Ethinyl estradiol / norgestimate and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 4)

• ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2021

For Birth Control "I am just finishing my first pack of VyLibra, and I don’t really have too many complaints. My acne has cleared, I actually lost weight instead of gained, and my period is very light now. At first, I was experiencing weird abdominal cramps, but they eventually went away. The emotional sensitivity has been a little extra recently, but I’m already a sensitive person, so it hasn’t been bad for me. I can't really complain about it, it’s been pretty good so far."

• Coo...
• March 13, 2019

For Birth Control "Increased depression and headaches all the time. Got rashes around my face and broke out really bad. Anxiety and mood swings off the roof. Still have cramps and gained so much weight. No sex drive whatsoever and feel nausea all the time."

• bru...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 3, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been taking this medicine for a few years now. And it works great for me. I have a four-day period. My periods are light. I get little cramping, but it's not that bad. Compared to what I used to have, a 7-day period, heavy flow, and a lot, and I mean a lot of cramping, it's ten times better. My mood has gotten a lot better also."

• LAP...
• December 14, 2014

For Birth Control "I started taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo when I was 16 because I had horrible, horrible cramps and heavy bleeding. I've been on it for 13 years now, and I absolutely love it! I'm 5'5" and weigh 115-120, my weight sometimes fluctuates 5 pounds or so, but I never had any major weight gain taking this medicine. I went off of it a year ago for a few months... my skin got soooo mad at me!! I had awful acne on my jawline - my doctor told me it was hormonally related. Once I went back on it, my skin cleared up, my cramps were gone, and my period was light and lasted about 3-4 days. It's been a wonderful solution for issues encountered during my period."

• Jay...
• July 6, 2014

For Birth Control "I had an okay experience at first, the only positive thing was that my periods were lighter. The cramping was awful, though. I constantly had a headache caused from the estrogen levels, so they switched me to something not so high. I was on it for 3 months before they switched me to Aviane."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2013

For Birth Control "Right now, I am currently on my second pack. My nurse recommended this. I'm a beginner, I'm still nervous about this, though. A little bit of history: I had TERRIBLE irregular periods, and I'm sexually active. After the first pack, my period came and went exactly when it should be (which is the last 7 days). My mild acne seems to be SLOWLY clearing up. The plus side is it helps my partner and me save money from buying boxes of condoms. I saw quite a few reviews about breast growth, that hasn't happened to me, but I'm hoping maybe later on. Side effects are just cramps, and I noticed that I get drunk a lot easier and faster than I normally would. I would give it a 10, but I'm only on my 2nd pack, so I'm not so sure yet. However, ladies, EVERYONE is DIFFERENT. But it doesn't hurt to try out."

• Ann...
• December 10, 2011

For Birth Control "This birth control is great, better than I was on before, and that was the NuvaRing. This pill is easy to take. Some cramping here and there before my period, but I always get my period the third day of my iron pills. But there's a downside. I wear contacts, I prefer them so much more than my glasses, but sometimes my contacts will start getting super blurry, and I can't see at all. Sometimes I'll put in my contacts and leave the house, and while I'm driving, my contacts start blurring up, so I'll have to pull over and take them out and put on my glasses. That's the only downside of this pill if you wear contacts."

• Anonymous
• April 2, 2012

For Birth Control "I have been using this for a year while regularly having sex and never got pregnant. I think this is a great pill, it worked wonders for my sex drive as well. However, it does cause me to spot the week before my period most months, and not all cramping is gone. Emotionally, it has not affected me at all!"

• ak1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 12, 2015

For Birth Control "Let me just start with the fact that if I am going to buy or use anything under the sun, it is more than likely that I have read every review ever written on the item before buying/using it, etc. Before going on the pill, I read reviews for at least 100 different brands/versions of the combo pill and mini-pill before narrowing it down to three options (all combo pills). I talked each option over with my OBGYN, and we settled on Tri-Sprintec for a few reasons. A. Triphasic (mirrors natural hormone levels better) B. Estrogen/androgen/progestin ingredients/levels help with acne, and C. The first two weeks of pills are low dose. Pros: no mood swings, no weight gain except in boobs. Cons: medium cramps, slight breakthrough bleeding. Overall: love it!"

