Sprintec and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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."

• Sal...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 26, 2015

For Birth Control "This pill has been effective as far as controlling any pregnancy, but since I have been taking it, my sex drive has lessened, and I've become moody more often. I feel mildly depressed most days and don't have much interest in anything at all. However, I have always been a very motivated person, so I have tried my best to still work myself out at the gym and do things I love. I feel more negative about things than positive. I am about to get off the pill and just give my body a break from any added hormones!"

• Wes...
• November 22, 2019

For Birth Control "Sprintec did its job of preventing pregnancy and had the added benefit of clearing my skin. For the 3 months I was on it, however, I experienced a 10 lb weight gain (I’ve had no issues keeping weight off in the past, but even with intense exercise every other day and calorie counting on the pill, my weight gradually rose without drastic lifestyle changes). I also experienced the worst mood swings of my life (anger, irritation) and had really dark thoughts almost every time I restarted the pills for the month and came off of them for my period week. My breasts were excruciatingly tender (even laying on my back hurt them) for the first 2 months, though this stopped during my 3rd month. My libido was non-existent within the first month of starting the pill. Since going off of the pills for good, I’ve lost 9 lbs in 2 weeks, which makes me think that most of the weight was water retention. My mood is back to normal, and my libido has come back, though so has my acne."

• Bet...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 26, 2013

For Birth Control "After over a year of taking, my skin stays clear, and weight had dropped a little (nothing major though, and I'm 20). However, my husband noticed decreased sex drive and dryness, and I have to add premenstrual migraines, resistant to over-the-counter painkillers, which has never happened before. It's probably because of the amount of estrogen in it."

• Kee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 11, 2019

For Birth Control "I give it 3 out of 10, for 3 reasons: 1. No babies 2. It did regulate my cycle 3. When I wanted to skip my cycle, it worked right away. Negative: 1. My sex drive went to almost 0 2. My depressive episodes made more frequent appearances 3. Mood swings 4. I'm working with doctors to see if this has been the cause of other health issues I've started to have around the same time this medicine was started 5. I've gained about 15 pounds 6. I get periods of time that I'm just exhausted more than my normal would be around my cycle."

• Thi...
• May 31, 2016

For Ovarian Cysts "So I've been taking Sprintec for a month now due to different insurance. And I've had two periods within one month, I am very emotionally unstable. My ankles are swelling, I have headaches, and my sex drive is decreasing. I'm always sleepy, I never want to get up for work. My cervix was really hard and low on my period. And this has never happened before, this pill is horrible for me! I can't speak for everyone."

• Unh...
• March 20, 2017

For Birth Control "I was using this medication because of extreme bleeding reasons, and my doctor felt it may help. While it did help the bleeding, it had horrible side effects. I was constantly hot and could never get comfortable, hungry all the time, very low sex drive, suicidal thoughts, horrible nightmares, depression, and emotionally unstable... To name a few! I took the medication for 4 months and finally convinced my doctor that I needed something else. Within one week off of that medication, I felt 50% better, and by two weeks, I was 100% better. I have no idea who has had success with this medication because two other women that I spoke with felt the same as me. If you are taking this to 'fix' another problem, please consider the side effects!"

• Sad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 27, 2017

For Birth Control "I would not recommend this birth control. I am 21 and have been on many birth controls in the past. Ever since I started it, I have been having extreme anxiety, depression, OCD, and loss of appetite. I feel sick 24/7. I can't even go out to eat anymore because food is unappetizing and scents bother me. This birth control has made me want to be constantly isolated and alone. I have no desire to do schoolwork, which is unusual for me, and I will lay in bed all day and stare at my ceiling. I feel like my life is fake, and I'm watching myself from the outside. I have no sex drive, and if I do, I immediately dry up, which makes it difficult. It is not worth the emotional burden it will cause you. It gives me a very light 3-day period, which is the only plus."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2015

For Birth Control "Finishing up my second pack in the next couple of days... I take it at 9 a.m. every day. I was pleasantly surprised to not have any major side effects after reading these reviews. I have experienced absolutely zero change in complexion, weight, mood, appetite, no irregular bleeding, etc. My period did not get any lighter or heavier - I was kind of hoping it would become lighter. The pill works perfectly - my period comes on the 5th day of the sugar pills, which is nice because they used to be very irregular and spaced out. My only complaint is there has been a definite decrease in my sex drive - so I'm unsure if I want to continue taking it. Everyone's body reacts differently to medications so don't let the reviews scare you."

