Jencycla and Migraine: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2023

For Birth Control "I have been taking this birth control for about 2 and a half months now, and it’s been very hard to not call it quits. Before being on this birth control, my periods were very normal and perfect timing every month. As soon as I started this birth control, I have been what feels like constantly bleeding or spotting. I have gotten 2 periods each month that have lasted over a week long, and then only have had a week in between where I’m not bleeding. Then I start bleeding again. It is so inconvenient to be constantly bleeding. I am hoping it sorts itself out within the next month or two, but if it doesn’t, I am calling it quits. I’ve started taking this for the awful cramps I used to get with my periods, which have been better since being on it, but it has given me more migraines and more bleeding, so I don’t know if there is a win there."

• No...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2021

For Birth Control "I got a boyfriend and wanted to start taking birth control, so my gyno put me on this one due to the fact I get migraines and being close to 35 y/o. This pill has been the absolute worst. I had a period that was the worst period of my life. I bled so heavily for 6 days. Went 6 days and then started bleeding again. Currently bleeding now, 5th day of bleeding. My mood has been horrible. I can't stand myself. Bloating is terrible. I just threw my pills in the trash. No more."

• OAP...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 17, 2020

For Birth Control "I've been using this Jencycla birth control for two and a half years, and my experience has been relatively positive. I am prone to migraines, so the doctor gave me a progesterone-only pill, and it's been very effective at stopping pregnancy (which is my main reason for using it), but it doesn't offer many other benefits. My skin hasn't really improved, but it hasn't gotten any worse either, weight stayed the same, and mood wasn't affected. The first two or so months on it, I was definitely tired and sluggish, but my body got used to it. One side effect I don't really like is that every three or four months, my period will be about two weeks late. At first, this definitely scared me, but it's happened a few times now, so I anticipate it."

• 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."

• Asd...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 31, 2022

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking this for over half a year now because my doctor recommended me to take this after experiencing some migraines with my previous birth control. So far, I’ve only had 4-5 day breaks in between my periods (lasting up to 8-9 days), and now I've had my period for 3 months non-stop."

• Ker...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 2, 2022

For Birth Control "I started taking Tricyclen-Lo at 17 years old due to heavy, irregular bleeding. That pill worked perfectly for me for ten years. I had zero issues, and my period was like clockwork while on it. However, I noticed the last couple of years while on it that I would randomly get migraines with aura a few times a year, so I told my doctor. She said my options were the mini pill or the IUD. I absolutely am not okay with the idea of a device being stuck in me for years, so I opted for the mini pill (Jencycla). The first 1.5 years on this pill were horrible. I bled for almost the entire month straight when I first switched. I developed cystic acne (never had acne in my life before), and I was constantly paranoid about my period because it would come multiple times a month as it pleased. It's almost been 4 years now since I started Jencycla, and the last two years roughly have been pretty good. My body finally regulated my cycle, give or take a few days, but I no longer worry about getting my period randomly."

• 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."