Sprintec and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• Rit...
• June 1, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m 21 years old. I gained 15 pounds in 3 months while on Sprintec. My sex drive went way down to the point where I just wouldn’t enjoy sex anymore. I couldn’t naturally get wet anymore, so it was painful when we would have sex, so we had to start using lube. The worst thing was that it messed with me mentally. I would have the worst mood swings, and I was very depressed, irrational, and frustrated. My boyfriend is the one who talked to me and asked what was going on with me, and I just completely broke down crying trying to explain that I had no idea what was wrong with me and that I just didn’t feel like myself. He told me it could be my birth control, and just then it clicked in my head, like duh, of course it is. So, I immediately stopped taking it. This is 2 months later that I’m writing this, and I feel 100% better! I’ve lost 10 pounds, and I finally feel like myself again!"

• Jan...
• February 26, 2020

For Ovarian Cysts "I am finding through more and more reading of reviews is that a lot of these higher estrogen, progestogen pills ruin lives. This pill absolutely destroyed my mental health. I had dark thoughts, I was aggressive and severely depressed. I gained back 10 pounds that I spent the last few months losing within the first month of this pill. I bled for three weeks straight and had super dry, itchy skin. Plus, it made sex unbearably painful, which I have never experienced before. I was practically manic depressive and extremely anxious with migraines and didn't have the energy. I do not recommend this at all, and I am really considering stopping birth control altogether as I am about to start Apri, and they say the same side effects happen. If you are trying this and have any symptoms, especially emotional and the weight, and pain down there from dryness and sex being unbearable, STOP ASAP and try something new. Please take care and don't ignore side effects."

• Jen...
• January 2, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on the pill for about a year now since I switched from the Depo shot. At first, it was giving me headaches, so I started to take it right before bed. My face has cleared up a lot with the occasional zit around my period. Periods have become lighter with less cramps, and my breasts have gotten fuller. The only thing that I have noticed is my sex drive isn't what it used to be, but it could just be me."

• Kay...
• August 12, 2010

For Birth Control "It hasn't made me sick or caused acne. I went to the doctor's twice from a urinary tract infection since I've been on it. I've been taking it for a month now, and my mood has changed severely. I have no interest in sex at all, I get dry, and I have no intention of wanting to do it. I feel stressed and depressed, and I've never been like that. I feel bad for my boyfriend, and it's been ruining our love life. I'm calling my doctor to switch as soon as she is available. When they say birth control doesn't affect your mood, they are wrong! Read the other reviews."

• Anonymous
• January 12, 2010

For Birth Control "I took this for 5 months and loved it. It actually cleared up the acne I had before I started it, and it kept me from getting pregnant. I started forgetting to take it, so I switched to the Depo Provera shot. It has made me depressed, crazy, gain weight, no period, lactate, acne breakouts, and no sex drive at all. Now my doctor even thinks I might have a tumor on my pituitary gland and will have to get an MRI to find out soon. So, I have definitely switched back to Sprintec, today actually, and I hope all these side effects from Depo Provera go away."

• Jul...
• August 5, 2014

For Birth Control "I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome 2 months ago by my OBGYN. Earlier this year, I began to experience a number of odd symptoms, such as: 1. Severe mood swings 2. Skipped periods 3. Extreme bloating 4. Mild acne 5. Diminished libido. I was put on Sprintec, and the first 2 weeks were HELL. I experienced nausea (lost 5 lbs). I couldn't keep anything down, it was out of control! Mood became worse. I was ready to call my doctor and ask her to put me on something else, but after the nausea subsided (around week 3), I decided to complete the 3-month trial period. Currently on Month 2, and after my first period, I felt better than ever! Mood, energy, and sex drive are at an all-time high. I will definitely stay on Sprintec."

