Contraception Reviews
UKUS
Contraception Reviews
Combination birth control pill  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown51005
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Jul 23
Junel Fe 1/20 birth control pill  
•  Stopped using

Junel was great for the first 6 yrs on it. After that, the side effects started snowballing. Gained 10lbs, dryness, and my sex drive vanished to the point I became borderline asexual which ruined my relationship and contributed to our breakup. It also made me angrier. I didn't realize it was the cause of these things and stayed on another 5 yrs until it triggered weekly/biweekly migraines when I used to have 1 or 2 a year. When I came off, the migraines stopped. However, my body had become so dependent on Junel it destroyed my body's ability to regulate my hormones. Hormonal pills cut off your brain and reproductive system's connection so my brain didn't know how to do it's job anymore and I struggled very badly and almost went to the hospital. I regret ever staying on for so long. I would not stay on any hormonal method more than 5 years in the future. My libido also has not come back after 9 months.

Mood

No change

Skin

Improved

Sex drive

Reduced

Weight

Gained weight

Bleeds

More regular
Lighter

Mood

Very negative

Skin

Got worse

Sex drive

No change

Weight

Lost weight

Cycle return to normal

1 month
While using
 Migraines
 Vaginal dryness
 Breast enlargement
 Headaches
After using
Hair loss
Vaginal discharge
Nausea or vomiting
Tender breasts
Dizziness
Headaches

Coming off Junel has been an absolute nightmare for me. Long term use made my body dependent on the exact dosing of these hormones and having started it as teen, before my brain was fully developed, I developed around this pill. My body had no idea how to balance my hormones- testing revealed my body was making too much testosterone, too little progesterone, and was recycling toxic estrogen (4-OH pathway which can lead to cancer). The pill is also known to deplete key hormones and it had depleted my magnesium causing additional health problems. The mental health side effects hit quickly and severely coming off, became depressed for the first time in my life and developed crippling anxiety. I could no longer go out in public and grocery shop without a panic attack and stopped being able to feel joy. I still do not have my libido back either. Junel took away all of the best things in life and I regret staying on it for 12 years.

2 helpful

0 comments

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