Jolivette and Mood Swings: What Users Say

• wea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 14, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been taking Jolivette for three months now, and couldn't complain about it. I used to have crazy irregular periods, for instance, the month before I started, I had a 10-day cycle, which meant two and a half periods in a calendar month, and the time before was 50 days. Since taking Jolivette, I haven't had a single period. No cramping, bloating, weight gain, mood swings, nothing. In fact, I've lost weight. It's also great because I no longer get migraines as opposed to being on an estrogen pill. Would recommend it to anyone."

• kai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2013

For Birth Control "I have never taken birth control pills before Jolivette. This particular pill was prescribed to me because of my chronic migraines. The pill works great for my period, but the overall side effects were horrible. I am extremely emotional, my breasts were sore all the time, and I'm extremely emotional all the time, which is the opposite of how I usually am. I also had hair growth on my arms, legs, and a little on my face. It works, but the side effects make it not worth it."

• Lem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2012

For Birth Control "I feel psychotic! I had a baby two months ago and needed a low dose estrogen pill. I feel overwhelmed, anxious, bloated, and very emotional. After having an emotional breakdown over nothing, I am stopping this immediately."

• olo...
• January 16, 2013

For Birth Control "The first 3 months I had a period every 14 days. They lasted about 5 days, slightly heavier bleeding than normal for me. Then, after the 3rd month, my periods went back to their normal 28-day off, 6-day periods. I'm breastfeeding my 7-month-old, so this is a great option. No weight gain, no mood swings, no soreness or anything negative."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2013

For Birth Control "My first period on it was heavier than normal. After that, I was spotting for several days, which I have never experienced. This past month, I have either been bleeding or spotting, and it's incredibly frustrating! Lots of random cramps as well. My mood has been up and down, which is also frustrating."

• Zom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 8, 2015

For Birth Control "All the other reviews make this pill sound horrid. I have been on this pill for two years. Let me tell you, the first few months of taking this pill is hell. Complete hell. I had a period every other week, I broke out, I gained weight, I had mood swings. I talked to my doctor to switch, but he insisted I stay on it. And I did. Months went by and the side effects went away. My period just kinda comes and goes when it wants. But other than that, it's fantastic. I take it every day at the same time. Stick with it and all will be fine :)"

• Flo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 12, 2017

For Birth Control "I have suffered from PMDD, which is basically extreme PMS with really bad mood swings. I would tend to be antisocial and irritable half the month. On Jolivette, my mood is much more stable, and I feel like myself instead of feeling out of control of my emotions. Shorter periods, very light. Other pills with estrogen affect my moods negatively. This works great."

• Mam...
• September 24, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for almost 5 years. It has been okay, except I got pregnant while taking it as prescribed. Didn't miss a day. Didn't take it late-or did I? If I did, it was within a 15-minute window-it always is. Same time every day. I had a miscarriage, but my OB/GYN says it had nothing to do with the pill. I have horrible mood swings too. My husband can predict my start date based on how insanely moody, aggressive, and angry I am. It is always 5 days before I start that I am most insane. Always! The mood swings are so bad I'm considering getting off the pill altogether. Everyone's different. That's my experience."

• moo...
• May 13, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on the pill for 3 weeks, and I've been experiencing hair loss, acne, sore breasts, fatigue, mood swings, and it lowered my milk supply. I also had a little spotting. I have decided to stop taking the pills."

• kmp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm taking this for the first time because I'm breastfeeding. I'm at the end of the 4th month. I haven't had a period at all. I've experienced mood fluctuations, moderate acne (unusual for me), hair loss, and inability to lose weight. As others have mentioned, I feel hungry often and crave chocolate. I will be discussing other options with my ob/gyn."

• AB9...
• May 20, 2017

For Birth Control "Been taking the pills for 5 months. Last two months, I have had two full periods each month and heavy bleeding. Also have felt huge mood changes, anxiety, depression, easily irritated. I can clearly see changes in my mood before and after starting with these pills. Sorry, but would never, ever recommend them."

• Lid...
• July 11, 2013

For Birth Control "I was on the patch. Due to migraines, I switched to this, which gave me no migraine. Just a little mood swing when I'm on my period. If you take it on time, you will have no bleeding problem. It is very good."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I was prescribed this because I was breastfeeding and didn’t want something too strong. I know everyone’s different, and these are my side effects: bloated, headaches, numbness in my arm, mood swings. But the worst is I’ve been on my period for almost 3 weeks since I started taking this. So if that was the goal-keeping me on my period to have no intimacy, which equals no baby-then good job!!"

• Joa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2015

For Birth Control "I had heavy migraines with my previous pill, so the doctor recommended Jolivette. The migraine was gone for good, no pain at all. But I have side effects. First, I don't have my period for 3 months, which the doctor says is common. I also gained weight very fast and gained a lot of abdominal perimeter. And sometimes my mood swings are very intense. Overall, this pill treated the pain that I was having, but I feel uncomfortable gaining weight and not being able to control my cycle due to the lack of period. I will be taking it for a couple more months to see if something changes."

