Tri-Previfem and Acne: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• November 18, 2011

For Acne "I didn't care for this at all. It didn't control my periods at all, I still had my 7-day-long periods when other birth controls I have taken controlled it by the most 5 days, and I feel like my mood swings were severe where I was scared of myself, not normal. My acne seemed to be worse than usual. I stuck with it for a year to see if any changes would happen, and nothing changed, so I swapped birth control."

• Sab...
• July 10, 2015

For Birth Control "I have only been on this birth control for almost a month. Immediately after the first few pills, my breasts began to get very tender, and they have definitely grown a bit. I'm having terrible stomach pains, bloating, nausea, I'm constantly sad. My acne got worse, but I haven't gained any weight. I've been spotting for about 2 days now, but I'm not supposed to start my period until next Friday. Hopefully, all is well, and it's just my body getting used to the hormones. However, if these symptoms do not clear up within the next month, I'm going to try to switch or just stay off of the pill. I'm going insane due to the fact that I feel like I'm pregnant, but I'm hoping it's just the birth control side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 14, 2016

For Birth Control "I was switched from Sprintec to Previfem by the company who ships my birth control (my insurance required them to be mailed). I have been on Sprintec for 5 years with no problems. I was on vacation with my fiancé when I started the first week of my new pills. All was good until the second week of taking these pills. I started to have horrible cramps, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, sore breasts, acne, and a very bad anxiety problem. I would compare it to pregnancy symptoms on steroids. I called the mailing company and asked why they suddenly switched when my prescription was specifically for Sprintec, and they couldn't answer me. Needless to say, I was in a panic until I found that other women had experienced the same thing."

• Anonymous
• October 9, 2015

For Acne "I've only been on this for two weeks, and my acne is a million times worse. I'm so embarrassed to go in public because it's never been this bad before. Is it normal for it to make it worse before better? I also have not stopped bleeding since I had my period. What is going on?"

• ttt...
• March 9, 2016

For Acne "Absolutely do NOT take this. I have never had acne, and the second I started taking it, my chin exploded into pimples everywhere! Not to mention how depressed I was and the anxiety it gave me. I also had no libido whatsoever! Definitely do NOT recommend, this is horrible!"

• Anonymous
• July 25, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm 19 years old and started taking this birth control after my first one worked perfectly for a few months, until I began to get my period every 8 days. I've been on this pill for about two weeks, and I already hate it. I'm constantly moody, depressed, and overly emotional. It's affecting my relationship with my family, friends, and boyfriend. It doesn't help with acne, I've never had acne until I began taking this. I also have severe pain every day in my lower stomach area."

• Bee...
• October 10, 2016

For Birth Control "Even though this pill worked as intended to prevent pregnancy, I wouldn't recommend it based on the side effects I experienced. I had been on Sprintec for about a year (which I love) when there was a mix-up at the drug store and I got this instead. I decided to stick with it for three months to see if the symptoms cleared, and they did not. My period lasted longer than usual, and I experienced crippling pain during it. I started to break out in acne on my face and body, and I was having a difficult time controlling my emotions, and I became upset all the time. Do yourselves a favor and just use Sprintec!!"

• Via...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 4, 2016

For Acne "I was on this birth control for at least 6 months, and my acne has gotten worse. It's now evolved to big cystic pimples before and after my period, and they stick around for at least two weeks at a time. Majority on my chin, but I have had a couple on my forehead in between my eyebrows, which I still have the scar. It's gotten to the point where I still have pimples from the previous breakout, and new ones formed right next to them. Also, this medication has made my cramps worse. I have switched from the brand."

