Ethinyl estradiol / norgestrel and Acne: What Users Say (Page 2)

• CHe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2015

For Birth Control "I began taking this pill 4 months ago to help with my PMD. The 2-3 weeks following my period, I had extreme irritability/anxiety. My periods were also very heavy and accompanied by severe cramps, extreme fatigue, and headaches. My doctor recommended this pill to level out hormones and help with cramps. This pill has been amazing. My periods are 3-4 days long and very light. I have NO cramps. My face has cleared up except for a couple of breakouts on my chin the last day or so of my period, but they are gone in a couple of days. I feel so much better on this pill. Incredibly lower levels of irritability/anxiety."

• Ano...
• January 23, 2020

For Birth Control "I had been on Low Ogestrel since I was 18, but never really got the hang of the hormones in the BC. I told my doctor and was switched to something else, and unfortunately that didn’t work out, it was absolutely terrible. When I asked to be switched back to Lo Ogestrel, they gave me Cryselle because they said it was basically the same. WRONG. Not only did I have more extreme mood swings, but it did not work with my body the way LO did. And the cherry on top? I broke out like crazy! It didn’t work for me, but that’s been my personal experience."

• Mag...
• May 8, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on this birth control for about 8 years, so I feel I can write a fair review. I started taking birth control in high school because my cycle was so painful and heavy. I had to miss school because of cramps. As soon as I started taking this (the generic version was called something else back then), my symptoms went away. I went from a 7-day heavy, painful period to a 3-4 day light period. I've always had acne, and I can't say this helped tremendously when I was in high school and college, now that I'm in my mid-20s, my acne is gone. I haven't noticed anything related to hormones on this pill. Yes, when my period is about to come, sometimes I'll get a little more emotional than I would during other parts of the month, but that would happen even if you weren't on the pill. The only thing I've noticed is that my libido is higher during the placebo week. I think birth control might kill libido a bit. Overall, if you have terrible period pains, I would recommend this pill. It really saves me every month."

• tgk...
• May 17, 2017

For Birth Control "I really love this birth control, but as someone else stated, I think it might be affecting my libido. I haven't noticed any weight gain at all since I've been using this. I have been on it for over two years and really have no true complaints. My skin is completely clear during my placebo week and relatively clear the rest of the time. But I still have some random nasty breakouts. This could just be my skin type though, and might not have anything to do with the birth control. I was on a high estrogen birth control before this, which negatively affected my mood, but I feel great on this one. I don't ever find myself feeling super moody, just my usual self. My period usually lasts 4 days, nothing bad at all. Overall, I recommend it."

• Ann...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 24, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm 18 and have been on Cryselle for around 3 years. I have 3-4 day periods that are generally pretty light and manageable. No weight gain or mood swings, but I've suffered from acne since I hit puberty and recently realized that my skin completely clears up during my placebo pill week. I really think that the hormones in Cryselle are what's been giving me such bad skin. Although I really like everything else about this pill, I'm switching to another next week that will hopefully improve my skin."

• Nik...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 3, 2018

For Birth Control "I started Cryselle as my first birth control drug. When I started, I bled on and off for about a month. After that, everything was great. Very regular periods lasting about 5 days with only 1-2 “heavy” days. Just experienced the normal teenage acne problems, nothing out of the ordinary. No cramps. Some weight gain but was also a part of growing out of adolescence. I’m 20 now and had to switch pills because over the past year, periods have gone down to about 3 days with very light cycles and have had pre-hypertension for about 2 years. Now my blood pressure qualifies for hypertension, so I switched in hopes it would come down. Also experienced breakthrough bleeding of brown discharge for two weeks straight. Assuming it was a lot of old blood that had accumulated. After switching, my body has finally let go of all that old blood (there was a lot), so just be mindful of that. Was on this pill for about 4 years and it was a good run."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 25, 2016

For Birth Control "Bad: I took it for about a year, then it gave me bad acne that automatically cleared away when I took a 2-week break from it, and automatically came back when I got back on it. It has also made my hair so dry, frail, and frizzy regardless of how good I take care of it. My blood pressure, anxiety, and mood swings also fluctuated when I was on and off this pill. Good: makes my periods ultra light, almost never cramp. Haven't gotten pregnant. Overall I would not recommend it if you can be on something else."