• jol...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 21, 2019

For Birth Control "I was previously on Ortho Tri Cyclen, which made me have weight gain, super bad mood swings, anxiety, and depression. I was then switched to Jolivette and have had no horrible side effects. I have noticed I haven’t really been able to lose the weight gained from my previous pill, but that’s the only downside. Other than that, I completely love this pill! I am back to the same old normal happy me. :)"

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been taking this birth control for about 6 weeks now. My doctor prescribed this to me because I was having horrible migraines with one I was taking before. I haven't had my period yet, but have been spotting randomly since I started the pills. I used to have regular periods, so I'm not sure if I'm going to get them at all anymore. Not having the intense cramping every month like I used to is nice, though. I haven't experienced any weight gain or hair loss. Side effects that I have noticed are emotional. I have been experiencing severe mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. I know that I'm not pregnant, but this birth control makes me feel as though I am. Not sure if I'll continue taking it, for side effects may not be worth it."

• Car...
• December 5, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for quite some time. I was put on this pill because other birth control pills would affect my blood pressure. My period comes on time every month and lasts for 5 days exact. Bleeding is very heavy, and the mood swings and aches can be intense."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 9, 2019

For Birth Control "Major weight gain! Holy heck! Want to know how bad it was? There happened to be a lapse in my refill of this medication. I could not get it for almost 3 weeks. I lost almost 15 pounds. Started taking it again - boom. Weight is back. It seems so hard to believe that the 0.35 mg I am on causes so much hassle. Side effects at the beginning were so bad I thought I was going insane. Massive mood swings, my breasts hurt so bad I thought I was going to die of boob pain, back pain, horrible weight gain... I could go on and on! Also, I got pregnant on this medicine even with perfect use in the first 6 months of taking this medication despite my husband 'pulling out' and suffered a miscarriage. I literally had no clue I was pregnant until that happened! Scary! I've been on all the other brand names of this medicine Errin (discontinued?) and Heather - but Jolivette is the WORST!"

• Anx...
• December 19, 2011

For Birth Control "First, this pill kind of freaks me out with the whole 'have to take it within the hour at the same time every day.' I also deal with no period for a week, a period of 3 days, no period for 4 days, then a period of another 2 days...on and on and on. I have been on it for three months and thinking that this might not be the pill for me. It has given me some anxiety and increased my mood swings. I do have breast tenderness at times. Probably not the pill for me. But I was put on it since other birth control pills give me a headache, and so far this pill has never given me a headache, so at least that has worked."

• Anonymous
• June 12, 2011

For Birth Control "I've had an up-and-down experience with Jolivette. The first week was a bit rough with some dizziness, an increase in appetite, and slightly more emotional. However, those initial symptoms disappeared within the first month. What's been driving me crazy is my period. It came a week after I began the pill (I also was incredibly emotional the day my period came). Then I had two weeks off before it came again. And again. And again. Three months on Jolivette and my periods are becoming longer (7+ days from 4 days) and with only 4 or 5 days in between. And recently, my hair has started growing in straight after being solidly curly. I recently went off it and still got my period right on schedule as if I was still on it!"

• Ric...
• March 15, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been taking this pill since after my daughter was born 18 months ago. I haven't had any problems with it until now. I had a light period that lasted a week in January and another in February, around the same time, that one was a little heavier. Now it is March, and I haven't had a period yet. I hate the inconsistency of it. I've been on time taking it, so I know I can't be pregnant. I've never had mood swings with it until here recently. It's a good starter pill, but I'd prefer something else."

• Dex...
• September 11, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been taking this pill for a year. After my son was born, they prescribed it to me because I was breastfeeding. I lost a lot of my pregnancy weight, but within three to four months, I gained 10 lbs back, maybe even 20 lbs. Horrible, right? I didn't have a period for 7 months. Now I get irregular periods, light periods. My doctor sent me to get an ultrasound to see what else might have been causing the irregular periods. They found something on both ovaries, so my doctor is switching me from Jolivette to something else. I've had hair loss with this pill, weight gain, dramatic mood swings, and out of control hot flashes. It's horrible, I feel like I am having early menopause. Oh yeah, also made milk supply low."

• NoM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2017

For Birth Control "I am discontinuing this pill tonight! After starting this pill, I got cramps, and by the 3rd day, I had a full period with large blood clots. My baby is 2 months, and I noticed a lower milk supply and started fenugreek a week ago to try to build it back up. I have not had a period since I have been breastfeeding, which my doctor says is common. Then, all of a sudden, after starting this pill, I get one that is heavy, and I cramp terribly! Not only do I get cramps, but a strong pain shoots through my left abdominal area. No acne, but I am looking pregnant and feeling bloated! My mood swings are drastic, and I'm already emotional enough! I don't have the patience to wait this out, so I quit! I don't see it getting better anytime soon!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2016

For Birth Control "After starting this birth control, I experienced mood swings of irritability and anger within taking the first pill. I also experienced severe bloating and bad acne. My milk supply dried up, which I was prescribed this pill to avoid decrease in milk supply. This is a horrible pill with horrible side effects."

• Mad...
• February 10, 2018

For Birth Control "This birth control is effective. I had no breakthrough bleeding, no mood swings, and no acne. Great for people who have migraines and cannot take estrogen BC. Highly recommend."