Ortho Micronor and Spotting: What Users Say

• EM0...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 6, 2013

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "This medication was amazing at the beginning, but now it has caused severe moodiness and abnormal uterine bleeding. (I've had 2 full periods in 3 weeks) and some days I start spotting and get cramps even though I take my pills on time."

• Lde...
• July 9, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been taking this birth control for about 7 months now. Overall, it is very effective. It took me about a month to get used to it, and I had 4 or 5 months after that that were excellent. Some people would get spotting when they were even a half hour late taking this, I had no problem whatsoever when I'd take it late. In the last couple of months, however, I have been having a period every 2 weeks. Sometimes the second one would be more spotting than bleeding, but still very annoying. Also, I have gone up 2 cup sizes since taking this medication. No real noticeable weight gain otherwise, just much larger breasts!"

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I started taking this because my doctor said that this pill uses a hormone similar to progesterone (what the human body produces). The other pills I've tried (Tri-Cyclen, Yasmin) use estrogen, which is more likely to cause blood clots, heart attack, high blood pressure, and stroke. I had minor spotting, and then no period at all. I have had a few headaches, but I am not sure if they're related. I've also had WAY less of an appetite, which was usually the opposite when I took birth control in pill form. I'd love to have a more natural form of birth control, but at this point, I'm happy with Micronor as a solution."

• Emm...
• December 5, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been taking Micronor for almost a month now. I used to take Yaz for 2 years but had to stop due to migraines. I've honestly had 0 problems with Micronor, much to my surprise after reading so many negative reviews. I do not have spotting, weight gain, etc. It doesn't help my acne, but I don't think it's making it worse. I think people may be having issues with spotting and heavy bleeding because they are not taking the pill at the exact same time every day. I take it at exactly 6 and have had no problems!"

• Jab...
• February 5, 2016

For Birth Control "I am not allowed to take a combo pill because I have migraines. I started Micronor, and it has been terrible. I get my period every two weeks, my breasts are extremely sore all of the time, and I'm constantly spotting. I am also irritable, moody, and have cramps all of the time. Before I started it, my period was always on time...predictable to the hour it started. I don't think it's worth bleeding constantly and being irritable and depressed...so I have stopped. Back to condoms it is."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 1, 2019

For Birth Control "I am taking Micronor for over a year now. My doctor prescribed it because I have bad migraines, which get worse with combination pills. I was super happy in the beginning because my migraines stopped completely, but over time the other side effects became worse and worse: my breasts are extremely swollen and painful, my husband cannot hug me, it really hurts, terrible cramps, spotting for 15 days nonstop, and mood swings. I had to stop, unfortunately. I'm not sure if Cerazette could be better, but it looks like it is about the same."

• Lex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2021

For Birth Control "I was nervous about trying Ortho Micronor because I've read a few negative reviews. But in reality, people only really leave reviews when they feel negatively about something, so it's kind of biased. Anyway, this birth control is working great for me. I've been on it for about 5 months, no abnormal bleeding or any side effects at all. I haven't had a period yet, which is convenient for me. I did have some spotting for about 2 days because I missed a dose, but otherwise it's great. Of course, this is my personal experience, but I just wanted to share my positive review!"

• Ale...
• August 11, 2015

For Birth Control "So I have been taking this for about 5 days now, and I felt compelled to write a review. I have taken tons of different birth control methods consisting of both hormones of estrogen and progestin. I am pleased to say that so far, this has been working well for me. I think it is worth a shot to try, but as you know, every woman is different. I am still thinking this is too good to be true, but it has been a blessing so far to not wake up dizzy, fatigued, with headaches, or nausea. The only things I have noticed so far are some bloating, light spotting, very little fatigue (nothing compared to other birth controls), and a slight stomach cramp before my alarm goes off to take the pill (perhaps when it's almost run out?). Worth a try."

• Swa...
• October 27, 2015

For Birth Control "Micronor for 4 months now - switched from Tricylin Lo because I had high BP, and apparently Micronor isn't as bad as combo pills. I was told to take it at the time I was least likely to have sex - so I picked noon, that was stupid. Of the 4 months, I've spotted/bled significantly 90% of the time. I've noticed if you don't take it EXACTLY at the same time, you will spot - it's always 1 or 2 hours after taking the pill. My doctor told me it's only a 21-hour pill and then it wears off - so I think every freaking day I get the reboot period button pushed. It's hell. Period sex sucks - this pill might as well be called the Abstinence pill - I miss my combo pill. I think it raises my BP to have to buy 4x lady products."

• Lyn...
• May 9, 2011

For Birth Control "I was switched to this from Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, and it was a horrible experience. My skin is so oily now, and I have breakouts constantly. I have gained about 10 pounds on this pill, and I had bad abdominal pain. The timing was an issue also, with other pills, it's not that big a deal if you are half an hour late, but with this pill, even as little as 30 minutes caused heavy spotting. I am switching back to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo this week."

