Apri for Birth Control User Reviews

• man...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 5, 2021

"I just want to remind everyone reading these reviews that an individual who has a horrible experience is more likely to share their experience as opposed to someone who had just a fine or great experience. I have taken Apri since I was 14, I am now 23. It has always worked well for me, no weight gain, my skin is completely clear, and I barely have a period anymore, which is the reason I started taking it so young as I had debilitating periods, and Apri was a total game changer. Also, as someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety throughout their life, Apri has had no effect on my symptoms. Please, do not take these (some of them terrifying) reviews too seriously when choosing a birth control and listen to the advice of your DOCTOR above all else."

• ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 24, 2020

"I've been on Apri for about 4 years now. I've never had any serious reactions/symptoms. If you're seeing other people's stories about their struggle taking this pill, please remember that everyone is different! Symptoms vary! It's been a long time, but I believe I was slightly nauseous for a few days when I first started Apri, but since then no problems at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 11, 2020

"I took Apri for 5 years. The first 2 years were great - light periods, skin cleared up, etc. However, everything slowly started to change. In 2018, I found myself constantly worried, feeling like walls were caving in on me. My anxiety climbed every day. I fell into a deep depression where I contemplated suicide. I started having violent thoughts - wanting to hurt those around me. Physical changes - gained 30 pounds in 2 years, skin started to get greasy. I would sleep 12+ hours and still not have energy. Mood swings. Crying daily - not able to control my emotions. I decided enough was enough. I stopped taking Apri immediately. It has now been 2 months since then - I no longer cry daily, my mood is significantly improved, and my skin is less greasy. My sleep schedule is learning to regulate itself, and I have more energy. Apri for the first 2 years was great. However, somewhere along the way, that changed. It's possible that in the time I was getting older, my inner body started to change and Apri just no longer worked for me."

• Anonymous
• July 11, 2010

"I started originally on Tri-Sprintec for about 3 months, which I believe is the generic of Ortho Tri-Cyclen. I was an emotional wreck, so my doctor switched me to Apri. I had absolutely NO symptoms whatsoever. I actually lost weight! Didn't increase my bra size, which could have been from the losing weight part. My acne cleared up within 2 months of starting Apri. It made my period so regular that I knew to the day down to the hour that I would start my period, with absolutely no spotting in between periods. I didn't really notice any changes in my sex drive. Overall, I would strongly recommend this pill!"

• Ano...
• April 7, 2013

"This birth control pill is awesome. It made my periods even lighter than they were before. I get no pimples, I've lost 15 pounds, my breasts went from a B to a D, and emotionally I feel the same as I did before it. I would highly recommend it."

• JZa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 12, 2020

"I have been taking Apri for about 6 months now. For about 4 of those months, I have spotted heavily the week before my period, so basically, I feel like I have my period for two weeks in a row. I asked my doctor about this, and she said it is normal because I started the pill recently. I feel like by 6 months this shouldn't still be happening. Does this happen to anyone else on this pill?"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 26, 2020

"If you are prone to anxiety or depression, please be very careful while taking this Apri birth control pill. The first couple of months, I felt very nauseous and would have the worst cramps around my period, not to mention it made my flow heavier. I would get awful headaches the days leading up to my periods as well. I had anxiety before I started this pill, but when I started to take it, it escalated very quickly. I have been on this pill for a year now, and it took until now for me to realize that it was making me lose my mind. I felt completely out of control in my thoughts and was making my anxiety spiral. I am now off of it, and I feel like myself again. Be careful!!!"

• But...
• January 23, 2012

"I've been taking Apri for about 3 weeks now. My sex drive is extremely high, even 15-20 minutes after I take the pill. I've had sex more times in the past 3 weeks than I have had in the past 6 months prior, no exaggeration. My breasts have been extremely tender, which turns me on. Everything turns me on, it's ridiculous. I love it."