• Ple...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Sprintec for about 3 years, and I take it around 1 pm (midday). Side effects were minimal. Cramping I only get when I'm about to start my period, but that's normal for me. My face did seem to clear up, but I do have outbreaks every now and then, but again normal for me (tends to be closer towards my cycle). One thing I did notice is I do tend to have a lot of vaginal discharge. So, for the most part, I've had no problems with this pill."

• sar...
• June 13, 2013

For Birth Control "Can I say... awful cramps? Never in my life have I had cramps like these! I've only been on Sprintec for a month. My first period was this past weekend, and it was bad! I had to take muscle relaxers to get the pain to lessen, and those barely touched it. Also, I'm still bleeding four days into my new pill pack. I'm ready to be DONE with this ridiculously long period! My moods are insane. I'm emotional. One positive: my face is amazingly clear. That's it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 21, 2016

For Birth Control "I just want to start this by saying not everyone's bodies are the same and different pills can react differently. I've been on Sprintec for two and a half years now, starting when I was a teenager, and I love it. I used to have extremely painful cramps during my period and 7- to 8-day long periods. Since starting Sprintec, my periods are much lighter, much shorter, and way less painful! My overall acne has improved, I do break out around my period, but I think that is normal. I did not gain weight from this pill. You only gain weight if you give in to cravings that changes in hormones can bring. Just be aware of what you are eating and how much. I did not notice any change in my cravings, however. I love this pill, and it has worked great."

• Jam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on birth control for about 5 years, but I had to switch brands due to Yaz being discontinued. I tried another brand at the beginning of the year with no luck. I've been taking Trinessa for 2 months, and it has been awful! I haven't gotten pregnant, which is a good thing, but the side effects are extreme. I have gained about 5 lbs, and I am bloated. I have had very bad cramps; they are so bad that my back even hurts. I have always suffered from migraines, and they have been controlled, but within the last week, they have been awful. I am going to see my gyno next week to explore some other options."

• WOR...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 30, 2022

For Birth Control "My pharmacy switched me from Tri Previfem to Tri Estarylla about 6 months ago, and it's been HORRIBLE!!! I started birth control about 15 years ago and have had to undergo changes in the medications as others have discontinued, but this is by far the worst experience! My flow had doubled in heaviness and lasts for more days. It's about 7 full days of major bleeding, running through a couple super tampons a day. I used to have maybe 3 days of heavy flow before, and by the 5th, it was pretty much gone. The cramping is unbelievable, and I have to imagine they are similar to labor pains. I always cramped before, but usually for just the first and 2nd day of my period. Now, it's the entire time and gets progressively MORE painful each day of my period. It comes in intense waves of pain, where it literally feels like my uterus, low back, and the inside of my vagina are in spasm - like a Charlie horse - so painful I have to hold my breath with each contraction. DONT TAKE THIS!"

• lex...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 16, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this birth control for about 2 years. At first, this pill does the job, relieves cramps and lessens bleeding, but recently these symptoms have come back. I have miserable cramping, heavy bleeding, and extreme backaches (to the point I can’t walk). Along with this, about a week before my period even starts, I not only become depressed, I also experience almost suicidal thoughts. These things have made my period one of the most miserable things that I have to deal with each month."

• lal...
• September 12, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for 3 weeks. At first, everything was okay. But now I have the worst cramps ever. I guess different people, different effects. I have been so moody. Motrin doesn't help either."

• Jax...
• February 13, 2014

For Birth Control "First time on birth control, and I started with this one mainly because I had terrible cramps and period side effects. Doctor recommended Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and I have been using it for 4 months now. Can't complain about the pill. My face has significantly become clearer. Still have pretty bad cramping though. My period now lasts about 4-5 days versus the 6-7. I also had weight gain. Gained 15 lbs in a matter of 3 months. I am 5'8 and normally weigh 115, so for me, it wasn't a big deal. I definitely felt my breasts a lot heavier too. I rarely suffer from headaches, and this pill made me get one almost every other day, which was annoying and uncomfy. Had to switch due to breakthrough bleeding though, either Azurette or Lutera."

