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Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel for Birth Control User Reviews

Brand names: Cryselle, Low-Ogestrel-28, Elinest, Turqoz Ogestrel 0.5/50

Rating: 5.3

Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel has an average rating of 5.3 out of 10 from a total of 299 reviews for the treatment of birth control. 37% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 41% reported a negative experience.

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16%
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14%
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2%
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8%
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5%
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9%
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11%
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22%

Reviews for Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Mon...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • December 21, 2019

"I have been on this medication for years and I am switching to a new one to have a period every 3 months. I googled the new one and got freaked out because of all the negative reviews, so I thought I would google the one I am on now. I have had no issues with it at all. No moodiness, no anxiety, no acne, no weight gain. It works like a dream. My periods were awful before Cryselle and this helped it so much. So this is for all those out there looking up google reviews and freaking out like I did. Trust your doctor, give it a try, if you notice bad symptoms talk to them. You should never stay on a medication for close to a year if it is no good. It does not take your body that long to regulate. I hope this post is helpful."

10 / 10
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131 Report
  • Bro...
  • March 19, 2018

"I was one of those girls who has anxiety over trying new medicines. I looked up everything online and got scared easily. However, I have been on Cryselle for four years now. And I love it. A lot of people share the negative stories behind it, but I want to share my good experience. I have not gained weight from this drug at all, no mood swings or anything like that. My periods went from being 7-8 days of hell to 4-5 days of livable periods. The only downside (and this isn't even that bad) is that my breasts have become more tender a few days before my period. That's it. No crazy cramps or bad blood clots. This was the first birth control I tried, and it worked well for me. Everyone reacts differently, but I wanted to share my good experience and possibly get rid of some girls' anxiety about this pill."

9 / 10
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51 Report
  • sar...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 22, 2021

"This pill was so hard on me physically and mentally. I had 0 health complications before getting on this pill. Within 1 month on the pill, I experienced: severe nausea, hot flashes, and sweating in my sleep every night, loss of appetite, constipation, complete loss of energy (I could not do ANYTHING, not even cook dinner, like my body just did not want to move). I was tired ALL the time. 3 months on the pill: EXTREME heart palpitations, my RESTING heart rate was 140. I had EXTREME anxiety, paranoia, depression, and suicidal thoughts that completely crippled me and made me homebound for a month. I went to the ER several times because I truly thought there was something seriously wrong with me. My glucose level went up to 200. I developed high blood pressure. I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience, I wasn't myself AT ALL. It took me 7 weeks after I quit the pill to go back to feeling normal."

1 / 10
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23 Report
  • Car...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 6, 2020

"Do not recommend this birth control, Elinest, it made me severely depressed to the point I had to receive help. I also had hot flashes, spotting, migraines, mood swings, acne, water retention, and nausea. I was only on it for 4 months, but that was enough time for me to completely lose myself. I hope this helps someone else going through the same roller coaster."

1 / 10
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23 Report
  • buc...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 28, 2020

"When I first started this birth control, I was extremely skeptical considering all of the reviews seemed to be negative. Prior to trying Cryselle, I was on 5 other birth control pills but had bad reactions to all of them. Severe acne, anxiety, depression, and non-stop spotting were some of the side effects I had on other pills. When I tried Cryselle, I had the best results yet. Light, little to no periods, no weight gain, no acne, no changes in mood. The first few weeks, I felt a little fatigued, but it went away after a month or two. If you are skeptical about going on this birth control, I recommend giving it a go. It was definitely worth it, and it's been the best birth control I've ever been on, with no noticeable side effects."

10 / 10
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21 Report

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  • ccf...
  • November 18, 2013

"I am 25 and began taking Cryselle for birth control. I've had oily skin and moderate acne since puberty. I've been using topical medicines to treat my acne for two years. The first month taking Cryselle, I broke out horribly the week of my period. We're talking the worst pimples I've ever had-the kind that throb when you bend over. The second month, I had no breakout. I have not had a single blemish in the past 4 months of taking Cryselle. Mood swings are mild to unnoticeable. Even though there may be lots of ladies with bad experiences with this birth control, don't be afraid to try it. Cryselle has turned out to be very good for me and cleared my skin. Just be patient, give it at least 2 months before quitting."

9 / 10
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43 Report
  • Ash...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 7, 2014

"This is my second month taking Low-Ogestrel. Definitely has helped with hormonal acne breakouts. Still get a pimple every once in a while when I'm stressed, and it's around my period. The only thing I'm concerned about is having a brown discharge instead of my period during the placebo week."