• Mar...
• April 12, 2016

For Acne "Still cannot get rid of this acne. I took this for a month, and my face went from having 2 pimples to a full-blown breakout. Acne everywhere. Ruined my skin. I heard it gets worse before it gets better, but my skin was already great, so this did nothing but ruin it. Now I've been off it for almost a month, and my face is slowly healing, but these scars are everywhere :(. Don't take this birth control."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2019

For Acne "I've been on this Tri-Previfem birth control since April, and my face has never been more broken out. I have never really had bad acne, but now I have it all around my mouth, and it's very painful. I have tried many face washes and creams to get rid of it, but nothing has worked. I also have terrible mood swings that started when I got on the pill. Definitely would not recommend at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2013

For Birth Control "I was previously on Tri-Sprintec for years when my pharmacy started carrying Tri-Previfem. I switched, thinking it would affect me the same. However, I started getting headaches often, feeling weak, my face broke out, and I had spotting. I know that these effects may come when switching brands, but when I switched from Ortho TriCyclen Lo to its generic, then back to brand, then to Tri-Sprintec, I have never had any problems. I am a pharmacy technician, and I have had several customers that have had trouble when switching to Previfem or Tri-Previfem. I will be switching back to Tri-Sprintec once the pharmacy special orders it."

• kbr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Tri-Previfem going on my fourth month. I have noticed an increase in breast size, extra water weight, tenderness in breasts, along with nausea and headaches. It doesn't seem to be cooperating with my body, but I haven't gotten pregnant, which is good. I don't get pimples as much as I used to, and I'm more emotional. This is my first time on birth control, and I am not satisfied with it. I will be going back to my doctor for a change."

• Soo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2016

For Birth Control "This is my 4th month after switching from Ortho Tri-Cyclen to Tri-Previfem due to my insurance and availability, and I am miserable. For preventing pregnancy, sure, the pill works. But for anything else, it is horrible. I have gained several pounds over the last month and have not changed anything about my lifestyle. My face is breaking out along my chin nearly every day. I am having constant serious mood swings. I am antisocial, and I have no sex drive. I have considered ending my year-long relationship for the tiniest reasons, and I am horrible to my family. I have never had mental health issues before I took this pill, and I am hoping stopping will help me return to my normal self..."

• Lau...
• July 23, 2016

For Acne "Well, I said I would be back. :) I check this too much anyway! I'm now on my second month, about to start my third week tomorrow. I am pretty sure my body noticed that I was going on a higher dose of estrogen because I broke out. I have been broken out around the cheeks, but I just broke out on my forehead. :'( The biggest thing about this medicine is the depression, and even bigger, the anxiety. I still have a sex drive, but my anxiety is unbearable! I can't think straight. I can't relax even though I try. I'm staying on it, obviously, seeing as it hasn't even been 3 months yet, and I would do just about anything to have acne not be a problem. I start school in the second week of August. Please wish me luck!"

• chy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2016

For Acne "I have been on birth control for about 15 years (I don't want kids and can't get permanent birth control because I have never had kids). Anyways, my pills I have been taking for years got switched to Tri-Previfem two months ago, and I was told by the pharmacist it was exactly the same as my old pills. The first month, my breasts swelled so much and hurt so bad, that lasted a few days. I also got really bad cramps, like nothing I have felt before (remind you, I have been on birth control for about 15 years). This month, I noticed acne on my chin and cheek. I am 34 years old and have never had more than one occasional pimple at a time on my face in my life. I will not be taking this pill any longer. Hope this helps anyone looking to try it."

• jeg...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 8, 2016

For Birth Control "I went on this pill about 4 or so years ago and did not have too many issues. I occasionally broke out from time to time and I did gain a little weight over the last few years, but I think that's more my fault for living off a college diet and not exercising like I should have. I went on the pill almost as soon as I became sexually active and have not had any pregnancy scares, so it did that job in that respect. It also kept my periods regular and fairly short (about 4 days). However, around the time of my period, I experienced extremely bad headaches (sometimes migraines accompanied with vomiting), so my doctor just switched me over to a new pill recently. But other than that, I've had no complaints and would recommend this birth control."

• Bug...
• November 5, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on Tri-Previfem for almost a year, and I love it. I originally did the Depo shot, and it made me gain a lot of weight, but this did not make me gain any weight. My skin has cleared up completely, I have no acne, and I used to have cystic acne. My periods are very light and very regulated, plus I haven’t gotten pregnant, so I know it works in that area too. I definitely recommend this birth control. I weigh 135 pounds, and I’m about 5’6” just for reference."

