Tri-Lo-Marzia and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• 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!"

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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!"

• Ort...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2019

For Acne "I'm on my first pack of Tri-Lo-Marzia. I just finished the 3 active weeks. I was switching from Ortho-Tri-Cyclen-Lo, and my concerns were: * weight gain * acne * loss of sex drive * shift in mood. My skin was probably my biggest worry, but it's possible my skin looks better than it did with Ortho-Tri-Cyclen-Lo. I have not gained any weight. Really not feeling any different re: appetite/ water retention/ cravings. Sex drive - I did not need to worry about a decrease here. This may be the biggest issue - I always thought I already had a high sex drive, but omg, this pill is making me a little too feisty. Wondering if my hormones are adjusting. Mood... the first few days I was a little road ragey, but it's possible I may have been anyway, but I felt a little different/ more unstable. That seems to have passed. Overall, still feeling like my happy, sometimes anxiety-filled self, but just a hyper-sexual version of myself."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 17, 2018

For Birth Control "The worst! New gyno suggested after I specifically requested Ortho Tri-Cyclen L. On this, I gained 29 lbs in 3 months. I work out 5 days a week and can’t lose 5 lbs. I’ve been depressed, moody, bloated, severe headaches, having anxiety, and either eating everything in sight or not eating at all. And absolutely no sex drive. I do not recommend this product to anyone. It also caused my lymph nodes to swell up. Please be extra careful when trying these pills. I just threw out my pills in the trash..."

• Yas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2019

For Birth Control "I was previously on Tri-Lo-Sprintec and got off of it after a few months due to it making me feel depressed, emotional, and as well had a low sex drive. I was put on the pill due to cramps and previous ovarian fibroids/cysts. I now switched to Tri-Lo-Marzia, and even though they have the same ingredients, same strength, I just wanted to try a different brand. I noticed when I started I was getting horrible stomach cramps. I do feel more bloated now and put on a couple of pounds. But other than the on-and-off stomach pains, the pill has worked well. No breakthrough bleeding, sex drive is good, no pregnancy scares, period is on time, and my mood is okay. Overall, not bad. Been on it for 3 months now."

• Mel...
• May 10, 2018

For Birth Control "Pros: Cramps that don't make me want to die, bleeding is okay, period lasts about 5 days but no heavy, heavy days like before. Cons: My breasts swelled, but get smaller if I work out. If that bothers you, then this birth control just isn't for you in my opinion. I did gain weight, not a whole lot but enough, and losing it is killer. I can get down about 5 pounds before I plateau with lots of exercise and a good diet. Once I stop exercising for a week, it climbs back up but never goes over my max. So that's nice. Before my period, I'm kind of moody, but I know how to regulate myself and make myself feel better. I do feel tired often and have trouble concentrating sometimes, but I can control it. The worst is my sex drive. I don't get wet hardly ever before sex, even with foreplay. Honestly, I'm not pregnant, I'm not severely overweight, and I'm not suicidal. Good for me."

• DGa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2019

For Birth Control "Worst experience ever. I have always been skeptical of birth control and never liked the idea of relying on a pill because of long-term effects. I decided to give this a try, and she gave me a very low dosage. At first, I was thrilled, and then after about one month, I started to wake up every single night at around 3-4 am crying and feeling incredibly nauseous. I would sit on my bathroom floor just waiting to throw up but never did. I also had no desire for sex with my boyfriend of 5 years now. I could not seem to get aroused and would be dry throughout the entire experience. It was really discouraging, and on top of that, I felt crazy. I was not feeling like myself and knew it was not like me. I would 1000 percent say do not go on this pill if you don’t have to. Do your research beforehand and figure out what works for you. Not going to lie, I am a little traumatized after this whole experience and haven’t been on anything for the last year now."

• geo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 18, 2019

For Birth Control "It cleared my acne perfectly, however, my sex drive, umm. Also, I still bleed very heavily, so it doesn't lessen the flow. I can't even orgasm because of this pill, but I’m still on it because it grows my boobs and my acne is controlled - I now have clear skin."

• geo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 18, 2019

For Birth Control "It cleared my acne perfectly, however, my sex drive, umm. Also, I still bleed very heavily, so it doesn't lessen the flow. I can't even orgasm because of this pill, but I’m still on it because it grows my boobs and my acne is controlled - I now have clear skin."