7 / 10
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37 Report
  • Anonymous
  • November 6, 2011

"This pill has done nothing but cause me problems. My skin is oily, I have really bad mood swings, I have gained 6 pounds, and I'm constantly crying over any little thing. I find a reason to argue with my boyfriend over ANYTHING. I'm seriously thinking about stopping the pill."

2 / 10
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45 Report
  • Man...
  • August 4, 2014

"I was on Lo-Ogestrel and was very happy with it, but my doctor stopped carrying it and prescribed me Cryselle, saying it was the same thing. I've been on it for almost 6 months now and am just as happy as I was with Lo-Ogestrel. My period used to be really heavy and lasted a week before I was on birth control. Now it lasts 5 days and is pretty light to moderate depending on which day I'm on in my cycle, never heavy. No breakthrough bleeding, no crying jags, no acne, no weight gain. The only thing that happens to me is the first few days of a new pack, I get nauseous after taking the pill. But I get nauseous easily."

9 / 10
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31 Report
  • Liz...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • August 29, 2019

"I’ve been on Cryselle 28 for a while, at least 4 years, probably even longer. I went on birth control originally because I had really heavy, long periods with intense cramps. My first birth control (BC) pill stopped helping after I had been on it for a while, which is when I was put on Cryselle, and I’ve been on it ever since. My periods are regulated and come at the same exact time every month. I get slight cramping here and there but nothing bad. It’s done its job in preventing pregnancy, I haven’t had any skin issues or noticed any changes in my mental health. When taking all of these reviews into consideration, I suggest that in order to find a BC that’s best suited for you and your body, discuss the options with your gyno and try them out for yourself because your body may react to the medication in a completely different way than somebody else’s, as we can see from the wide variation of reviews."

10 / 10
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20 Report
  • car...
  • January 29, 2012

"I have been on Low-Ogestrel-28 for a year now, and I am very happy with it. Before getting on birth control, I would have heavy periods, and my cramping was horrible. It was irregular too. Now I get my period exactly every 28 days. I don't cramp at all, and I do not have any side effects at all. My boyfriend and I feel safe with this birth control, and I haven't had any bad experience with it. I will continue to use this until I decide to have kids."

10 / 10
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36 Report
  • Thi...
  • March 24, 2013

"I have been taking this pill for about 7 months now, and I thought that all the side effects it was giving me were something else, so I just ignored them. Until now, when I finally hit it on the head and realized all my weird mood swings and everything are from this pill. I'm going to my doctor to switch. Every day I'm so depressed and want to cry all the time. I've lost interest in social activities, and some days all I can do is lay in bed all day from fatigue and exhaustion over doing nothing. My skin is extremely oily, and my hair that was once very thick is falling out. The smallest things irritate me, and on my period it feels like the world is ending. I have difficulties breathing, dizzy spells, huge cravings for junk food."

3 / 10
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41 Report
  • Bir...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 31, 2020

"I’m so glad I found this page with so many Cryselle reviews to see I wasn’t alone. I’m a generally happy person, but once I started taking this birth control, I started to experience VERY severe depression, anxiety, and I was very moody. I even considered seeing a psychiatrist because of how horrible I started feeling. Everyone around me noticed the changes in me. Seeing everyone else’s reviews helped me and encouraged me to change my birth control after seeing I wasn’t the only one experiencing this."

1 / 10
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18 Report
  • AVB...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • December 11, 2013

"I absolutely love this birth control pill, worked great for me. I had no weight gain, I had a regular/short period with no cramps! It also helped a lot with my acne, while on the pill, I had no acne and very clear skin, but now that I'm off, I wish I was still on the pill just for that reason."

10 / 10
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31 Report
  • YRa...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 10, 2014

"Today marks the second month I've been on this pill. In the beginning, it was fine except that my face was breaking out really bad. I thought I would deal with that until about a week or so ago. I started getting terrible mood swings. I can't stand the person who sits next to me at work, I can't stand my boyfriend, my friends, anyone. I thought I was just having a bad week until the past two days when I couldn't stop crying and would randomly burst out crying in public places! I called my doctor, and she told me to get off the pill immediately. I will sign back on and let you know how I feel a week from now!"

9 / 10
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33 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 19, 2013

"I was given this pill as a second option because I felt the other pill I was taking was causing me to gain weight. I notice that with this pill, I was not happy. Not with the pill, but my personality drastically changed. I was moody, irritable, emotional, and downright a pain to be around. I have stopped taking it a week ago, just to see if my mood would improve, and it has. I would say stay away from this pill if you are under stress, as it will add to that negative side of your life."