• ano...
• March 31, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been taking this pill for a month now due to unbalanced hormone levels. I wasn't getting my period (I got it 4 out of the 12 months in a year). My gynecologist made me double up on the pill, so it makes me extremely nauseous at times. I get horrible mood swings, and I've been breaking out, not badly though. Today was my 4th day on the sugar pill, and I finally got my period. It is very light, but I do have minor cramps."

• Sal...
• January 26, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Cryselle 28 (0.3 mg) for 1 year and 3 months since I was blessed with terrible period genes. My periods were extremely heavy (almost like hemorrhaging), were irregular, and would last for 7-10 days. Now, I can track my period and my flow is normal (lasts for 4-5 days). I struggled with acne on my chest and back, it cleared up within 2 months. Before I took the pill, I was a very happy, carefree, and lived-in-the-moment type of individual. The first month, I would cry my eyes out every night. The symptoms got worse until I hit 8 months, and now I'm struggling with anxiety and depression. I never dealt with anxiety or depression before, and it doesn’t run in my family, so I would not recommend this pill at all. I finally hit my breaking point not too long ago, and I’m switching to a different pill. Clearing up acne and helping my period was great and all, but mental health is extremely important, and Cryselle 28 took me to a place where I would never want to go back again."

• Jes...
• April 26, 2017

For Birth Control "I gave this pill a 5 because it did protect me from getting pregnant, so the pill does the job. Pros: easy to take. Protected me for 2 years. Did not gain any weight. Sex drive stayed normal. Cons: constant chin acne, bad PMS that would start a week after getting my period, so I felt like I never had a break. That food craving, sore breasts, emotional, angry feeling would pop up 2 weeks before my period even started. Basically, it was 1 week of normal and the rest was all hormonal. Overall, the pill does what you need it to do. Protects you from pregnancy. However, I can't take the emotions/acne, so I'm on the hunt for a new pill."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2019

For Birth Control "My doctor recommended I switch to this birth control about 2 months ago because of my worsening cramps on my period. This medication has worsened my anxiety, caused my depression to be through the roof, and made me break out with acne all over my face. My anxiety is so bad sometimes that I can’t even work up the courage to walk out of the door and go do things during the day. I had never struggled with acne in the past until I was put on this medication. Now I have acne scars and pimples all over my forehead that won’t go away even after getting medicine from a dermatologist. I am seeing my doctor on Friday to get off of this horrible birth control and get my life back on track. Do yourself a favor and NEVER go on this medication. It will make you hormonal and make you feel crazy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 4, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been taking this pill for 7 months. The first 3 months were the worst as my body was adjusting, and I was so bipolar and nauseous. Now... it honestly worsened my acne from mild to moderate, painful cysts. No weight gain. But honestly, this pill has left me an emotional wreck. If I'm not angry, I am sad or easily irritated. Happiness is rare. And I break out even worse during my period in places I never even broke out before. Not the worst, but not the best. Definitely switching pill brands."

• Anonymous
• May 14, 2011

For Birth Control "This really helped me for my period. Before this pill, my period was so bad, going on for 7-8 days, with serious pain for the first 4 days. I would take like 4 ibuprofen (in just 3 hours, NOT good), and it wouldn't help! But now my pain is mild to none, and that makes me happy. I was seriously hoping it would help lower my acne level though... but it gave me more, plus oily skin. Just as long as it keeps the pain away, I'll keep taking it."

• Bcc...
• May 24, 2014

For Birth Control "I switched to Cryselle after a terrible experience starting birth control with Junel. On that, I bled without break for months. So Cryselle seemed like a godsend when the bleeding stopped and I had no spotting between periods. Minimal side effects besides increased acne. My skin was fine before, but I've been on this pill for just under a year now and in recent months have developed horrible, painful cystic acne. I am looking into a new pill now."

• Bcc...
• May 24, 2014

For Birth Control "I switched to Cryselle after a terrible experience starting birth control with Junel. On that, I bled without break for months. So Cryselle seemed like a godsend when the bleeding stopped and I had no spotting between periods. Minimal side effects besides increased acne. My skin was fine before, but I've been on this pill for just under a year now and in recent months have developed horrible, painful cystic acne. I am looking into a new pill now."

