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

Our doctor

We've got experts to help you choose your birth control

We have registered nurses and doctors who created a tool just for you.

Leave a comment or question

Post

Leave a comment or question

Post

Our doctor

We've got experts to help you choose your birth control

We have registered nurses and doctors who created a tool just for you.

Explore popular birth control reviews

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Lo Loestrin Fe birth control pill  

at first i experienced a lot of anxiety and mood swings but after a few years seemed to die down. Weight gain and libido have been the really only symptoms I have experienced. Have not had a period the whole time.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Volnea birth control pill  

I have been on birth control for a year and a half now. The pharmacy switched what brand they gave me, and even though it had the “same ingredients” it’s like you’re starting a whole new pill so your body has to adjust all over again. Im on month 6 of taking this one and Im consistently having break through bleeding the week before my placebo pill week, so im bleeding for two weeks every month. Im about to go off of it the beginning of September anyway, so i’m just pushing through, but if I have to take one in the future i will 100% be asking for a different pill. Ive had no other side effect except that which is great but the bleeding extra and the dull cramps that stick around those two weeks are annoying.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Vienva birth control pill  

I didnt really notice much of a change. I was only on .1/.02 mgs. I did notice a lot of nausea especially in the mornings and one night i was throwing up nonstop.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Yasmin birth control pill  

I never know when I'm just "overreacting" or when it's the effect of birth control. However, depending on the time of day I take my birth control, I may feel headache or nausea symptoms and it tends to be pretty obviously connected to the birth control (i.e definitely not because of anything else).


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  19th Jun 24

Viorele birth control pill  

Managed my periods well (virtually nonexistent) and never caused acne or weight gain. I would get headaches/ migraines around the time of the inactive pills. I fear that 16 years of birth control pill use have been bad for my body and I am taking a break. I noticed cramping and fatigue within weeks of stopping.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Jun 24

Apri birth control pill  

This birth control was prescribed to me for our IVF treatment for suppression. Mind you, I have no history of mental illness but a few days on this pill I felt crazy, severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and just felt like I had no will to live. Felt nauseas and just didn't want to get out of bed all day. It even terrified my husband. Everyone's experience is different but upon reading up on reviews on this pill I've seen very similar experiences like mine. I notified my physician because I couldn't take the side effects anymore and he quickly took me off it and prescribed a different birth control. As soon as I stopped taking Apri all the negative side effects subsided. Thank goodness the new birth control works well with me. Based on my personal experience, I always notify any physicians that I cannot take this pill. I will never look twice. Just horrible.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  31st May 24

Junel Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

This is the first birth control I have ever been on. I wanted the low dose combination pill to lower the risk of blood clots and other things. When I first started I really had no bad side effects at all. My period is way lighter than it was being off of the pill and it lasts only a few days. Sometimes I bleed a little more sometimes a little less or barely at all some months. My breasts have definitely gotten larger but I had smaller breasts to begin with so I don't mind the growth. I have a history of migraines but they were more frequent off of birth control and the only time I get migraines now is during the placebo week mainly. The one thing about the pill that has not been good is the weight gain. I am certain it is from the pill even though doctors tell you the combo pill cant make you gain weight. Before the pill I was 129 pounds and for the first couple of months I didn't notice any weight gain. Until about halfway through about 6 months in, I weighed around 144 pounds. Now I am a year in and the weight keeps going up and I am now about 167 pounds and my BMI is in the overweight category. I am so self conscious and depressed about my weight gain. I don't know if the weight gain will ever stop. I don't want to change pills because this works well for me otherwise but if you get on this pill, please be aware it may cause a ton of weight changes.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th May 24

Yasmin birth control pill  

It’s a pretty average birth control. It hasn’t affected me negatively a great deal but there are some impacts that have negatively affected me.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  24th May 24

Tri Estarylla birth control pill  

Didn’t experience anything bad, maybe bloating the first 3 months, but it seems to work fine.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th May 24

Junel 21 1/20 birth control pill  

I was put on Junel Fe 1/20 in college when I was underweight and not producing estrogen (I've since recovered from my eating issues and am at a much healthier weight) and I've had no issues with Junel. I don't get a period most months, and if I do have spotting, it's rarely during the time it's supposed to come, which I don't love. Besides that, no complaints!


