Ethinyl estradiol / norgestimate and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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!"

• Chr...
• July 28, 2016

For Birth Control "First off, let me say that this birth control was effective in preventing pregnancy for me, despite many negative side effects I experienced taking this pill. I was prescribed Ortho Cyclen to lessen period cramps, abnormal bleeding, and to prevent pregnancy. I can say the mood swings involved with this pill were miserable to deal with. I felt depressed or angry 99% of the time on this pill, but I wanted to give it a long enough time to see if my hormones would regulate. Not only was I sad, irritable, and experienced low libido, but I felt restless and nauseated from the hormones. I would not recommend this pill to anyone, and that is my humble and honest opinion."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2014

For Birth Control "I have only been on this medication for 3 weeks. Already, I am an emotional mess. I'm exhausted all the time. Not to mention my husband and I were having sex almost every day. In my first week on it, I didn't even want him to touch me. He said I seem detached. We tried, but I can’t even get turned on. No sex drive whatsoever. For the sake of my relationship and my sanity, I have decided to stop taking it..."

• Kan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 4, 2019

For Acne "I love this birth control, the only thing I am sacrificing a little bit is a loss of sex drive, as it comes and goes. But as for my acne, it has cleared, and my periods are only 3 days long! I have no mood swings or feelings of depression and have been on this for a year. Also, no weight gain!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 17, 2019

For Birth Control "The first year of being on Tri-Sprintec, I did great. The second year has been rough. Bad anxiety, depression, and I'm just so freaking tired all the time, some days it takes everything I can do to just make it through an 8-hour shift and make it back to my bed. I've always been a very energetic person until this past year. I also haven't had a sex drive in forever, it seems like. And these mood swings, I can't even deal with. I've really been struggling the past year. Never really thought that it was the birth control doing all these crazy things to me."

• tk2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2020

For Birth Control "Tri-Lo-Marzia totally got rid of my sex drive. Before I got on this pill, I had a very high sex drive. Within a month of being on Tri-Lo-Marzia, I physically could not get aroused even when I wanted to. It made my vagina dry. I could literally tell the blood flow to my genitals had decreased. It's effective at preventing pregnancy because you will no longer want to have sex. It also gave me extreme mood swings and anxiety every month during the week 3 pills. On a positive note, I could not tell any changes with my acne or weight. I did not experience any spotting between periods, but it did make my cramps worse and flow slightly heavier. 27 years old, 160 lbs. Light periods lasting 4-5 days."

• elk...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 26, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Mononessa for the past 2 years and have only stuck with it this long because it was the best I had yet to try (was extremely sick on Aviane and had heavy, long, unbearable periods with Ortho Tri-Cyclen), and it was free on my insurance. After 2 years, my periods are still irregular, I experience recurring headaches, and I'm constantly bloated and have gained 10 pounds. Not to mention moodiness, feeling foggy, and decreased libido."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Tri-Sprintec for about 5 months now, for bad cramping. I’d like to say that I am a lesbian, so this is not a contraceptive for me, it was just to alleviate my period pain and heavy bleeding. The first three months were the worst. I gained a little weight, was the most moody I’ve ever been, and was sad often. However, once you get past all of that in those 3 months, it's a lifesaver. My period pain has decreased so much that honestly I’ll forget I’m on my period, it’s made them lighter and shorter. My skin is clearer, the weight I lost from the first 3 months is gone, and I’m not moody anymore. However, it does kill my sex drive almost completely, so if you are worried about that, take it into consideration before trying this birth control."

• Lad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 13, 2013

For Birth Control "In the beginning, my acne immediately cleared up. I've never had clear skin in my life! My breasts are larger, and I've had a little weight gain, but I'm SO emotional, and I have little to no sex drive, which has its effects on my husband and me. It's cheap, and insurance covers it. I'd keep taking it if I didn't have issues with my lack of desire for sex."

• 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."

• Spr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2016

For Ovarian Cysts "I will start by saying this: the pill has done its job. It's regulated my period, cleared my acne, and prevented pregnancy. I haven't gained a whole lot of weight, I've actually lost weight, but I have gone up a cup size. Here's the problem: 1) I have little to no sex drive now. It takes me forever to lubricate now, and when I do, it's very little. 2) THE BIGGEST PROBLEM is that I have become very emotionally unstable. I cry a lot now. There are very few days that go by that I don't cry. I also have a bad temper. I believe this is due to the pill after reading other reviews. These emotional issues didn't come about until about 2 or 3 months of being on this pill. I've been on it for about 6 months now and can't say whether I love or hate it."

• Anonymous
• February 17, 2012

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have no sex drive, and I am always spotting. The spotting has even gotten worse - now I have two periods a month. I have been taking the pill for almost a year, and the side effects have not subsided - they have gotten worse. I had to change birth control because of cost, I guess you get what you pay for. Sorry, Sprintec, my body does not like you."

• Mil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 19, 2021

For Birth Control "This birth control has been detrimental to my health. In just six months of taking it, my cholesterol (which has never been an issue; I am young) skyrocketed to almost double what it should be. I was nearly put on statins that I would be taking for the next 60+ years as a result. I also put on 15 pounds, and I'm super tired, nauseous, and have no sex drive. If you start feeling funny after the first month of taking this, get off of it before it starts causing permanent damage."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 24, 2015

For Birth Control "Ortho-Cyclen has worked incredibly well for me. It was the first pill I tried, and I took it for about a year. When my prescription ran out, I went to Planned Parenthood and was recommended Aubra, which did not work out for me. I had constant spotting, it significantly decreased my libido, and made me gain about 10 lbs. I have since switched back to Ortho-Cyclen and have had no noticeable side effects other than my breasts growing by about a cup size."

