Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• Jel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2014

For Birth Control "I haven't gotten pregnant on this pill, hence, I gave it a 10 for effectiveness. I have been on it for 6 months. I have gained 27 lbs on my 5-foot frame. Month one, I started noticing a decline in my sex drive. My flawless face became a pepperoni pizza. Still didn't get off the pill. The last couple of weeks, I started having this feeling of not wanting to do anything anymore. Did not want to work, nor go to school, and started doubting my feelings for my boyfriend. I started crying like a crazy person. It was just hard for me to get up. I was sleepy all the time. I am getting off this."

• Ash...
• May 7, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on different pills for the past 7 years due to extreme period cramps and acne as well, but I've been on this Ortho Tri-Cyclen for 2 years, and I just want to say that birth control does NOT affect your weight. It affects your appetite, hence the fact we gain weight. The reason I know is because it's easy for me to gain and lose while on the pill, if I eat a lot, I gain instantly. If I exercise and eat healthy, same thing! I lose a lot faster on this pill. This pill makes it easy for me to maintain my weight due to the lifestyle I live! My acne has cleared up dramatically, and my cramps are gone, and my period lasts between 4-5 days. I always use condoms, but gave it an 8 due to loss in sex drive, but other than that, it's a great pill!"

• elh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 22, 2015

For Birth Control "Cons: Experienced a significant increase in appetite, which led to lots of weight gain (I went from 115 lbs to 125 lbs after 6 months of use). I felt bloated all the time, and I felt like I looked 4 months pregnant. Also, I had no sex drive at all. Breast tenderness/pain was a problem too. Pros: I didn't get pregnant, my mood was pretty stable, my skin was clear, and periods were pretty light."

• SJF...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 8, 2014

For Birth Control "I took it for a while, mainly for acne, and I wanted the IUD, but my OB suggested I try this as a birth control method as well as help with my acne after I had my first child. I must admit it did wonders on my periods and acne. I had lighter and shorter periods, but my sex drive went down. I also missed a week's worth of the pill due to not picking it up from the pharmacy, so I waited till my next period to restart it, and now I'm nauseated and cramping super bad. This is the second day back on it, and my period ended just last week. I started my period again right after taking the pill the Sunday after my period ended, and now I feel like poo. I know it will pass. As I take it, as I said above, I had a great first experience besides having no sex drive."

• Pai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for 6 months. I have lost my sex drive, my cramps are worse than normal, my period lasts a full week, and I have worse acne than normal. I am changing my b/c at my next doctor's visit!"

• Oli...
• October 4, 2013

For Birth Control "I'm 24, been on it for 1 year. I have gone from 112 lbs to 127 lbs but have pretty clear skin other than during my period and the week after. Periods come the same day, same time each month and are not too heavy. My biggest problem with this pill is my absolute lack of sex drive. Planned Parenthood gave me the NuvaRing to try. Hoping it doesn't mess me up!"

• Sme...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 12, 2015

For Birth Control "I rated this birth control a 10, only because I have not gotten pregnant and my face is always clear. Unfortunately, I gained 26 pounds (I was 100 lb when I first started, but not complaining). I had major mood swings, I cried at anything and everything, it gave me depression, I had irrational thoughts (totally not the kind of person I am), and also recurring yeast infections along with a very low sex drive. Very effective as a contraceptive, but avoid this pill if you have a history with depression."

• eli...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 18, 2015

For Birth Control "I took this for 3 years and 6 months, everything has been great for me. No weight gain, no loss of appetite, basically the same on weight, but the only thing that changed was my sex drive. I don't feel the same, it's a low sex drive, very dry down there. But other than that, it worked well for me. I have to change because of recent high blood pressure."

