Heather and Acne: What Users Say

• Ren...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 15, 2023

For Birth Control "I was taking this contraceptive as a replacement for the one I was on. My CNP told me I was at high risk for a heart attack being on the other birth control with my blood pressure med. Started taking it and my period became longer, 5-7 days. I was so used to a 2-3 day period. After 4 months on Heather, I was bleeding very heavily to the point I became scared. I was going through a heavy flow tampon every hour. I would have a 7-day period, stop for a week, and then wham, another 7 days. Every other week, a damn period! One month, I bled for 18 days straight, had a four-day break, and voila, another full 11-day period. I was miserable and spent more money on feminine products in 9 months than I had ever in my previous birth control experience of 2 years. Acne, so fun at my age of 48. And, the worst side effect I noticed - arthritic aches in every joint. I could barely move in the morning. I discontinued recently and feel wonderful!"

• Not...
• January 14, 2021

For Birth Control "Read reviews, but thought... hey, everyone is different, so it may help. YEAH RIGHT. I’m on month 3, and my periods are horrible. I was put on Heather to regulate them, but it’s made my days longer. I was originally 6-7 days a month, now I’m 11-15 days. I’m already anemic and was hoping this would be the answer. Not to mention acne. It’s awful. I’ve never had acne. Tender breasts for 2 months, mood swings & depression. Crying for no reason. I’m discontinuing this."

• man...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on this birth control for about one year, April 2018 to April 2019. My gyno told me to expect changes in my skin/weight, but boy did I not know what I was in for. The only upside of using this pill was no periods, but the downside was so much of my hair fell out, I gained about 30 pounds, and I went from clear skin to the worst acne I've ever had in my life. I'm 31, and it wasn't even this bad in my teenage years. I'm officially done with this pill. I gave it time for my body to become used to it, but even after a year it only seems to be getting worse. Seems like the weight gain is not stopping and the acne is so bad. If possible, please find another BC pill."

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2022

For Birth Control "I have struggled with depression and anxiety for years. When I decided to get back on birth control at age 43, my Dr. prescribed Heather because pills with estrogen had a high risk of adverse reaction with an antidepressant I'm taking. After 3 months of extreme fatigue, super irritability, increased depression/constant crying, hair loss, acne, insane bleeding with large clots, bloating, cramps, headache, and back pain, all my Dr. (who I used to love) said was, 'I'm sorry you're having trouble adjusting to the hormones.' I feel like I've been set back several months on the progress I'd been making with my emotional issues. I stopped taking it today and can't wait to get back to 'normal.' Beware!"

• blo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2018

For Endometriosis "Taking this medicine is a severe mistake. This drug does not at all reduce cramping, bleeding severity, or promote bodily menstrual regularity. Instead, after only 2 months of using it, my hair is falling out in the shower, my acne is severe, I've gained 11 pounds, and my anxiety is unbearable. This drug has caused me to have a period every 2 weeks since being on it, and with each period, I am vomiting and swelling up. My breasts are so tender that I cannot even put a bra on. I am entirely exhausted all of the time - something I never had an issue with until taking this medicine. I have an appointment first thing tomorrow to come off of this drug - what a nightmare."

• Reb...
• August 23, 2020

For Birth Control "This birth control pill, Heather, riddled me with horrible acne. My skin was beautiful and clear, and now I can’t stop crying when I look at it. I’ve never had acne this bad. Not to mention, I had my period for a straight month and felt like my uterus was ripping apart. I’ve been off of it for almost two months, my face still looks awful and is clearing very slowly. Side effects were not worth it."

• Cod...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on Heather for three months. I’m a 38-year-old female and 135 lbs who gets migraines periodically (2-3 per month). Heather was suggested due to migraine history. During those three months, I experienced unpleasant side effects. I gained a little weight, had great difficulty losing it even though I’m quite active and was exercising 4 times a week. I started to break out about 1 month in, I experienced some form of cystic and painful acne. The acne showed up on my jawline, face, and the back of my neck. Tiny rash-like bumps stayed on my neck and never went away for the 3 months I was on it. My experience was terrible on this pill. I switched to Viorele, a combination pill with a very low dose of estrogen, and within a week, my acne showed signs of clearing up and the rash on my neck is disappearing. I have naturally oily skin and was cleaning my face and neck 2-3 times a day, but I continued to get cystic acne when on Heather. Switching off the mini-pill was the best decision."