• SAM...
• December 11, 2020

For Birth Control "I was having heavy periods, causing some minor issues with my iron levels and affecting my ability to work. In 3 months, I have had a total of 27 days without bleeding of some sort. These non-bleeding days have not happened all at once, but a day here and there. I have had spotting that varies from very light to 'Is this a period?' amount. I've had extra periods. I've had an increase in the number of clots produced. I went from using 30 tampons and 10-20 pads per month to using around 96 tampons and 30-45 pads per month. My last period started almost a week early and lasted 12 days. 3 of those days produced so much clotting that I couldn't work because I needed to change my tampon every hour because the clots were oozing out. My gynecologist has decided I need an 'emergency' exam due to the amount of bleeding and clotting that has happened and to see what our next step is since this pill has made my issues much worse."

• Mis...
• January 12, 2017

For Birth Control "I was put on Micronor 4 months ago because I had a headache with previous pills. I am about ready to stop this, also, last month I had breakthrough spotting for 2 1/2 weeks. This month, 4 days prior to the end of the pack, I developed abdominal cramps, I mean really bad, and a lot of breast tenderness. Now I've been bleeding very heavily with terrible cramps for 3 days. This is the worst!!! Confused."

• Anonymous
• March 31, 2012

"I started this a month ago and have had very little side effects. If I take it an hour late, there's some spotting, and I've lost 10 pounds (not that I'm complaining)! Plus, I've gone from a D to DD. It's a pretty effective pill! The only downside is the occasional headache."

• Anonymous
• August 13, 2019

For Amenorrhea "I have been on Micronor for 3 years. I have migraines with aura, so this was the only birth control possible for me at the time. I was 16 when I first started the pill and got very light spotting at first, then everything disappeared. I didn't get my period for 2 years, no PMS, no spotting, no nothing. I didn't gain any weight, no acne, no headache. It was bliss for 2 years, then anxiety came by. I had nausea all the time, and I didn't want to eat, so I lost 15 pounds in one summer (I was 18, 5'9, and 125 pounds before). Then around November last year, I started having my period again. Before the pill, I was regular and had little to no PMS, but now I had crazy nausea, headache, sore breasts, and bloating for a week before I got my period. Plus, it lasted longer than before and hurt so much more. Now, I get my period every 4 to 5 days, and they last 6 days. I will be switching to Kyleena (an IUD) soon. I'm giving this a 9 out of 10 because it gave me peace of mind for 2 years and I never got pregnant."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 14, 2015

For Birth Control "After an episode of erythema nodosum from my last birth control pills, my doctor suggested I try a 3-month course of Micronor to see how my body would react to the progesterone. Well, I've gained 5 lbs and had my period or spotting 27 out of the 42 days I've been taking it. My doctor wants me to continue on it to prepare for an IUD, but honestly, I don't want it if the breakthrough is going to be this problematic."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2018

"I am taking Ortho Micronor for polycystic ovaries. I was previously on the combo pill, but estrogen does not work well for me since I already have problems with excess estrogen. My age also means I am at higher risk of undesirable side effects, and I have already been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Unfortunately, I will have to stop this medication as well, as I am having continuous spotting, which is annoying since I have to wear something at all times. It's also making my scalp flaky, my face oily, and I'm retaining so much water that the bloating is terrible. I am always uncomfortable. I feel the next step is a hysterectomy since I have painful cysts that rupture, and I have already had the precursor for endometrial cancer, which is in my family history."

• SDa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2021

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been on this pill for 22 days for abnormal, frequent, heavy periods. I'm 44 years old. I felt much sleepier than usual (which I don't mind, as an anxious person!) and my breasts have been large and very painful the entire time. I started spotting on the 17th day, and by day 18, I started a very heavy, extremely painful period that is still going strong on day 6. I never miss work and was in bed almost all day yesterday. This is a worse period than my usual, but the PMS was less bad, and it came an extra week later, which was nice. Not sure if I can continue though!"

• Sha...
• July 18, 2017

For Birth Control "Horrible pill that should be discontinued. I've never spotted so much in my life while being on any pill until I got on this one.. and not to mention it gave me a period at least every other week. I'd rather stay on the combination pills from now on."

• lin...
• September 15, 2021

For Birth Control "I am 43 years old and have always had very regular periods and pretty good health. I have never had a good birth control experience, though, until Micronor. I take it every day at the exact same time on an empty stomach. For the first time ever, I have not had ANY weight gain, no mood swings, no diminished sex drive, no ridiculous spotting, no swollen, painful breasts. As a matter of fact, Micronor has eliminated PMS, I don't get any cramps, my skin is absolutely glowing, and my sex drive seems to be increased. I've been on the Depo shot before (spotting continuously for months, 30-pound weight gain). I've been on countless combination pills (huge, sore boobs, zero sex drive, weight gain, moodiness). I wish I would have discovered the mini pill years ago. The only drawbacks: my period used to be about 4 days and done. Now, I bleed for maybe 2 days and then spot for 4 days, which can be a little annoying. But my cycle still comes every 28 days."

• wen...
• February 13, 2018

For Birth Control "I have gained weight and been spotting and very bloated. Mood swings are out of this world. I have only been on this pill for 2 months. I am getting off it now. I do not recommend this pill."

• Jaz...
• May 2, 2016

For Birth Control "Nothing but spotting, headaches, and dizziness! Hate it, can't find anything suitable other than the implant."