• Meo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2015

For Birth Control "I went on this for 2 months to see if it would offset the breakthrough bleeding I had on Ortho Tri Lo. I lost weight because this pill caused me to have terrible diarrhea. It was so bad it continued after I was off of it for 6 months. I had to see a GI doctor because I thought I had IBS. This pill caused me to be nauseous, have acid reflux, and zapped my sex drive. It caused vaginal dryness too. I would also get terrible migraines and I NEVER get migraines or headaches. I ended up going off of it because my body couldn't handle the side effects. Made me slightly melancholy and tired too. It did prevent pregnancy and no spotting. I also had a decreased appetite and weight loss, so it wasn't the worst."

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

For Birth Control "Pros: clearer skin, no hair loss (happened to me on another pill), minimal bloating, no breakthrough bleeding, no tiredness, no irritability, no breast tenderness, and most importantly, no pregnancy. Cons: headaches from time to time, slightly decreased sex drive, and slightly increased food cravings."

• Mrr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for about 3 to 4 months now, and the biggest positive for me was that it cleared my hormonal chin acne. Lately, I've really felt the mood swings, though. I'm usually a very happy person, but lately, I've been feeling very blah, and I feel like I can't concentrate. Sex drive is also a little blah. Weight is about the same too."

• Adr...
• December 10, 2015

For Birth Control "I take this for birth control and acne. I've been on this pill going on 2 years. I'm 35 and used to take this pill in my early 20s as well. It has always helped with my acne. I rarely get breakouts like before. I had an IUD for years too, but didn't like the spotting always at the wrong time. So I went back on the pill. My skin has never felt and looked this good. However, I am also dealing with the random spurts of depression and lack of sex drive. That really sucks. I do feel moodier than normal. My boyfriend has also noticed the change. I stay on it because it does its job. Just got to deal with the side effects."

• 29P...
• December 29, 2015

For Acne "I'm on the final week of my 3-pack of Ortho. I haven't had any side effects from this. In the past, I've had issues with BC affecting my moods and sex drive, abnormal bleeding, and making my hormonal acne even worse. So I'm giving it an 8. Because it's not helping with my hormonal acne at all."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2011

For Birth Control "So, I have been taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen for 3 years. I gave it a 5 because I'm not pregnant, but other than that, I have nothing good to say about it. After taking it for about 6 months, I had severe chest pain, a headache almost every day, almost zero sex drive, and the worst acne I have ever had in my life. Oh, and I gained 30 lbs in the first 4 months. After the first year of taking it, all these symptoms became 'normal.' But the thing that made my doctor switch me to Apri was that I had spotting every day for 15 days before my period for the last 4 months of taking it. I am getting ready to start the new medication next month. I just hope I do not have the same side effects."

• Ann...
• December 7, 2017

For Birth Control "I switched from LoEstrin to this because that BC gave me terrible and painful acne, mostly on my back and chest, to the point where I wouldn't wear anything deeper than a turtleneck. It also lowered my sex drive and caused dryness during sex lasting longer than 5 minutes. After about a month on Ortho, my acne started to clear up, and I now only have a teeny bit around the time of my period. I will say the very first week on this BC I had incredible mood swings, and it really intensified my depression and anxiety, but after the first week, I had no problems. I'm not sure if this pill caused me to lose weight or if it was stress from school, either way, in the past 3 months I've lost about 5 pounds. Wish it made my boobs grow, though, oh well."

• Ann...
• December 7, 2017

For Birth Control "I switched from LoEstrin to this because that BC gave me terrible and painful acne, mostly on my back and chest, to the point where I wouldn't wear anything deeper than a turtleneck. It also lowered my sex drive and caused dryness during sex lasting longer than 5 minutes. After about a month on Ortho, my acne started to clear up, and I now only have a teeny bit around the time of my period. I will say the very first week on this BC I had incredible mood swings, and it really intensified my depression and anxiety, but after the first week, I had no problems. I'm not sure if this pill caused me to lose weight or if it was stress from school, either way, in the past 3 months I've lost about 5 pounds. Wish it made my boobs grow, though, oh well."

• RGa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 18, 2019

For Birth Control "Started taking 1 year after baby #2. Never got pregnant, but also have no sex drive and can't lose the last 8 lbs of baby weight."