Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel and Acne: What Users Say

• Mon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 21, 2019

For Birth Control "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."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2020

For Birth Control "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."

• buc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2020

For Birth Control "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."

• ccf...
• November 18, 2013

For Birth Control "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."

• AVB...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 11, 2013

For Birth Control "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."

• Chr...
• July 23, 2019

For Birth Control "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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2013

For Birth Control "I recently just switched to this pill because I kept spotting and having heavy periods on the estrogen pills, but I have to say this pill is working great for me so far. I have little to no periods, the only place I gained weight was in my breasts, so that's cool, and my mood has been so stable I barely PMS anymore. The only negative is that I sometimes break out on my face a little bit before my period, but a few pimples over heavy bleeding and spotting in the past is no problem! Great pill, highly recommend it if you have heavy periods and want a lighter one."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2013

For Birth Control "I recently just switched to this pill because I kept spotting and having heavy periods on the estrogen pills, but I have to say this pill is working great for me so far. I have little to no periods, the only place I gained weight was in my breasts, so that's cool, and my mood has been so stable I barely PMS anymore. The only negative is that I sometimes break out on my face a little bit before my period, but a few pimples over heavy bleeding and spotting in the past is no problem! Great pill, highly recommend it if you have heavy periods and want a lighter one."

• Han...
• February 24, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been using this medicine, Cryselle, for almost two months. I cry or I am mad 24/7. I’m also having really severe cramping, which didn’t start till around my 2nd or 3rd week of taking them. If I don’t eat, I get nauseous but don’t throw up. Also, my skin is breaking out like it’s never have before. It’s making me think I’m pregnant, which is making everything worse, but I’ve gotten my period, so I think I’m fine."

• Sar...
• July 20, 2016

For Birth Control "Most of these reviews aren't so good, and most of the reviewers aren't giving their body enough time to adjust to the hormones. Your body is trying to get used to the pill, so that's why, during the first month, you may get some unpleasant side effects like mood swings and acne. I had nightmares for the first 3 weeks, sore breasts after that, and acne breakouts. My first period on Cryselle was horrible, the cramps were awful, but everyone's different. I'm still going to give my body the opportunity to adjust to Cryselle. If you're having some unpleasant side effects while on Cryselle, talk to your doctor, especially if it's something serious. But don't be quick to give up the pill because of things like acne and sore breasts. Things can improve!"

• Sar...
• July 20, 2016

For Birth Control "Most of these reviews aren't so good, and most of the reviewers aren't giving their body enough time to adjust to the hormones. Your body is trying to get used to the pill, so that's why, during the first month, you may get some unpleasant side effects like mood swings and acne. I had nightmares for the first 3 weeks, sore breasts after that, and acne breakouts. My first period on Cryselle was horrible, the cramps were awful, but everyone's different. I'm still going to give my body the opportunity to adjust to Cryselle. If you're having some unpleasant side effects while on Cryselle, talk to your doctor, especially if it's something serious. But don't be quick to give up the pill because of things like acne and sore breasts. Things can improve!"

• Len...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 19, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking this birth control for a year now. It is so not for me. My hair is falling out in clumps, my anxiety is terrible, I sometimes get 2-3 periods a month, and I’m getting acne in places I’ve never had acne. Not to mention I don’t usually gain so much weight, but I’ve gained more in this year than I ever have. 1/10 for effort, but if your doctor recommends this, RUN!"

• Emm...
• February 2, 2014

For Endometriosis "I started taking Cryselle almost 9 months ago to treat my endometriosis as well as to act as birth control. My OB-GYN instructed me to skip the placebos, and as a result, I have had virtually no cramping or breakthrough bleeding (common on my last pill). However, as she warned, I developed severe acne. The acne I could deal with, but the emotional side effects I cannot. I have become increasingly moody the longer I have been on Cryselle, especially around the time of my 'period.' I have also developed strong feelings of anxiety and depression. I had hoped when these symptoms began that they would lessen over time, but they have just increased in severity."

• Anonymous
• June 13, 2019

For Birth Control "This pill Cryselle is downright terrible. I could not give a more honest opinion. Yes, it does its job of protecting you from pregnancy, but the side effects are NOT worth it. I’ve been taking it a year and a half now, and not once in my life have I ever had acne until this pill. My face feels like a gravel road because my skin is so haggard. So that right there has ruined my self-confidence, and on top of that, I’m more depressed than I’ve ever felt in my whole life. Constant mood swings. I feel fat, pimple-ridden, moody, and all around awful. But hey, at least I’m not pregnant. Totally not worth it, ladies."

• Sum...
• October 28, 2013

For Birth Control "After being on Tri-Nessa for at least a decade with no problems, I was switched from Tri-Nessa to Low-Ogestrel because I was experiencing very heavy bleeding during my periods. The Low-Ogestrel did fix the heavy bleeding but at a cost. I've been on L.O. for 6 months and have been experiencing depression, mood swings, acne on my chin, and pimples on my scalp. At first, I attributed these things to the beginning of menopause, but after really thinking about it, it just seemed too coincidental that these things began when I began taking a different pill. This morning, I googled 'side effects of Low-Ogestrel' and am finding pages of stories just like mine. I already have a call into my Dr. and will switch pills."