• Tin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2017

For Birth Control "I started taking birth control for the first time back in October. Since I was 23 and had never been on the pill, I was expecting the worst: weight gain, acne, mood swings, no sex drive... and for the first 2 months of Sprintec, I can say all of that was true. But I just finished month 3 on Sprintec and WOW. My face is a smooth porcelain complexion, I've lost several pounds, my sex drive has been gradually growing week by week, and my mood swings are dissipating. I still get PMS-like symptoms the week before my placebos, but I had those before the pill, so really no complaint there. My depression hasn't improved, but it hasn't gotten worse either. I was depressed before the pill, so I can't say if Sprintec has affected that any."

• Bbs...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 11, 2019

For Birth Control "While it did what it was supposed to, which was to prevent pregnancy, it killed my sex drive. I’ve been off of it for 4-5 weeks and have had more sex with my husband in that time than I’ve had with him in the last 6 months!"

• Kay...
• March 16, 2017

For Birth Control "Been taking Sprintec for 7 months. It does its job, prevents pregnancy and shortens heavy periods. That's it. Switching to IUD. I don't recommend this at all. My anxiety is so bad it's tearing apart my relationship. I cry over small things. Anxiety attacks constantly. I can't sleep, low libido sometimes. Frequent night terrors, feeling hungry constantly sometimes or no appetite at all. Your hormones feel so out of whack on this. The only time I feel normal, honestly, is during my period when I don't even take the pills."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 1, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for about one year, and my one complaint is I have no sex drive at all, mild cramping, and my periods are shorter, although heavy bleeding. After reading all these reviews, I guess I'm lucky, never had depression or any breakouts. I was tired a lot, and after changing to taking my pill at bedtime versus the morning, it really made a difference."

• Mis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 29, 2013

For Birth Control "There are more positives for me than negatives. I have little to no PMS (used to have lots of cramps, bloating, moodiness, fatigue, breakouts, breast tenderness). Almost none of that now. Periods much lighter and shorter. Skin cleared up a lot (although I get a zit once in a while now I think because my body has adjusted to the hormone levels). The only drawbacks are decreased sex drive and annoying vaginal dryness."

• Nea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 7, 2014

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I've been taking Sprintec for years. When I lost my health insurance, it was cheap, and it was a mono-phase pill that I could take continuously, and it's been the best pill I've tried for cramps and lighter, shorter periods. I use it to control my polycystic ovarian syndrome (it's a low-androgen pill that helps control my PCOS-raised testosterone levels). If it impacts T levels too far, it can lower the sex drive too much for some people. For me, it removed the worst aspects of having naturally high T levels and put me into the 'normal' range, though, including 'balancing' my sex drive and clearing up my acne. I also use this pill continuously (4 periods/year) to minimize pre-menstrual and menstrual migraines - 'yay,' I get both types. No period = no hormonal migraines."

• Lan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2020

For Birth Control "I just started taking this birth control about 3 weeks ago, and here’s what I’ve noticed: (I’m 24) - increased appetite - extreme lower back pain (I’m talking can't bend over, that just started 2 days ago) - canker sores (unsure if this is related, but I RARELY get them, and right now I have 2) - pain during sex - heavy vaginal bleeding for a few days when I started it. Nothing else! So far, it’s been okay. Not a fan of the side effects, but it’s not horrible either."

• New...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 7, 2019

For Birth Control "Overall, I’m satisfied with this pill. I remember looking at these reviews before I started the pill, and I was nervous. Sprintec works really well with my body. I get occasional headaches (when I’m starting a new pack) and moodiness, but nothing too crazy. The only reason why I didn’t give this pill a 10 is because my sex drive is much lower on this pill. I went from being in the mood most of the time to not wanting sex without being prompted. It made me super dry, so now I have to use lube, but I’ll count my blessings... I’m sure the side effects could be worse."

