Heather and Mood Swings: What Users Say

• 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."

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

For Birth Control "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."

• 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."

• 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."

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

For Birth Control "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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2022

For Birth Control "I didn’t do well on this birth control. I was on this certain brand because I just had my son and am currently breastfeeding. I have gained so much weight that I initially lost after delivery and the first couple of weeks of breastfeeding. I suffered severe depression and mood swings. I had periods longer than the normal 7 days. I honestly had more period days than break days throughout the month. So glad to be trying something else now. Just beware and talk to your doctor if you notice anything."

• 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."

• Gre...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 16, 2024

For Birth Control "I've been on birth control since I was 15, now 26. First, I was on the regular combo pill. It regulated my periods, but I had migraines so bad, I was actually diagnosed with a migraine disorder. Later, I started the 3-month packs, where I only had a period every 3 months. Loved it, but still, migraines. When I was 21, I started the Depo shot. I took that until I was about 23/24. I loved not having a period, no migraines, and I loved the weight gain it gave me. But my doctor tested my hormones and they were borderline menopause levels. I was having major hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, etc. Then, I was put back on the combo pill, and that's when the migraines came back. Figured out it was that pill causing them. Then, I tried the mini pill. And BOY, I have never felt better taking birth control. Before this one, I had thought about getting off of it completely. I've been on this pill for 2 years and have no migraines, no periods (with the occasional spotting), no mood swings, no PMS! And no pregnancy!"

• 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."

• 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."

• all...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2019

For Birth Control "This birth control is awful. Within the first two weeks of taking it, I've had unpredictable bleeding, extreme mood swings, and horrible acne. I hate not being able to predict my period."