• Sum...
• October 28, 2013

For Birth Control "After being on Tri-Nessa for at least a decade with no problems, I was switched from Tri-Nessa to Low-Ogestrel because I was experiencing very heavy bleeding during my periods. The Low-Ogestrel did fix the heavy bleeding but at a cost. I've been on L.O. for 6 months and have been experiencing depression, mood swings, acne on my chin, and pimples on my scalp. At first, I attributed these things to the beginning of menopause, but after really thinking about it, it just seemed too coincidental that these things began when I began taking a different pill. This morning, I googled 'side effects of Low-Ogestrel' and am finding pages of stories just like mine. I already have a call into my Dr. and will switch pills."

• Lau...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 17, 2019

For Birth Control "Overall, Cryselle is a good birth control. Periods are light and last only a few days at the same time each month. Hasn’t helped with my acne, but that’s okay. My cramps have been worse, but not sure if that’s linked to the pill."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 20, 2019

For Birth Control "(18F) Before starting this Cryselle, I had 7-8 day-long periods with awful cramps (to the point of passing out). To make a future point, I also had zero acne and no family history of acne. About a month in, my acne got so bad I never considered the cause was Cryselle (Norgestrel 0.3 mg, ethinyl estradiol 0.30 mg). My periods were so light and only lasted 2 days. Never had any cramps, and I felt like I could live my life. But my acne was all over my body, and it hurt to even put glasses on. After a year on antibiotics for the acne (which helped a lot), the acne came back when my only medication was this birth control. Finally, after 1.5 years, I switched to Sprintec (Norgestimate 0.25 mg, ethinyl estradiol 0.035 mg) instead, it has a different type of progestin and slightly more estradiol. Now, my acne is completely gone. When I read reviews saying the medication has no effect on acne, don’t always trust them. Was even told this by my doctor. Make sure to pay close attention to changes in your body. Also gained 35 pounds very quickly."

• Dol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2013

For Birth Control "I was switched to this medication after being on a birth control that worked wonders for me. My doctor was sure it would help me with some of my skin issues, such as eczema. However, it made everything a million times worse! Not only did my skin break out in rashes on my wrist and face, I had pimples all over my body, had horrible morning sickness to the point where I could barely eat anything all day, and it made me extremely moody. I was told that the pill caused my hormones to go out of whack and sent me into a state like a pregnant teenager. It was horrible. If they work for you, that's great, but they're not for me."

• sam...
• October 30, 2015

For Endometriosis "I was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis and had a chocolate cyst that was removed 6 months ago. However, excruciating pain and cramps persisted. I was so drained all the time and attributed it to my busy schedule. A month ago, I went to the OB-GYN because my cramps became daily. They found a lemon-sized cyst on the right ovary and told me to go on Cryselle for 4 months to shrivel it. Before I could start taking it, I had a horrible bout of pain, fever, nausea, and dizziness that felt like my endo symptoms. I think my cyst burst because the persistent pain was gone. Doc said to take Cryselle anyway. The first week, I got a few big pimples and expected to gain weight and be moody. It did the opposite, felt like my old self, energetic and happy!!"

• Anonymous
• August 20, 2015

For Birth Control "The only benefit to the birth control is that it prevents pregnancy. It has caused me major mood swings (anger and sadness), pain in my breasts, and acne breakouts. I have never had issues with acne, even as a teen. It's not worth it."

• Deb...
• July 8, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Cryselle for 2.5 months now. I've had acne all my life and had finally gotten it under control before starting Cryselle. It's out of control again. Additionally, I've had some serious anxiety, depression, mood swings. I cry all the time and have irrational obsessive, anxious thoughts. The benefits definitely did not outweigh the costs. My GYN is switching my prescription."

• Mar...
• October 14, 2014

For Birth Control "I have tried a few pills before, and this one was the worst. I would sweat constantly during the day and even wake up sweating. The acne I got was pretty bad as well. I was taken off the medicine when I reported to my doctor horrible headaches and seeing auras, which is a really bad sign of serious problems to come. All bad side effects aside, I did not get pregnant while on Cryselle, however, this pill was not right for me."

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

For Birth Control "I've been on these for 6 months. I'm a very petite person, and ever since I was 17, I've had crazy bad cramps and acne. I've tried a few different kinds of pills, but the Low-Ogestrel-28 pills made me sick. Cramps never went away and even got worse. My acne got good within a few months, but then got bad again. My sex drive has decreased, and I hate that. It also has messed with my hormones, and I'm already emotional, so I'm ten times more upset when I don't need to be. I don't have a good appetite anymore, and it makes me more sick. It also made me throw up when I take them too late. My period goes from 4 days to 2 days, then a week, it's all over the place, and I would like a steady cycle. So, in all, these pills are too over the place, not really helpful."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2013

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "So I've been taking this pill for two months, and right off, I got some bad side effects. I'm always tired and moody. I lose my appetite, or I'm just too nauseous to eat. I even have more freckles and got acne, which I didn't have before. The only good that came out of this pill is I get my period, and I lost weight."