Heather for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 2)

• Sma...
• February 21, 2018

"I cannot use birth control with estrogen due to migraines. I have been on this pill for just over a year. At first, it was great. Mild or no periods at all. But about 8 months after I began taking it, I started having a period every 2 weeks. It is just as heavy and painful as it was pre-birth control. Not a fan of Heather anymore."

• Sus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2020

"I have been on many different pill birth controls in the last 15 years. I have stopped the pills both times when I was prepared to have my 2 kids. My baby is only 7 months old, and now even on Heather birth control, I’m pregnant again... now I take my pills religiously and NEVER, I mean NEVER, MISS a pill! I have an alarm on my phone and take my pill every night. I am extremely sad about this news, and I can’t believe birth control has failed me. After all these years... I knew this pill was weird, it wasn’t regulating my period, coming at random times of the month, not the last week of the pill pack. This is by far the worst experience on the pills I’ve had. I never thought birth control pills were different from others, but here we are, and I can’t even believe I’m pregnant."

• Joj...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 5, 2022

"I switched to Heather after finding out I had factor IV. I would not recommend this pill. I recently stopped taking the pill because it completely changed me. After 7 months, I experienced hair loss at the front of my head, bad depression, bloating, bad digestion, and headaches. I had so little energy and motivation that I knew I had to get off this pill immediately. I am now using natural cycles and condoms, since the mini pill or progesterone was my only choice in birth control due to my condition. I decided to go the natural route. Feeling like myself now."

• Sno...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2021

"The absolute worst birth control ever! I have PCOS and took Yasmin for over 20 years for treatment. Worked amazing. Now back on the Syeda, generic for Yasmin. Took Heather for 4 months and experienced horrendous bloating and water retention. I felt constipated most of the time and would weigh myself every day with the same scale. I would gain 10 lbs in one day!! Miserable! Also experienced back pain. Also, very irregular bleeding cycles. The water retention was horrible. I have been a size 4 for over 10 years, and if you want a birth control that works as a diuretic, choose Yasmin. Never experienced these symptoms with this one. I am back on it now and happy."

• Kic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2019

"Been on Heather, one of the progestin-only birth control pills. Before taking this medication, I barely had a period, maybe 2 days long. And I was like a clock, every 30 days. Now I get random periods every 2-3 weeks that last 8 days and are super heavy. It has really interfered with romance. And I get cramps now too, which I barely had before. Would not recommend."

• kyl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2017

"The pill is effective in the sense of I'm not pregnant, but I got a lot of adverse effects. I got switched to the Heather pill after my pharmacy didn't carry the generic version. After 2 months of use, I started to get some adverse effects. It started with random spotting every day, and I couldn't lose weight. They were irritating, but I continued use. It wasn't until I started getting headaches, becoming confused, and couldn't concentrate where it became a problem. I broke out in a rash for a few days, and I have been emotionless. I would say use at your own risk."

• Moa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2021

"Initially, it seemed like a great option for me, a 30s black woman with 2 children, taking the pill to prevent future pregnancy. I did rate it a 4 because it did prevent pregnancy, which was the main reason I took it. I have high blood pressure, so I can’t do the combo pill, but I took it for about a month and a half. The first thing I didn’t realize right away was the mood swings, irritability, and extreme depression - I’m talking about extreme depression, my thoughts were crazy, suicidal, fatigue, or not having energy to do anything. Then there was spotting for days at a time (started after week 1). Once my cycle started (week 6), I discontinued the pill 3 days into my cycle once I saw how much heavier it was. I’m now on day 7 of a med-heavy cycle (my cycle is typically 3-4 days long and light to medium flow). My hair is also thinner than usual. Do your research, ladies."

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2018

"I was prescribed Heather after the birth of my daughter for contraception while breastfeeding. Let me just say, it’s the worst. I don’t remember which mini pill I took after my son was born, but it did not affect me this way, so I can pinpoint Heather as the problem. I too have been getting a period every other week for what seems like forever. It sucks! I have actually stopped taking it and am still dealing with its adverse effects as it gets out of my system. If you’re doing your own research before you see your doc to discuss mini pills, request something else!"

• Mon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2021

"I had been on Depo for over 3 years and loved it, but had to stop due to being on it for so long. I tried a combo pill, and my acne and cramps were horrible. So my doctor switched me to a progesterone-only pill. I've been on it for a couple of months, and it seems to be working well. My body seems to only like progesterone. No acne, no depression, and sex drive is good. Usually only have cramps for 1 day, periods are heavier than I would like, but way better than not being on anything to control them."