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Explore popular birth control reviews

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Lo Loestrin Fe birth control pill  

at first i experienced a lot of anxiety and mood swings but after a few years seemed to die down. Weight gain and libido have been the really only symptoms I have experienced. Have not had a period the whole time.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Volnea birth control pill  

I have been on birth control for a year and a half now. The pharmacy switched what brand they gave me, and even though it had the “same ingredients” it’s like you’re starting a whole new pill so your body has to adjust all over again. Im on month 6 of taking this one and Im consistently having break through bleeding the week before my placebo pill week, so im bleeding for two weeks every month. Im about to go off of it the beginning of September anyway, so i’m just pushing through, but if I have to take one in the future i will 100% be asking for a different pill. Ive had no other side effect except that which is great but the bleeding extra and the dull cramps that stick around those two weeks are annoying.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Vienva birth control pill  

I didnt really notice much of a change. I was only on .1/.02 mgs. I did notice a lot of nausea especially in the mornings and one night i was throwing up nonstop.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Yasmin birth control pill  

I never know when I'm just "overreacting" or when it's the effect of birth control. However, depending on the time of day I take my birth control, I may feel headache or nausea symptoms and it tends to be pretty obviously connected to the birth control (i.e definitely not because of anything else).


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  19th Jun 24

Viorele birth control pill  

Managed my periods well (virtually nonexistent) and never caused acne or weight gain. I would get headaches/ migraines around the time of the inactive pills. I fear that 16 years of birth control pill use have been bad for my body and I am taking a break. I noticed cramping and fatigue within weeks of stopping.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Jun 24

Apri birth control pill  

This birth control was prescribed to me for our IVF treatment for suppression. Mind you, I have no history of mental illness but a few days on this pill I felt crazy, severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and just felt like I had no will to live. Felt nauseas and just didn't want to get out of bed all day. It even terrified my husband. Everyone's experience is different but upon reading up on reviews on this pill I've seen very similar experiences like mine. I notified my physician because I couldn't take the side effects anymore and he quickly took me off it and prescribed a different birth control. As soon as I stopped taking Apri all the negative side effects subsided. Thank goodness the new birth control works well with me. Based on my personal experience, I always notify any physicians that I cannot take this pill. I will never look twice. Just horrible.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  31st May 24

Junel Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

This is the first birth control I have ever been on. I wanted the low dose combination pill to lower the risk of blood clots and other things. When I first started I really had no bad side effects at all. My period is way lighter than it was being off of the pill and it lasts only a few days. Sometimes I bleed a little more sometimes a little less or barely at all some months. My breasts have definitely gotten larger but I had smaller breasts to begin with so I don't mind the growth. I have a history of migraines but they were more frequent off of birth control and the only time I get migraines now is during the placebo week mainly. The one thing about the pill that has not been good is the weight gain. I am certain it is from the pill even though doctors tell you the combo pill cant make you gain weight. Before the pill I was 129 pounds and for the first couple of months I didn't notice any weight gain. Until about halfway through about 6 months in, I weighed around 144 pounds. Now I am a year in and the weight keeps going up and I am now about 167 pounds and my BMI is in the overweight category. I am so self conscious and depressed about my weight gain. I don't know if the weight gain will ever stop. I don't want to change pills because this works well for me otherwise but if you get on this pill, please be aware it may cause a ton of weight changes.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th May 24

Yasmin birth control pill  

It’s a pretty average birth control. It hasn’t affected me negatively a great deal but there are some impacts that have negatively affected me.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  24th May 24

Tri Estarylla birth control pill  

Didn’t experience anything bad, maybe bloating the first 3 months, but it seems to work fine.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th May 24

Junel 21 1/20 birth control pill  

I was put on Junel Fe 1/20 in college when I was underweight and not producing estrogen (I've since recovered from my eating issues and am at a much healthier weight) and I've had no issues with Junel. I don't get a period most months, and if I do have spotting, it's rarely during the time it's supposed to come, which I don't love. Besides that, no complaints!


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Don’t keep it on the DL.Put it on the LD.

Slide into our DMs

hello@thelowdown.com

Sitemap

©The Lowdown 2024