• KG4...
• September 9, 2013

For Birth Control "As a birth control, I was on this for over 6 years with no problems. Now I'm back on to control my moods after 2 births. Trying to get my hormones back in check. And I'm not too happy. I feel like I have no energy and no libido, both of which could be due to the kids. However, my mood swings are back in check. I have gained a significant amount of weight in the year I've been back on it (6 lbs) despite no changes in diet or exercise. So overall, it's doing what it should. But I wish I was me again. Hopefully that will come. My husband is really sick of the no libido thing though."

• em1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 3, 2019

For Birth Control "Yeah, this birth control sucked for me. I went on Sprintec for only three months, but I gained about 15 pounds, was constantly bloated and anxious, broke out (and I don’t usually break out), my periods did not become any shorter, and my cramps did not become any less bad, and my sex drive disappeared, and I also lost hair. Please do your research because going through this and having to lose the weight is not worth it just to be protected from pregnancy when there are better pills out there. You can find one that works great for you while doing that. For some, this may work, but this was awful for me."

• ele...
• June 25, 2014

For Birth Control "I gave Sprintec a 10 for effectiveness. This will be rather long: when I first started the pill, everything was normal. I got my period 3 pills into the placebo pills (and I have every month since). I noticed that I do have some vaginal discharge, but it is normal, and it happens usually when I get a new pack. When I'm on my period, my cramps actually worsened, and I'd often get terrible leg cramps that would wake me up in dead sleep. But fortunately, the leg cramps disappeared a few months in. Mood changes: I do tend to get mad easily now and cry a lot more than I used to. Also, it made my sex drive plummet, I was not interested in anything sexual. Also, it made my orgasms very faint and last maybe 3 seconds. This did go away a little."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 3, 2013

For Birth Control "I personally have had a horrible experience with this birth control. Of course, I understand it's going to affect everyone in a different way, but I wanted to share my experience. Around the third month of taking Sprintec, I started noticing my mood swings were out of control. If I'm not mad, I usually just feel numb. I don't genuinely feel excited about anything. I have 0 sex drive, and I'm only 21 years old. It made my breasts bigger, and I feel like I gained a little weight, which I don't mind. I'm looking to switch to something with lower estrogen!"

• Rae...
• July 1, 2013

For Birth Control "I was put on this birth control by my doctor to help with my Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome two months ago. I hadn't had a period in over 6 months, the first one was right on time and felt and looked like my uterus was falling out. Month two's period has been nonexistent. I did experience the migraines before my 'period.' My face has cleared up, which I am extremely happy about, I looked like I was 13 going through puberty again. My breasts have grown a little, I didn't notice, but my boyfriend did. The one bad thing I have to say about this pill is the mood swings, good lord, are they bad. I fly off the handle for the littlest things, things that I used to not care about at all. My sex drive has lowered, and dryness is there."

• EAB...
• July 8, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for over a year now after getting off the Depo (horrible side effects) and thought this would make me feel better. And it did until the last 3-4 months, I thought I was depressed, but reading these reviews makes me realize it must be the Sprintec. I get depressed and, like other reviewers mentioned, 'emotionally numb.' And my sex drive has been completely nonexistent, making me think something is incredibly wrong with me, but it's just the birth control! I will be off this completely and will stick to condoms. I wish there was a safe birth control for women to take without the godawful side effects. Makes me feel bad for women everywhere wondering what is making them miserable."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2015

For Birth Control "I had started BC without my parents knowing and went to Planned Parenthood to request BC. I get my prescription for $9. I've been on it for almost a month now. I'm halfway through the third week, the next week is the white pills. I had started the birth control off my period, I started on 10/18 at 7 pm. My period usually comes around the 30th, I have not had a period yet. I had very little breakthrough bleeding for a short week, and little cramps the first night. The next day, I was very tired and hungry. After that day, everything was normal except for bloating, which was fine. My boobs have gotten slightly bigger, and I've gained 5 lbs, which I wanted to gain weight. Also, I've been wanting sex a bit more if some ladies are worried about their libido."

• Anonymous
• October 23, 2017

For Birth Control "I started taking Sprintec in October 2016, this was my first time on birth control, so I did not know what to expect. The first few months were normal, as if I wasn't on anything. However, I did start gaining weight, and my periods started coming later than they were supposed to. I started feeling down a lot more often, and it totally killed my sex drive, which sucks because that is why I started taking it. BUT it did do its job, so I can't really complain."