Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• September 3, 2009

For Birth Control "I have been using Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for 6 years now, and I have always absolutely loved it! I never experienced weight gain, acne, mood swings, and my period is every fourth Wednesday. I have no complaints. It is the perfect birth control for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I'd never been on birth control up until a few months ago, and I was given Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo as a starter because I did not want it to have much hormones. I went through two whole packs and decided to switch because of extremely low sex drive, extreme mood swings, and increased appetite (I would eat a full meal, and two hours later my stomach would be growling again). My relationship began to suffer due to these side effects, so I stopped taking it and am back to normal. However, this pill DID have pros: I didn't get pregnant, it regulated my period, and caused no breakouts or acne. But be wary of weight gain, decreased libido, and mood swings."

• Sie...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 29, 2013

For Birth Control "I'm 5'6" and 114 lbs. Very good pill to take if you're tiny and new to hormones. I recommend starting it the night of your new cycle to help your body get used to the hormones. Take it at night with a snack to fend off the nausea. STAY HYDRATED. You're going to confuse thirst with hunger on this pill. Drinking more water will combat bloating, weight gain, and fatigue. It takes longer to recover after workouts. My mood has improved drastically, as well as sex drive and wetness. My acne got worse, but I'll give it a few more months to straighten out. Love it so far."

• Dan...
• June 26, 2015

For Birth Control "I went on this pill when I was 17. The first 6 months were dreadful. An emotional freak, always crying. After my body got used to it, I was totally fine. My boobs went from an A to a C, I did gain a little weight, however, I blame that on college. I am able to lose weight easily when I diet while on the pill. Never got pregnant, even with missing pills. Regular period, LIGHT period. I would recommend this pill, once your body gets used to it, it will be fine."

• Anonymous
• October 29, 2009

For Birth Control "I am 23 and took Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo (OTCL) for about 5 or 6 years. I started taking it to regulate my cycle, for lighter periods, less cramping, and all the other positives the pill boasts (and got it!). I am a pretty emotional gal, and this seemed to somewhat help. At worst, I would say it had no effect on my mood swings, but at least it did not make them worse. Over the time I took the pill, I gained weight and my boobs grew a cup and a half, but I would not blame the weight gain on the pill. OTCL even has cute little cases that you can get from the website for free, which I liked and used. I would have stayed on OTCL if I was better about taking it on time and if it were not so expensive ($50 retail, $10-30 with insurance)."

• Amy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been taking this brand for about four months now and haven't had any problems. Not sure why other women are experiencing such negative results from this brand. I got this for free at Planned Parenthood and she said it was one of the most popular brands. I haven't gained any weight, haven't had any mood swings, and my sex drive hasn't been diminished. Oh, and most importantly, I haven't gotten pregnant. So far, so good!"

• Pre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I've tried Ortho-Cyclen and Microgestin 1/20 and Diane 35 before. OC made me gain weight like crazy, and I couldn't deal with the bloating; I also lost a ton of muscle mass. I've been on OTC-Lo for about a week, but I feel such a big difference in the degree of my side effects. I'm Asian, 5'2" and 118 lbs for reference. I don't feel nauseous at all, very minimal bloating, my skin's a bit clearer, and my sex drive's the same! I'm nervous about the tri-phasic style of the pill as I'm very sensitive to hormone shifts, so I may update my review after a month. I think people just really need to find a pill that most closely mimics their natural hormone levels and go up or down in estrogen and progestin as they observe the changes in their body."

• Lan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 18, 2019

For Birth Control "This BC is great! I had previously taken Alesse and only took it for two months, as I got crazy anxiety from it. A few years later, I decided to try Tricira Lo (generic of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo). I had pretty bad acne before starting it, and this pill cleared it up almost completely! I love it, and for this reason, I'm planning to stay on it for a looooooooong time. The only side effects were that my boobs grew a little bit, and I gained about 5-10 pounds the first three months, but after 5-6 months, both stabilized. I've been on it for about two years now, and my acne hasn't returned. If you want a low-dose BC and have moderate/severe acne, this pill is worth a try!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 3, 2012

For Birth Control "After my BC pill that I had been taking for about 18 years was discontinued, I have been searching for one that I like. My doctor suggested Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. It's been almost 1 year, and I want to change pills. Every month I experience a migraine along with my period that lasts 2-3 days. I have also had nausea, mood swings, bloating, and trouble losing weight. Recently, I have had breakthrough bleeding lasting several days. All of these symptoms are a first for me."

• scc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2014

For Birth Control "I have tried Yaz, Nuvaring, Paraguard IUD, and other pills. This is the only pill that I have little to no side effects. Normally I become emotional and gain weight on birth control. I have been on this for 9 months and have lost 15 lbs (because of a healthier lifestyle). My skin hasn't broken out, though I am not sure this pill will help if you have acne (I took Accutane before going on this pill). My period is fairly regular. That's my only complaint. I had one month where I got my period 3 times. Overall, I would definitely recommend this pill. Also, even if you're a big woman, this pill with a lower dose of hormones can work for you. I'm 5'11" and 165 lbs! TRY IT!"