• Tma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 4, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I was having abnormal bleeding due to ovarian cysts, so my gyno put me on birth control, even though I told her my body has never reacted well to any kind I’ve tried. I’ve been on it for 1.5 months now, and my breasts have already increased a full cup size, and they hurt so bad I have to put heat on them at night. My face was clear until I started Cryselle... I now have cystic acne and am currently icing my face to bring down the inflammation. The only positive thing I can say is I haven’t bled for almost 2 months, which is amazing, but I’d take abnormal bleeding anyway over these side effects."

• Ril...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 23, 2016

For Birth Control "I have had an awful experience on this pill. I switched to it 9 months ago, and since then I've gained about 15 lbs. It's given me terrible acne and headaches. I'm waiting for a different pill now, I can't wait to be off of this stuff. Everyone has different reactions to different BCs, but I would highly suggest using a different one if you can."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 4, 2018

For Birth Control "I would not recommend this pill. I've been on this pill for 5 years, and at the beginning, it was okay to use for my acne and to use for regular periods, but over time, my acne comes back horribly. I have severe anxiety and I hyperventilate. I absolutely have no sex drive. It's been making me beat myself up. My mind goes crazy all the time, overthinking. I have extreme anxiety and depression, and I have crazy mood swings. I realize that I've been changing the way that I am and being angry over small things, or I cry for super small things. I've also been having chest pains that I read are a side effect. I would not recommend this pill, and I'm deciding to go off as soon as my pack is up. I would not recommend it long term."

• Anonymous
• May 30, 2012

"This is my third month on this pill, and so far, it's really good. I have not experienced any bad acne or weight gain. My periods are much less painful, I don't have to take any painkillers during my period now! (Sometimes I took 2-4 Aleve a day to stop the pain.) I haven't experienced any nausea or discomfort, and I rarely have mood swings now."

• Anonymous
• July 7, 2011

For Endometriosis "I was on this birth control pill for four years. It shortened my period from 18 days to 7, stopped my cramps completely. I did not gain any weight or have any other symptoms. When I stopped taking it, within one month I gained 20 pounds, got acne, and my cramps are worse than before. My period was back up to 10 days after one month."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2019

For Birth Control "Stay far away from Low-Ogestrel-28, that is all I can say. This birth control has made me the most unhappy human being. I cry at random times, my mood swings are unreal, and I’ve gained so much weight. I’ve also started getting acne. I am switching asap."

• uni...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Cryselle for two months, and my overall experience has been pretty decent. The last birth control I was on made me extremely nauseous all the time. Cryselle, in my case, has only two cons. I have extremely sore breasts, and I have more acne."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 27, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on Cryselle for 5 years now. At first, it did its exact job, prevented pregnancy, and regulated my period. I became an emotional roller coaster once I got on the pill, but my mom and I always chalked it up to teenager issues (I got on it when I was 16). Once I got older and grew to realize that I was severely struggling with anxiety and depression, I felt it was best that I got off. I only got off a week ago, so I can’t say what side effects come yet, but I will say that this pill makes anxiety and depression so much worse than I could have ever expected! I also struggled with severe acne in high school. Never any weight gain though, but with the depression, I had severe body dysmorphia, and anorexia could have just kept my weight down."

• Pin...
• September 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for 3 months now, I think. My Dr. switched it up randomly, and it says it clears your skin, but honestly, my skin has been very bad since I started taking these. I have very bad breakouts, and I've never been this bad. My period has always been kind of normal and still is, but I have gained weight a lot too. Any recommendations?"

• Meg...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking this birth control when I was about 15 because I had such terribly painful and long periods. Almost immediately (it does take a few months for your body to adjust), it made my periods regular, short, and virtually no pain. I will admit if I take the pill hours late or forget a pill, my moods go crazy and my skin breaks out. If I take it perfectly, I love it so much. I'm now 27 and I've been in a serious relationship for 7 years and have had no pregnancy scares. I recommend this to anyone who is willing to take it perfectly at the same time every day and wants light periods. It is also free on my Carefirst health insurance plan."