• Fee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2015

For Birth Control "I just finished my third pack of pills. Although I was skeptical about putting hormones into my body on a daily basis, this medication has worked out for me. I started it mainly because I was tired of the constant worries I have as I am very sexually active. Since starting the medication, I have received the benefits of lighter, shorter, less painful periods, larger breasts, clearer skin, and no baby scares! I have also had the added benefit of slower facial hair growth (yay for less tweezing and waxing!). For myself, the negatives that come with this drug are the feelings of a slower metabolism, bloating (although I haven't gained weight), and a huge decrease in my sex drive, which I actually prefer because now I play it coy in dating ;)"

• Lis...
• April 29, 2015

For Birth Control "Pros - Regular cycle - No cramps - No acne (other than a couple bumps a month) - Decreased period strength Cons - Morning sickness (felt nauseous anytime I had an empty stomach) - Decreased sex drive - Painful sex (unless there was a lot of foreplay) - Remembering to take a pill on time, if you didn't, your period could last 2 weeks Notes - Period would start 3 days after taking the white pills."

• Lis...
• April 29, 2015

For Birth Control "Pros - Regular cycle - No cramps - No acne (other than a couple bumps a month) - Decreased period strength Cons - Morning sickness (felt nauseous anytime I had an empty stomach) - Decreased sex drive - Painful sex (unless there was a lot of foreplay) - Remembering to take a pill on time, if you didn't, your period could last 2 weeks Notes - Period would start 3 days after taking the white pills."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 5, 2020

For Birth Control "I went on this drug as a birth control method and to make my period regular. Now, I’ve realized it’s taken a toll on my mind and body. When I started it, for the first six months, I would get angry and upset for no reason. Eventually, it calmed down, but has come back with a vengeance. Then, I lost all sex drive. This week, as a result of a negative experience in bed (probably due to my lack of arousal), I’ve had horrible anxiety that should only have lasted for a day, but has gone on for seven. I’ve been unable to sleep more than 4 hours at a time, unable to eat or keep food down, and unable to feel comfortable. I can’t think rationally, and it’s beginning to take a toll on my relationships with my boyfriend and family, and my motivation in classes. I’ve had anxiety before, but never like this. I’ve been crying every day and feeling like I’m going insane. I don’t feel like myself anymore. Going off of this pill immediately and hoping it gets out of my system fast."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been taking this pill for about 6 months. At first, I was fine, but then after a month or so, I started to notice that I was unbearably tired. I would constantly feel the need to sleep. I also felt bloated and gained several pounds. This pill has not only made me feel tired and depressed, I have also no sexual drive, and sex is often very painful now. It's effective because I'm not pregnant, but warning, it makes you feel crazy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been taking this pill for about 6 months. At first, I was fine, but then after a month or so, I started to notice that I was unbearably tired. I would constantly feel the need to sleep. I also felt bloated and gained several pounds. This pill has not only made me feel tired and depressed, I have also no sexual drive, and sex is often very painful now. It's effective because I'm not pregnant, but warning, it makes you feel crazy."

• Tei...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2019

For Birth Control "This Previfem was the first birth control I tried. I was hoping to prevent pregnancy and reduce my severe period cramps. I’m not pregnant, but I have terrible nausea, constant gas and bloating, zero sex drive, itching down there that I saw someone else mention as a side effect of this. Depression really got worse, and hating my bloated body all the time definitely didn’t help. Doesn’t matter when or what I eat, I feel constantly sick. Stuck with it for three months, and nothing has changed. Would never recommend this pill."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 6, 2018

For Acne "First off, I can’t believe how relatable these comments are. I took this for my acne, it did half of the job, however, I still get cystic acne and always blamed it on what I ate! Second, the biggest issue is my sex drive. It is completely gone. I thought it was me. I thought there was something seriously wrong with me. I lost my sex drive months ago, and my boyfriend thought it was him! But I would try to explain to him it’s not, it’s me! There’s something wrong with me because I lost it out of nowhere, but meanwhile, I lost it about a month or two after being on this medicine, and it progressively got worse. Third is my depression-I’ve become so down and introverted these last few months, it’s like I’m a different person. I never want to speak to anyone, and I always feel like my life is pointless-I was never like that before I started taking these pills. I’m ending my package and never taking them again. I hope it doesn’t affect me long term."

• Don...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been taking this for two months and hate it. My periods have been extremely worse than the ones I had before the pill. Plus I'm spotting every single week. In addition, I am so nauseous, lower sex drive, and very moody. I forgot to take this pill one night and felt way better the next day. I took the pill that night and started feeling sick again immediately. I thought I've had a flu bug, but I think it's the effects of this medication!"

• Nad...
• October 5, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on Ortho Cyclen for a little over 2 months, and I'm already getting off of it. My husband and I are newlyweds, so I started taking the pill beforehand so that it would be effective by the time we were married. I was terribly nauseous for the first week or two. Like, unbelievably nauseous. I felt like I couldn't even stand up through some of it. Eventually, the nauseousness passed, and if it did happen, it wasn't as horrible or frequent. I did notice immediate acne as well (I almost never break out, and I had big cystic-looking acne on my chin, which was lame with my upcoming wedding). I had NO weight gain, but I did lose my sex drive. When I say that, I mean I really didn't feel the same at all."

• 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!"