• Oct...
• April 6, 2020

For Acne "My body is not taking this pill well thus far. I started out my BC journey with Tri-Lo Marzia, which worked for about 5-6 months, and then it stopped working as effectively. That's when I was upgraded to the Ortho Tri-Cyclen instead of Lo, a generic called Norgee by Glenmark, which was amazing! Cleared up my acne so well, I even forgot I had acne. And now I'm having a stint where I'm breaking out bad. My pharmacy now carries Tri-Previfem, and my forehead has gotten much worse on this pill. I also have cysts on my chin and tiny nodular bumps that are all over my forehead and now spreading down to my nose and chin area. I'm not sure whether I should stay the course of the pack. On one hand, it's only been a week on this, but my acne has gotten really worse this week! On the other, my body may only be freaking out because it's a new thing, I don't know. But for now, I'll keep taking it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2016

For Acne "I am starting my 4th month on this birth control today. I was originally on Aviane for 3 months, but it broke my face out horribly, so my doctor switched me to this. At first, the results were not good, but by the end of my third month using Tri-Previfem, my face was clearer than it had been in months! Flawless, actually. Give it time if you're using this birth control to clear up acne. By the end of month 3, I was delighted with my results!"

• Ish...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2016

For Acne "I've been taking it for three months now, and a week after starting it, my breasts got really sore. I don't know about weight gain, but I'm only getting really tiny pimples, which are normally gone by the end of the next day. Doesn't make me dry down there either. Sex drive is normal. I just feel a lot tired, and my head hurts occasionally, but that might just be the changing weather! Since I haven't been taking it for long, I think I'm going to wait two months or so and see how it treats me :)"

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 5, 2015

For Acne "I started taking this about a year ago, and boy I didn't realize how good it was until I switched to another medicine. I started taking Avianne two weeks ago on a fluke when I switched Dr.'s and tried a new RX, and wow is it terrible! Avianne has made me gain 5 lbs in 2 weeks, break out, have a longer period, and be extremely moody. It made my boobs a little bigger, which I liked, but in no way is that worth the trade-off. I just called my Dr. requesting to be put back on Tri-Previfem, which regulated my periods and did not make me gain weight. I have always heard horror stories about what birth control can do to you, but I never experienced it until I left Tri-Previfem. Can't wait to get back on it!"

• Ebs...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 18, 2016

For Birth Control "This birth control worked fine for the first 3 months I was on it. But then I started getting large, vicious acne on my face, which is super unusual for me! I never had a problem with acne, not even in middle or high school. So horrible that now that I'm in college, I am having to deal with near cystic acne. Not to mention the horrible, severe depression that I suffered from and am still trying to overcome after being off this pill for about 2 weeks. It almost ended my year-long relationship. However, my boyfriend and I never had protected sex, and I never had a pregnancy scare. But, I will say that the pill is different for everyone!!"

• Anonymous
• February 12, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for about 3 months, no pregnancy scares, and helps with my period a little bit, but it usually makes me feel nauseous after I take it, and I have been breaking out more."

• mad...
• November 5, 2015

For Acne "I started taking the BC 2 weeks ago, and I was very scared to start the pill. I started taking it because I was having the most irregular and painful periods ever, but this pill in no way has helped. My breasts are so sore I have to take medication, my face is breaking out so badly one of my relatives said the pill was 'destroying my complexion.' And worse of all, I'm experiencing cramps that are worse than I had before. Horrible headaches are keeping me from going to gymnastics practices, and it's causing my anxiety to get worse (I already had pretty bad anxiety). So, acne, headaches, cramps, painful breasts... wasn't this supposed to help me?"

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2019

For Acne "I started taking this in hopes of clearing my skin up a little more. I have always struggled with acne here and there, but nothing terrible. Within the first month, my face severely broke out all around my jaw and mouth. I gave it two full months, but it just kept getting worse. It also made my face very puffy and swollen. I have a thyroid condition, and at least four people told me to get it checked because of how swollen my face got. It was completely normal. I am not sure if it was my acne that made me anxious, but I was very emotional. I am now on Accutane to clear my skin up, and I just got the Skyla IUD because of the lower hormones. But everyone’s body is different, so what may not work for one person may work great for others!"