• Ale...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 21, 2023

"I've been on Heather for almost 6 years now. I was recommended this because of the lack of estrogen usage in it. I have daily migraines and this is one of the only pills I can take to help both my migraines and my painful periods. Since I've taken them, my periods have been more manageable. I've had a few times I've missed a pill or taken it at a later time (do not recommend), but life does get in the way occasionally. I have not had any pregnancy scares. I did, however, find out recently that I'm among the 40% of females that do have ovarian cysts from taking this birth control. I've had one ruptured out of the 6 years of taking this. It was minimal compared to most cases. I would still recommend this birth control since it has minimal side effects compared to most birth control."

• Ami...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2020

"Only had bleeding 4 days after starting Heather. Bled for about a week and haven't bled since. Have some acne, but nothing too bad. Out of every birth control I've tried, this is probably one of the best. Combo pills made me gain weight and have super bad acne. Other forms like Nexplanon and Mirena made me bleed for weeks and weeks at a time. I love this one! This is the first progestin-only birth control that hasn't made me bleed like crazy! 9/10 because it causes slight acne on my chin... but hey, at least I'm not bleeding for 70+ days at a time!"

• fsa...
• December 27, 2018

"I am at the end of my third month taking this minipill. For me, the worst side effect has been irregular periods/bleeding. I have periodic (no pun intended, really) spotting that I never had before, and my last two cycles have been MAJORLY thrown off. My normal cycle length is about 24 days long, and I recently had a 14-day cycle and then an 11-day cycle. This put me about 8 days between periods, which is no fun at all, and has put a damper on intimacy a few times. The last period was very light compared to my normal flow. Also, I was about 11 hours late taking one pill in between these two cycles. I have noticed some correlation between being late by even a couple hours and spotting, so that one missed pill probably could have thrown me off a lot. I'm sticking with the pill for now to give my body a chance to get used to it and adjust, as I have read that this is one of the most common side effects."

• t1d...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2018

"This birth control was awesome! I'm a type 1 diabetic, so it's very important that I chose a birth control that wouldn't aggravate my blood sugars. I was only on Heather for a few weeks, but didn't experience any adverse side effects, and my blood sugars didn't spike or anything. The only symptom I can think of is a slight loss in sex drive, but nothing too hampering. It only cost $4 a month! (without insurance but with a voucher) Think I found my preferred BC!"

• CEM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2022

"I have been taking Heather for about two months. I am a transgender man, and I'm taking this pill to practice safer sex/not get pregnant. This pill was recommended to me by my doctor as an estrogen-free BC option. I’m sharing my experience since I have seen no other reviews from trans people. I was extremely nervous about this medication “bringing my period back,” as I have not menstruated since I started HRT five years ago. I was relieved when I noticed no side effects. The only thing I noticed was an increase in appetite for about two weeks, but no subsequent weight gain, as I controlled myself and didn’t alter my diet. No acne, no mood swings, it also didn’t mess with my head at all, which I was concerned about considering my history of depression. As long as you can remember to take the pill at approximately the same time each day, this is a great hormone-free BC pill option for trans men."

• Jad...
• October 1, 2020

"I had gotten my period down to 5-6 days. Started Heather in May as a Day 1 starter. For May, June, and July, my period was 7 days long. Then came August, it lasted 23 days!! It is now September, and I'm on day 9 of my period and into the second week of the pack. Have decided to stop it altogether. Would not recommend due to this adverse effect. Also had a weird rash the first month as well. And I'm breaking out on the back of my neck along my hairline and a little bit on my back too. Disappointed!"

• can...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 11, 2020

"I’m 20 years old, 135 lbs, and 5 foot 1. I’ve been on this Heather contraceptive pill for about 7 months, and I love it. Initially, I had tender breasts, but about 2 months in, I had no further symptoms. I don’t know if my experience is rare, like, I literally have no side effects while taking birth control, maybe I’m lucky. My cycle still comes regularly, and my cramps are WAYYYY more tolerable than they were before I started taking Heather. I use this exclusively for birth control, but I still use condoms/withdrawal method because I don’t completely trust them alone (better safe than sorry), and so far, I’m not pregnant. So I’m overall very pleased with my experience with these pills :)"

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2021

"I was trying to use this progesterone-only pill to regulate my hormone levels. I was told that I have PCOS and high estrogen levels, hypothyroidism, and hirsutism. I used it for 2 months. It helped slightly with my severe period pain, but I was still experiencing bloating and inflammation in my body when I was ovulating and before I started my period. It stopped my period headaches as well. The problem started when I was on my third month, and my period started like normal, but then a week later I started spotting with brown blood. Then, a week after that, I started bleeding again like I had a heavy period flow again. My doctor recommended that I stop taking it. Within 48 hours, my period stopped, but my bloating and pain remained for the rest of that week. It's been 38 days after my last period, and I have not had my period since then. I am used to taking birth control pills, so I am used to taking it on a regular basis. I never skipped days or tablets. Not sure what to say about this."

