Jencycla and Cramps: What Users Say

• CCa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2020

For Birth Control "I am on my second pack of Jencycla and highly considering calling it quits. My periods were always 3-4 days prior to taking this pill, and the past month, my period lasted for 9 days and was heavy the entire time. My period stopped for 5 days, and now I'm bleeding again. In a little over a month, I've gained close to 5 lbs, my skin feels different, I have on/off depression and moodiness, and seriously, the random and constant cramping. Also, I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but I swear I can smell chemicals from my skin, and it only started once I started taking this birth control. It's a very noticeable and strong chemical smell that's especially strong on my hands. No amount of washing with soap gets rid of it. I'm giving this one more month, and if the side effects don't stop/slow down, I'm going to try a different pill."

• mac...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 7, 2022

For Birth Control "I've been on Jencycla for probably close to 2 years now. I was taken off of regular BC because I was prone to migraines. My old pills were perfect, did everything they needed to do; lessened cramps, regulated my period, and helped with acne. Since being on these pills, I feel like a different person. I have major mood swings, become super moody, my anxiety is at an all-time high, I have bloating, 0 sex drive, and my periods are all over the place (missing a period one month, then having three the next). I experience period symptoms all of the time (cramping, spotting, nausea), my hair is thinning, and I am always tired. I've talked to my doctor about other progestin-only options, and none of them sound any better. Honestly debating going off them altogether because the only benefit this pill has had is preventing pregnancy and only because I take it at the exact same time every day."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 11, 2023

For Birth Control "This is awful. I am 25 years old, and this pill has made me gain over 20 pounds in half a year. I bleed every other week heavily, and it's never red anymore, it's always dark brown. I have terrible and extreme cramps, worse than I've ever had too! My acne is next-level bad, and a rash started appearing on my shoulders, chest, neck, and back. My skin is super dry and weird too. I had to go on this birth control because of my migraines, but I absolutely hate it. I have never had issues like I've had on this pill before. I will be trying to get on something else soon."

• Shi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 9, 2023

"This pill had changed my life! After suffering for nearly three years with unbelievable childbirth-level pain with each cycle and taking a ridiculous amount of Advil each month, I decided to try this pill. The first month had some unpredictable light bleeding, and I would have a light headache each evening (not too bad at all). After that, the headaches went away, and when I get my period, it's very, very light with very, very mild cramping, and sometimes I don't get a period at all. For me, this is a major life change. No more crazy pain, no more destroying my body with pain meds. I've been on it for over 4 months now. I take this pill in the evening at EXACTLY the same time. I can't tell you how happy I am to have found it. I no longer spend hours online trying to find something that will help with my adeno and endo pain. I hope it works for you too!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2022

For Birth Control "I started this pill at my six-week postpartum mark after my second child. I’m 29 and never really had issues with my cycle. This is my first time using birth control since I was 17. I also take Bupropion, an SSRI, for PPD. I was feeling okay the first month. I got a normal cycle, with minimal cramping, but serious mood swings. The second cycle came, and the gates of hell emerged from my uterus. I honestly thought I had a miscarriage because I passed plum-sized clots for three days and felt like my uterus was put into a blender. I went to the hospital and had all the tests done, and they told me it was a heavy period. Well, I’m two months from that date, and I’ve not bled for maybe a week in three months. The cramps are bad, the mood swings are affecting my personal life, and I can’t seem to keep the bloating off. I have an appointment in a week to get it changed. I would absolutely not recommend this to anyone."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 26, 2020

For Birth Control "Jencycla has been the worst birth control I've ever been on. My hair is so freaking thin near the front of my head since I started taking it, getting yeast infections, periods come sooner than expected, cramps, mood swings, weight gain. I'm switching pills now and hope my hair grows back and can feel confident again."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2023

For Birth Control "I have been on Jencycla for 4 months, and I'm about to throw it away. My periods have been all over the place. The first month was a normal period, the second month was very light, then I have had some sort of period (bleeding or spotting) about every 2 weeks. It's so unpredictable. My sex drive is ZERO!!!! I have always lost a lot of hair, but I lose so much hair since being on this. My skin has always been normal, but now it's so oily. I feel like I've had a huge zit somewhere on my face for four months. I feel like I've gained weight, but the scale has stayed the same. I always feel bloated. It did help with cramps and breast tenderness, though. I think I’m just going to go back to the pull-out method."

• ano...
• June 12, 2019

For Endometriosis "I absolutely hate this birth control. I started taking it maybe 9 months ago and, although I am not pregnant, the side effects are awful and unbearable. I take birth control due to my endometriosis. I used to be extremely sick in high school, I've passed out from pain, and have vomited countless times. I am 21, 4'11", 105 lbs and my flow was super, I also had the most irregular periods. I suffer from migraines and my old birth control was exacerbating them, so my OBGYN put me on progesterone-only birth control. When I take this medicine, I do get a period. It is still irregular, my flow is not enough to fill a regular tampon, so I use a diva cup. The reason why this pill does not work for me is that my flow is irregular, my cramps are awful, and I am getting horrendous acne (which never happened before). Even as I write this now, it is 3 a.m. and I cannot sleep due to my cramps. Earlier today, I got a heat flash and vomited because of my period."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I started Jencycla a month ago. I'm breastfeeding my newborn, so I couldn't wait until I started my period to take the pills. I started it immediately after I got it. Two weeks into taking it, I started having heavy cramping and was on my period for 13 days straight, off for a week with heavy cramping, and I just started again this past Tuesday. I also noticed a drop in my milk supply. I've stopped taking it."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Started Jencycla to see if it would help with heavy periods. I’m 43 years old, and iron is low. Used it for 2 months, hoping it would decrease the monthly flow. Didn’t notice any change...still very heavy periods, lasting 7-8 days. Initial side effects: headache, cramping, irritability, and fluid retention...all went away except the extra fluid after a few days of use. I stopped the pill because it wasn’t helping and didn’t like the fluid retention."

• Anonymous
• January 13, 2022

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "My doctor put me on this pill because I have chronic abnormal bleeding for the past 6 months. I have a few small uterine polyps that need to be removed. I wanted to take something to control the bleeding until I get my surgery. My doctor recommended this mini pill because it does not contain estrogen. This pill had the opposite effect on me, my bleeding got worse, passing large blood clots. I have severe cramps and need to take Advil constantly to control the pain, also, this pill has given me very bad bloating. I read that it contains lactose, and I’m lactose intolerant, and my doctor did not tell me that this pill contains lactose. I have taken birth control pills in the past and never had any reaction. I don’t recommend this specific Jencycla. I only took it for 2 weeks, and I’m going to stop taking it as I’m becoming anemic due to the severe bleeding I started to have while on the pill."

• Jes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 9, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been taking Jencycla for about 4 years now. I can't take estrogen only because it gave me migraines. I have not gotten pregnant, but ever since I started taking it, I began gaining weight, and it's only gotten worse since. My periods are very irregular. It can vary anywhere between 25-50 days in between periods with no real pattern. I will also spot a lot of times in between as well. The good thing is it has reduced PMS symptoms drastically, and I noticed when I tried to stop taking it, the cramps without birth control were so bad I could hardly move, so right now I am sticking with it to help with the pain."