• Ash...
• November 12, 2020

"I personally would not recommend this birth control pill to any woman. It completely changed my personality while I was on it, and I was depressed and constantly anxious. I was so dramatic about every little thing and cried all the time, I felt like a crazy person, and I honestly probably appeared that way too. I had 0 sex drive and was always dry, which was very uncomfortable. Perhaps the most concerning of them all was that it messed with my ability to retain memories and recall events that occurred when I was on it. The majority of these months are now somewhat of a blur to me. When I finally quit taking it, it was like a cloud had been lifted and my quality of life was back completely. I will soon be switching to an IUD, which I hear is a much less systemic option, and I recommend this to other women too."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I do not recommend this birth control. I have gained thirty pounds in 6 months, tired all of the time, dark thoughts and anxiety, and low sex drive and pain during sex. I am getting off soon because I can not take it anymore. I can not lose weight no matter how hard I try. I was put on for my cysts, which thankfully went away, but the side effects for my experience, at least, a nightmare."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I do not recommend this birth control. I have gained thirty pounds in 6 months, tired all of the time, dark thoughts and anxiety, and low sex drive and pain during sex. I am getting off soon because I can not take it anymore. I can not lose weight no matter how hard I try. I was put on for my cysts, which thankfully went away, but the side effects for my experience, at least, a nightmare."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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 ;)"

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• January 22, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for about 3 years, I was always a Sun starter, but due to the pharm not having my meds in time, my doc had me start my new pack on a Tues. After starting on a Tues, I began to feel like I want to throw up all the time, and it will happen a week or 2 before my period. I was nervous all this time: anxiety, heart palpitations. I felt this feeling in my chest and stomach often that I can only describe as that feeling you get when something bad is about to happen, zero energy, low sex drive. I slept all the time, negative thoughts, depressed, lost weight, and had no appetite whatsoever. I noticed when I got on the white pills, I started to feel normal again. I will never, ever take those pills again. I thought I was going insane, I cried every day. I’d rather have a baby any day than to feel like that due to Sprintec. I was on Ortho Tri-Lo for years before taking that, and I can’t remember ever feeling like that."

• Ean...
• January 31, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Sprintec for about 1 year and 8 months. I believe it has been horrible for me. My sex drive is down, which affects my husband's and my relationship. I have had this constant moodiness and roller coaster of emotions that I could not figure out where it was coming from until I started researching when it started and what could be causing it. My skin is clear, I don't have much weight gain, nor have I had a baby, but the side effects are too much for me."

• Mly...
• January 27, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been on Sprintec for going on 2 years, and the longer I've been on it, the more I've noticed that my sex drive is beyond low. My fiancé and I used to have sex regularly, at least 2-3 times a week, and now it has gone down to once a month. Neither of us are okay with that, and I cannot help but wonder if it is from Sprintec. When I first started this pill, I thought it was great, and I have no other complaints other than the low sex drive. I am thinking about switching soon!"

• Any...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 5, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Sprintec for a year and a half. I have been on one other birth control previous to this. But with Sprintec, I can always count on my period being the same time every month down to the day. It is also a very mild period, and my cramps are about the same as they were. I also have a clear complexion. My complaints with this birth control would have to be the constant headaches, and my sex drive has decreased quite a bit. I have also been sleep deprived at night and excessively sleeping during the day. My boyfriend also says that he has seen a difference in my mood since I have started this particular birth control."

• Anonymous
• December 14, 2010

For Birth Control "I've been on Sprintec for about seven months. I was originally on Depo-Provera shots, which stopped my normally sporadic and horrific periods completely but left me gaining weight dangerously fast and killed my sex drive completely. Sprintec doesn't seem to have any of the side effects of Depo. My periods are light and on time exactly every 28 days, lasting 3 or four days tops, my skin is flawless, and although I do have some light mood changes accompanying PMS (which is something over the Depo, which seemed to completely rob me of all emotion), it's so inexpensive, I would and often do highly recommend it."

• so...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Sprintec for 20 days now and am still bleeding really badly. Super moody, depressed, no sex drive, nausea, weight loss, extremely tired, dizzy. Hoping that my period ends soon, or I will be switching."

• Fri...
• June 2, 2014

For Birth Control "First off, let me disclaim that while I rated this a ten in effectiveness, that doesn't mean it was all great. It obliterated my sex drive. A few months into using it, I was completely uninterested in being with my partner. Sex was actually painful. I've been off it for about three weeks now, and I'm back in full swing. I haven't gotten pregnant while using this without a condom, etc. So while it was effective, it was kind of useless for preventing pregnancy since I never wanted sex while on it anyway. I went on it initially for period cramps. My periods would last 2-4 weeks at a time and were awful. So painful. This brought them down to 1-1.5 weeks with what I am assuming to be normal cramping. I could function during my cycles on this."