• Jea...
• January 29, 2018

"I've been taking this pill for almost 2 years because they stopped making Camila. On Camila, I had no periods. With Heather, I have gotten my period back. Unfortunately, over the past 1.7 years, my period has gone from something that lasted a week to one that trickles out for 2 weeks. And I don't even think of not taking the pill at the same time every day. Even missing it by 1/2 hour caused me to have a period for a week, then my regular period would start. I can say that my boobs hurt and I'd get a breakout of pimples at some point before my period, pretty predictably. My sex drive also waned and I found that I would need to use lube when it comes to sex, whereas I did not have that problem before. I'm now considering another pill since my pimples seem to be becoming more severe (relative to not having pimples in the past) and are staying with me longer. I'm tired of periods lasting 2 weeks! I gave it a good amount of time, it just doesn't seem to be working for me."

• Lot...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 20, 2021

"I was switched suddenly to this because my pharmacist was all out of the one I had usually used, which was just plain norethindrone. This was a big mistake. A month after starting on this, I had crazy mood swings, bad depression, and horrible painful acne that I’ve never had in my life. I used to have clear skin, and this ruined my skin, now I have scars. In the first year, I had painful heavy bleeding during periods, which were irregular. I just thought it was my makeup I needed to change or needed better skincare products...nothing worked! I decided to stop taking it to see if everything would improve, and I went off it for a month. WOW! My skin started to clear, and I felt more sane. It also stopped my period for a while. But I would say this did no good for me, and I do not wish to be on this again."

• Tee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 26, 2023

"I was switched to Heather because of my headaches. Yes, it took the headaches away, but my skin is ruined. I’ve never experienced acne, and since I’ve been on this pill, my skin has gone downhill. Very sad and depressing."

• Emm...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 4, 2023

"I switched to progesterone only for high blood pressure, high cortisol, low sex drive, inability to lose weight, and migraines. For the first 8 months or so of taking this, it was amazing, and a lot of my chronic issues improved. I was finally able to lose weight and no longer had daily migraines. BP and cortisol levels also dropped. Unfortunately, my hair started thinning, and initially, I related it to stress. That was until it got significantly worse, and I realized I had like half the hair I used to. I’m pretty certain this pill is why, which is a bummer since otherwise, it was going well. I also started getting periods again that were long and painful after not having one for a year on this pill. I’m switching to a different progesterone-only pill that supposedly has less of an effect on androgens to see if my hair loss stops. I personally would not recommend it because the hair loss thing seems to be fairly common."

• Ell...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 6, 2023

"I’ve been using Heather for birth control for almost a year. Periods are mostly gone. I’ve only experienced a bit of spotting if I take the pill an hour or two after the time I’m supposed to take it (you have to take it every day at the same time to make it more effective in preventing pregnancy). I suffer from chronic migraines, and I’ve noticed a big difference in the occurrence and duration of my migraine episodes (less migraines, they last less). Also, I have varicose veins, and they’re less problematic to me now that I use the mini pill."

• mam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 15, 2023

"My 4th baby just turned 5 months old, and I've been taking the mini-pill since my 6-week postpartum checkup, prescribed to me due to breastfeeding (estrogen can affect milk supply), and I have absolutely zero complaints. I actually had a period at 4 weeks and 8 weeks postpartum and haven't had another since - and I can't say if that's solely because of the pill or if breastfeeding has played a part as well. I have no side effects whatsoever that I could attribute to this birth control. No acne, no spotting, no weight gain, no nausea... nothing. I set an alarm on my phone and take it at the exact same time every single day!"

• Jes...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 9, 2018

"This pill did its job of protecting me, a 33-year-old overweight female. However, it caused horrible mood swings, weight gain, and anxiety. My breasts were always tender, and it did alter my sex drive."

• Anj...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 31, 2022

"This birth control caused my hair to fall out in clumps in the shower, so much so that I had to get a shorter haircut, and I’ve always had hair to the middle of my back, and my hair is thick, or was until I started taking this. My skin got out of control, oily, and I got awful cystic acne on my jawline and neck, places I never had acne before. The hot flashes were daily, and night sweats were terrible nightly. Back to the acne, I was a greasy mess, and no skincare regimen would help it. I had to stop birth control for a few years for my skin to heal, and yet I still have scars and marks from this medication. I am now on Slynd, hoping it will work for me. Heather is the WORST BC EVER!"