomnia, etc. So far, I've noticed that I haven't broken out since I started this birth control. I also have felt less depressed. I've had one period while on this birth control, and it was just as painful as usual, but the bleeding was much slower and much lighter. (I go through two tampons every eight hours as opposed to two every one hour.) I haven't noticed any mood swings, and my insomnia has definitely improved. Overall, I really like this birth control. The only thing that could make it better is if it made my periods completely pain-free."

• Anonymous
• March 10, 2014

"I've been taking this birth control for three months now, and I've gained 15 lbs. I haven't changed my diet, and I work out regularly, my acne has gotten worse, and I'm depressed all the time. Even my friends agree it's really affected my mood. I'm going to stop taking it now that I'm single. The only good thing was that it's very reliable for not getting pregnant or even pregnancy scares."

• Jan...
• April 20, 2010

"I've been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for about 6 months now, and I haven't had many side effects. Good: I went from having terrible cramps to practically no cramps at all. No nausea, no headaches, no spotting. Boobs got a little bigger. Bad: My sex drive was already very low, and now it's even lower. I feel like I could easily go without sex for the rest of my life. Because of this, I will be switching to another pill when this month is done."