• kok...
• February 4, 2020

For Birth Control "Okay, I read so many reviews before starting this pill that made me skeptical, but I decided to try it out anyway. Overall, I would give this pill a solid 4. The first few months, I was pretty moody and crampy, but overall the pill had me feeling great! (I mean I would've rated this pill a 10 starting off!) Here we are at least 9 months into the pill, and I feel absolutely revolting! I've gained so much weight, and I don't even know how because I'm always nauseous and vomiting, so how am I even gaining anything? Don't get me started on the depression... I have to fight to get out of bed and even care about college... I also have no sex drive! This is so hard, especially when you're in a committed relationship and want to engage, but mentally and physically I just can't because I feel so disconnected. I've stopped the pills, and now I'm trying to find something else! Just please beware! This doesn't mean the pill will affect you like this, but just be cautious!"

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 1, 2020

For Birth Control "I had been on Tri-Sprintec for about a year and a half to prevent pregnancy. A few months after starting to take it, I began to gain weight and became severely depressed. I would cry at every little thing, and my period cramps were worse than they were before. I couldn't sleep and had no sex drive. It didn't even occur to me that these changes were due to my birth control until I finally went to the doctor, who told me that sounds like symptoms of Tri-Sprintec. I just got an IUD placed, and I have never felt better, I have my personality back."

• Cof...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I just started taking Sprintec 2 weeks ago, and in the beginning, I was fine, no cramps or anything. I am on my second week taking this birth control, and all I have done is bleed. Also, since being on Sprintec, my cramps have gotten a million times worse. I would not even recommend this to my worst enemy...."

• Noo...
• July 5, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "First month, I had pretty bad cramps, but that was a big reason I went on it, along with very irregular periods. After that month, though, I barely experience cramping, my periods are light and fairly short (4 days). I'm used to heavy cramps so bad I throw up and 6+ day periods. My skin is the clearest it's ever been. I did bloat very badly (7 pounds gained) around month 4, but now (month 5), all bloating is gone and I'm back to my original size. It hasn't taken away any PMS symptoms besides acne and cramps, but I'm okay with that. My breasts have grown a cup size (32 C to 32 D). So far, so good. Plus... no babies!"

• Bri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on this for about a month now. I'm 25, and my sex drive is almost completely gone. I started it before my period, so my doctor said that my period would be late. I was fine with that. It wasn't late, I started out with spotting and then what was like a normal flow. I'm now going on almost 2 weeks of bleeding. I hardly ever get cramps, and on this, it's pretty much cramps so often that I want to double over in pain. I get lightheaded and dizzy, nausea, my mood swings are crazy. I go from happy to crying or angry for no reason. I noticed my breasts have been tender. My feet and hands have swelling issues to the point where it hurts to walk or grab anything. I'm on the placebo part of my first pack, so I'm hoping the side effects go away."

• lil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 22, 2019

For Birth Control "Sprintec really worked miracles for me. I used to have terrible cramps that wouldn't go away no matter what I did, and I would be throwing up for hours and unable to go to school. But now I get extremely light periods and have no cramps at all. I do know that different birth controls work better for different people, though just because it works well for one person doesn't mean it'll work that well for you, but if you are considering trying this, I would give it a go."

• Anonymous
• November 4, 2009

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been taking Sprintec for a couple of months now, and for about a couple of weeks of about 3 or 4 a day, I had severe cramps and had to be put on 500 mg painkillers. It has since subsided somewhat, but I now have the biggest clots that I have ever seen. I am constantly spotting, even though it is supposed to stop or regulate my period. I was placed on it by a couple of different doctors because I have been having excessive bleeding nonstop. I was on another birth control pill - I forgot the name - which was way better at stopping my period and getting me back on a monthly cycle. With Sprintec, my period is constant, and I spot daily. My sex life is nonexistent as a result."

• bec...
• January 14, 2015

For Birth Control "Overall, as a birth control, it did its job. My husband and I never used a backup birth control, and in the year and a half I was on it, I didn't get pregnant. The reason I'm only giving it an 8 is that around the time I was getting my period, I would go insane. Crying a lot... yelling, getting really angry for no reason. I had a low sex drive while I was taking it, but other than that, it got rid of my terrible cramps, and my acne cleared up a lot also. I just switched to Apri, so we will see how that goes."