• ama...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2019

For Birth Control "I had taken Tri-Lo-Spintec for about a year, and then they changed it to Marzia because of some changes in the insurance, but they told me that since they both had the same ingredients, they should work the same. NOT AT ALL. At first, I was excited because on the other one I would get a bit of a headache on the first day of the pack, and it didn’t happen with Marzia. Still, four or five days after I started taking them, I started developing some discomfort in my vagina and eventually got a vaginal yeast infection. I couldn’t believe it since I take very good care of my hygiene. It came back the next month that I took a pack. Also, my period came a week late, lasted two more days than usual, and I had some pain (three things that are not usual in me). Sex has also been very uncomfortable. Definitely not my best experience."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 5, 2018

For Birth Control "In the beginning of taking this BC, it was not too bad. After a few months, I started experiencing side effects. I get cramps so bad I have to stop walking or stop any movement I'm making and just freeze until they go away. I also feel like I'm tired all of the time. Recently, I have been experiencing headaches and bloating. I've also noticed that ever since I have been on this birth control, I have an extremely low sex drive. I never did gain any weight, but I have been battling with crazy cravings. I have always had very bad hormonal acne, and after being on this birth control, I have noticed it cleared up some but not completely. I would be cautious if you are on this birth control. Give this birth control at least 3 months for your body to adjust. For me, I have given it a year, and it just keeps getting worse."

• WG1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2019

For Acne "My gyno suggested this birth control to help with adenomyosis pain. Although I haven't suffered from more serious acne in years, I appreciated the possible added benefit of clearing up my light, monthly hormonal pimples. Fast forward less than three months on this medication, and I have little red pimples all over my face, especially my cheeks, and even places I've never had zits, including my neck. Add in a decreased sex drive, increased anxiety and depression, and any “benefit” of less adenomyosis pain is out the window. I've stopped this med, requested a change of pill, and will just pop Ibuprofen until I find the right treatment. Tri-Lo-Marzia is not it for me!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 25, 2022

For Birth Control "Honestly, reading these reviews, I haven’t had the same experience. This is my first birth control, and so far, it’s been okay. I had some serious emotional issues in the beginning of taking it. My mood swings were crazy, and I would cry and complain a lot. But then, after that, everything has been fine, and my sex drive has been a little low, but it’s still there. (My boyfriend helps me with that, lol.) But honestly, for a first-time birth control, I think this birth control isn’t so bad. It has even cleared my cystic acne, which was severe."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2022

For Birth Control "I've been on this over 3 years now. My first experience with birth control. It has done the job. 4-5 day light periods. I do feel more emotional on it, but nothing crazy. I am switching pills only because I think it could be contributing to my fatigue. I have a low sex drive depending on where I'm at in the pill packet. Not good for trying to skip your period altogether. I tried once and ended up bleeding for 10+ days. Overall, it's a decent pill and is effective at preventing pregnancy, but there may be better options out there."

• Anonymous
• August 13, 2021

For Birth Control "I am only two weeks into my first pack, and I am horrible. This is so bad. My moods immediately shifted, and I became extremely irritable and had random sadness spells. I feel like I have gained 20 pounds, I’m not really sure how much, but I feel so heavy. I have vaginal dryness, low sex drive, and bad back pain. The only good thing that came from this so far is my skin is clearing up. I do not recommend this at all. Please take anything but this."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 4, 2022

For Birth Control "I haven't gotten many side effects from this, other than a loss of libido. I rarely want to have sex with my boyfriend, and when I do I stay dry. I also bled for almost a month and a half when I first started. I do get spotting every so often, which is annoying. I was on Blisovi Fe before and had even more frequent spotting."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 2, 2023

For Acne "This medicine quite literally ruined my life, to the point I thought I developed severe bipolar. I took it for about 2 years as a late teen, originally for my acne. It did half its job for my skin, but I definitely still got pimples regularly. On the other hand, I developed endometriosis after never having cramps before, had no sexual desire for my long-term boyfriend anymore (we eventually broke up due to this), became extremely angry and depressed, and I got nauseous almost weekly (even after multiple years). I didn’t realize how terribly the medication affected me until after stopping it— the “mental illness” I thought I had developed magically disappeared almost immediately. The only positives I have about this birth control are that it grew my boobs from an A cup to a C cup within a month and that I’m not pregnant (but I was still very safe, so I’m not sure I’d accredit that to the medicine). Everyone is different, but I would recommend anything else."

• Bmi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2018

For Birth Control "I absolutely hate this pill! It makes me so grumpy and totally kills my sex drive. I do not recommend anyone using it."