• Bos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2015

For Birth Control "I feel it is my duty to write a review since I read so many before taking the medication. I'll first say I'm crazy about weight! I was so scared of potential weight gain. The first week I put on like 4 pounds. Increased water intake, and it was off by the next week. Also, before taking the medication, my acne was bad. I'm three weeks in, and my face is looking great. I LOVE this medication. The breakthrough bleeding was pretty bad at first, and sometimes I feel crazy and hormonal, but it is very minimal. Love, love, love."

• for...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I have loved this birth control for some time, but it has made me gain weight and enlarged my boobs, which I hate. The last couple of weeks, it has made me super depressed and have major mood changes, which is why I am coming off this BC."

• Mel...
• July 18, 2016

For Birth Control "Let me start by saying that I love this birth control. I started taking it at the age of 14, I'm 24 now and have never had any pregnancies! I have taken it at 8 pm every night, and that has worked wonders. I notice that if I do not eat something with the pill at night, I am WAY more likely to wake up and feel sick. Now that I know what to do, it's not really an issue anymore. I never gained any weight and didn't notice any out-of-the-ordinary mood swings. Breasts did get bigger, though! I tried a generic version of this about 5 years ago and had TERRIBLE results. I'm so scared to try it again, but I can barely afford the $150 it costs every month for this pill. Please lower the price! It's a wonderful product!"

• Nat...
• October 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I was so scared to go on this pill or any pill for that matter! Read terrible reviews. Did so much research, and they all seemed like a bad choice. Decided this seemed like the best bet. Been on it 17 days, and I love it. No weight gain, no acne, no hormonal mood swings. My only complaint is I am on day 8 of my period (when I wasn't on the pill, my period was 8 days long too). I thought this would make it shorter. I am hoping today is the last day, if it continues for longer, I will update my review. But so far, so good! I actually lost some weight taking this pill! Happy girl here."

• hoo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 22, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I began taking this b/c 2 years ago because I was having a 10-day-long period every other week. The pill worked perfectly for regulating my hormones so that I would have a normal (4-5 day long) period once a month. I didn't have headaches, mood swings, weight gain, or any odd side effects. The only downside is my insurance began charging $50 a month for it, so I had to stop using it and now have to switch. And now that I have stopped taking it, my acne on my face, back, and chest has returned."

• Mc2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2015

For Birth Control "A few friends recommended this brand and said it did not give them any side effects. I was sold on that alone. A couple of weeks in, I started to get horrible cystic acne on my chin. I am prone to breakouts and have heard Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo helps clear up skin...so I was confused about this side effect. Once the first cyst was gone, another one shortly came up. It was never-ending. Started my second pack. The same thing happened again with the cystic acne. I almost wanted to get off the pill because of it. But I loved that I did not have any other side effects. No weight gain, no moodiness, and my sex drive actually increased. Finally, halfway through my third pack, the cysts were gone. All in all, it's a great pill besides the cysts I got."

• BH2...
• December 12, 2010

For Birth Control "I absolutely LOVE this pill. I'm 22 now, but I started it back in May of 2006 and stopped in March of 2007 (due to me not being sexually active anymore). During this time, I had absolutely no side effects. I did gain a bit of weight, but I attribute that to me being lazy and starting college without exercising regularly. Flash forward a few years, I decided to start taking it again. I'm on week 3, and like before, I haven't had any problems whatsoever. I'm exercising better than I have before and have been losing weight successfully. All women have different bodies, so what may work for some may not be effective for others."

• Mel...
• July 28, 2014

For Birth Control "I went on this pill a while back to help regulate my period and help with severe cramps. I had an extremely heavy flow, and my cramps were so unbearable. Also, I would get my period for 12 days, sometimes twice a month. Since being on the pill, I usually don’t get any cramps, which is amazing. I also noticed that my skin is always 100% clear. However, I would say that I gained a solid 20 pounds since being on the pill and am currently trying to work it off with healthy eating and regular exercise. Side note, the first week I took this, I was throwing up every night and feeling nauseated, but if you stick with it, those side effects eventually subside. Overall, besides the weight gain, I would say that this pill has done wonders."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2010

For Birth Control "Pros: Didn't get pregnant, acne became less severe, period was light and very predictable. Cons: Horrible headaches for 3 months in the beginning, weight gain, increased incidence of spider veins, mood swings. Overall: It worked, I did not get pregnant. However, the side effects worried/bothered me, so I stopped taking it and have since gotten a prescription for a lower dose BC pill called Mircette."

• Pri...
• July 4, 2015

For Birth Control "I recently decided to start birth control again, and I wanted a low dosage. After three months, I decided to switch to a different pill. My experience with Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo has been horrible! I feel like an emotional mess and always depressed. I cry over commercials and don't feel like myself. Also, I've gained weight and just feel fat. The crazy thing is I've taken these pills before and didn't have this reaction. Hopefully, the new pills I've started won't make me feel this way."

• Dem...
• November 10, 2013

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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."

• Lin...
• September 20, 2017

For Birth Control "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."

• Anonymous
• March 10, 2014

For Birth Control "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."