1 / 10
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35 Report
  • buc...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • December 7, 2018

"I had a Mirena before I switched to this, which made my life a living hell. I told my doctor I had really bad emotional side effects from the Mirena, and she prescribed me this. I've now been on it for about 3 years, and I love it. It gives me no mental side effects or mood swings. It doesn't give me acne, and I have never spotted on my active weeks. I honestly don't even have anything negative to say about this, it's honestly worked super well for me."

10 / 10
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17 Report
  • tlr...
  • May 10, 2011

"I have been on Lo/Ovral since I was 18. I was taking the other generic, Low-Ogestrel, up until last month. The pharmacy switched generics. Ever since I started taking Cryselle, I have cramps constantly and always feel bloated."

4 / 10
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33 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 12, 2024

"I came to leave a review after reading all of the negative reviews prior to starting this pill and feeling extremely discouraged/anxious about taking it. I spent the last year trying to find a birth control that didn't make me severely depressed, anxious, gain weight or break out. This pill was my last hope with oral contraceptives as I was ready to give up. I finally feel I have found a pill that doesn't make me feel like I am going insane. My depression and anxiety has almost completely disappeared, I feel the happiest I have ever been. My periods are so light with zero cramping and my skin is the clearest it has ever been. I know everyone reacts to birth control pills differently but I came to leave a positive review in hopes to give someone a little peace of mind if they are being prescribed Elinest"

10 / 10
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5 Report
  • Chr...
  • July 23, 2019

"I was on Cryselle for about a year before I was switched to Low-Ogestrel. This pill nearly ruined my life! Within the first month, I gained nearly 40 lbs. Then came the moodiness and apathy. By May, I felt literally insane. I had crippling anxiety, had zero interest in intimacy with my fiancé, and ended up in the ER with panic attacks. It was determined that I was estrogen dominant. *A pill only doesn't have to be exactly alike, just within a certain range to be called “equivalent.”* While I’m sure Cryselle didn’t help, things spiraled on this pill. I was prescribed medications for anxiety and depression; I have NEVER experienced either of these in my life. I am now on multiple regimens to bring down my estrogen and regulate my hormones. I have lost half the 40 pounds in 3 weeks and am dealing with acne and weird body odor as my body gets rid of whatever was in this pill. The reviews mentioning anxiety especially definitely held true for me."

1 / 10
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19 Report
  • Anonymous
  • February 4, 2012

"I have had a fantastic experience with Cryselle. I take the pill before I go to bed every night and have never had a side effect. I have been on Cryselle for 26 months and have never gotten pregnant. Prior to taking Cryselle, my cycle was random and rarely hit at the same time each month, but since being on the birth control, my cycle is constant. I highly recommend this birth control."

10 / 10
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32 Report
  • Anonymous
  • December 13, 2011

"I was on Apri for a while and had no problems with it, but early this year I had a problem with my periods and was possibly diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), but my OBGYN disagreed. However, she switched my birth control to Low-Ogestrel-28. My period is super light and very short. I'm a model/bodybuilder and have had no acne/weight gain, which is very important for me. And still maintain a high libido. LOVE it. Almost afraid to switch. Would only switch to get less periods a year. However, my period was replaced with a brown discharge, which was concerning but got it confirmed as normal."

9 / 10
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29 Report
  • Sha...
  • May 2, 2014

"I can't rate this a 10 because nothing works perfectly. But this is the best birth control that I have been on this far. I am 26 years old, and I have been on 2 birth control pills previously that had not worked out nearly as well as Cryselle. I developed, as I was taking the other birth control pills, many ovarian cysts, which led to spotting and constant pain. I also rarely got my period, even while taking the placebo pills. My doctor switched me to this, and I regularly get a period now and have little to no pain. For me, this is the best thing that has happened to me."

9 / 10
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29 Report
  • Liz...
  • March 4, 2014

"I switched to Cryselle two months ago because my periods were very heavy on my old birth control. Since switching to Cryselle, my periods are very light, I have very little cramping, my face has been clearer, and I have been headache-free. I wish that I had switched sooner."

9 / 10
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24 Report
  • Anonymous
  • July 5, 2013

"I was terrified of starting birth control due to the horror stories I had heard from other women in the past. I am a small person, and due to this, I had very irregular periods. I would suffer from premenstrual syndrome for weeks on end before my period would actually start. Most times, I would have to take a progestin supplement to actually get my period. This started happening more and more often and started really affecting my life. I spoke to my doctor, and she put me on Cryselle. This has changed my life. It's been 3 and a half months, and I have had no side effects, no weight gain, and my period is regular and short every month. It's given me the positive change I needed so badly!"

9 / 10
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27 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.