• Lem...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 20, 2020

For Birth Control "After the birth of my second child, I went back to my pre-pregnancy weight within two weeks. I went for my six-week post-pregnancy follow-up, and my doctor put me on Heather. I immediately started having periods twice a month, even while breastfeeding. Then the weight gain started, and hair loss. I have gained 25# in 3.5 months! I work out daily and eat healthy. My hair also falls out in handfuls every time I touch my head. I have also started to break out with acne. I was on the mini pill with my first child, and it did not have these side effects. I will be discontinuing use of Heather immediately!"

• clo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I wanted to use this pill, Heather, to try and minimize my period. All it did was make me feel extremely nauseated and couldn't poop ever, to where my stomach was cramping. It gave me the most awful acne I’ve ever had, and it took my period completely away, which wasn’t what I wanted. Being sexually active and not having a period is really awful for not knowing if you could be pregnant or not."

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

For Birth Control "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."

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

For Birth Control "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!"

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

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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!"

• rac...
• January 2, 2021

For Endometriosis "I have tried the combo pill twice before using Heather. I mainly started for horrible, heavy periods and intense cramps. The combo pill (both times) was absolutely horrible, and I’ve never felt worse in my life. Heather has been good for me, but has cons. I have irregular periods now, but they’re not very heavy, and I barely get cramps anymore, so the periods aren’t bad at all. The periods are also short (4-5 days) compared to my usual 8-10. Using Heather now has made me capable of doing my usual day-to-day activities while on my period. The downside is the hormonal acne. My skin is oily and acne-prone, but I’ve been getting painful cysts from this birth control. The irregular periods and acne are worth it for me personally because my endo made my periods a living nightmare before. When I first started it, I was on my period for a month, but after that, they’ve been pretty short aside from the one time that I missed a pill."

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

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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."

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

For Birth Control "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!"

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

For Birth Control "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!"

• Joa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 8, 2021

For Birth Control "So I’ve been taking Heather for about 2 years, and my experience has been mostly positive. I am switching to a combo pill just because I’m having trouble remembering to take it at the same time. The first two months were miserable, I had severe nausea and headaches constantly, and I was incredibly irritable. It likely also made my acne worse, but it has since cleared up (after a few rounds of tretinoin). After my body adjusted, though, it was a completely fine pill. I’ve never been pregnant, however, my cycles are pretty irregular. Not a bad pill, but probably not the best one on the market."

• Anonymous
• May 7, 2021

For Birth Control "I am 22 years old, had been on a combo pill for 10 years because of dysmenorrhea/acne and have had good experiences for the most part. I have migraines with aura, so I had to switch to a progestin-only pill and was put on this one. Since starting this pill ~three months ago, I have had my period for eight out of the eleven weeks. And it has been heavy the whole entire time. The cramps I am experiencing are the same ones that put me on the pill in the first place when I was 12. Without changing diet, workouts, medications, stress level, my acne is worse than it has ever been; it is cystic, painful, my face is scarred and inflamed. I have ballooned with water weight and am so bloated because you guessed it, I am still on my period. My hormones are out of control. I have never experienced mood swings, but now I cry at everything and am so irritable. Also, the fact that this birth control is only ~60% effective in preventing pregnancy...??? Pull-out is 78%. I wish I could rate lower."

• tee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 21, 2022

For Birth Control "I have really enjoyed being on Heather. It has made my cramps less painful and my periods shorter. I think it is pretty easy to use. I still get a period every 35-40 days, which is a lot nicer than my 20-25 day cycle before. I have had some weight loss and acne, but other than that, I haven't had many other side effects. It has also stabilized my moods during PMS."

• Mou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2021

For Birth Control "It was awful. My face broke out with deep cystic acne for 2.5 weeks before I decided to stop it. If you’re prone to breakouts (which I am and was in Accutane 3 times to finally get rid of it), do not get progesterone-only birth control. My skin was fine on the Mirena IUD, though."

• AAl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2022

For Birth Control "This is an awful birth control. I’ve taken it for about 5 months. Well, I’m not pregnant, but I get my period every single week for a few days for 2 months now. It has flared my acne on my legs. It has my emotions whacked out as well! That was my experience with this pill."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2021

For Birth Control "Wish I would have looked up the reviews before getting on this. Started it as I was still breastfeeding at the time. My period the first month was very heavy, 5 days at a time, 2 weeks apart. My skin started to break out, and I’ve been slowly losing hair, it comes out in handfuls. Took almost 2 full packs but am stopping immediately."

• Mia...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 9, 2022

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for about 3 years now. My only complaint is the first year I had terrible hormonal acne. I still don't have the clearest skin, but it has definitely improved. My other symptom is that I haven't had a period at all, I only had slight bleeding one day because I took it late. Other than that, I've had 0 symptoms, I haven't gained any weight or had terrible mood swings. Would recommend trying this if you are hesitant. Make sure you take it at the SAME time every day."