• ali...
• February 20, 2019

"Just over 1 year ago, I went through a horrific medical event, one that almost claimed my life because of Apri. On December 9th, 2017, I went to the ER because I had what I thought was a severe migraine. They treated and released me, only to go back on Dec 11th. They had found blood clots in my brain so severe that I had to have surgery, and it ultimately saved my life. I spent 2 long weeks in the hospital. I have been through a crazy amount of genetic tests, and at this point, all of my doctors blame my birth control. Surprisingly, I have no lasting side effects, though I am told I am a rare case. You think the warnings can't happen to you... until it does. They tell me there are birth controls that are 'safe,' but it is not worth my life. I want nothing more than to let people know that this can and did happen. Really talk to your doctor, and do your homework before just accepting whatever they give you."

• Kri...
• February 5, 2016

"Was switched to this from Reclipsen. Works great for me. I think a lot of the reviews are from people who don't do well on a lower estrogen/higher progesterone pill. Ortho did to me what all the negative reviews on Apri said it did for them. You have to find what works for YOUR body. Don't get scared off by other people's experiences, everyone is different. This works well for my body and is affordable."

• All...
• November 21, 2016

"I was switched from Loestrin 21 to Apri a few months back because my periods were irregular and my doc thought Apri would be better for me. I like that there's placebo pills in Apri because I was awful at taking 21-day packs. The first couple of months were a little tough adjusting to the higher dose of hormones. I was super emotional! But that's normal. I'm on month 5 now, and things are fine. I'm still a little emotional, but only 'cry at something dumb' emotional. Nothing I can't handle. My periods are light, and I barely have any pain. Close to no acne. My boobs seemed to have grown a bit, so that's cool. My sex drive seems to be a tiny bit lower, but I never had a crazy-high sex drive in the first place. My husband and I still have a healthy sex life. I might have gained like 5 pounds or less, but that might be because of my lazy ass and not the birth control. :) Best of all, I haven't gotten pregnant! I recommend Apri. Give it a chance and let yourself adjust to the hormones."

• Ahm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 19, 2014

"I was put on Apri because I had horrible cramps and long, heavy periods. I took it for about six months, and around the five-month mark, my longtime boyfriend and I broke up. He told me it was because I was 'too emotional' and stressed him out. He was right, before Apri, I was always happy and relaxed, but on it, I would lie in bed at night and cry sometimes for no reason at all. I had constant fatigue, frequent headaches, mood swings, moodiness, and felt depressed a lot of the time. After a conversation with my boyfriend, I realized that we began to argue about the time I got on Apri. I went to my doctor and told her this, and she told me that this was because of its high levels of progesterone. I switched and am much better now without Apri."

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2020

"Took one month of Apri in preparation for IVF frozen embryo transfer, and it has been horrible for my mood. Every night I took the pill at 9 PM, and within 1.5 to 2 hours, my mood plummeted and stayed that way throughout the following day. I haven't been sleeping well, lots of laying in bed thinking. I just took my last pill last night, and today I am in such a horrible mood. It has been over a week, I have not wanted to do anything during the day and have been in nearly nonstop bad mood. I feel depressed, I also had breast tenderness the past week or two and wanted lots of junk food. Honestly, the depression/mood side effects were worse on my body than any of the hormones I was on during my 3 IVF cycles. Really do not recommend this drug, and it is disheartening to see many others talking about similar mood changes."

• mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2012

"I had a baby 12 weeks ago and have been on Apri since my 6-week postpartum appointment. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome, and my periods have always been VERY irregular. I also get a few whiskers that grow on my chin from the PCOS. Since starting the pill, I have noticed that those whiskers aren't growing anymore. Also, I have regular periods, my sex drive is normal, and I have not gained any weight! In fact, I have lost 20 lbs since starting it and have not changed my diet or exercise routine. I love this pill, this is why I rate it 10! Oh, and after having 3 children, there is a bonus: I am not pregnant."

• Ras...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2018

"I have to say the best birth control I've ever been on. I have high free testosterone and was diagnosed with PCOS. Still have sex drive and think Apri even increased it more. I haven't gotten any acne on it so far either. I'm not moody or anything that I noticed. Yet I've been on it for 5 days so far. If I notice anything different, I will repost."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 30, 2019

"After 10 months of debilitating night sweats and sleep disturbances, my doctor finally pinpointed it to Apri. Apparently, this is a very common side effect of this medication. It also gave me horrible anxiety. There are plenty of other birth controls out there. Steer clear of this one!"

• TLF...
• May 1, 2016

"I have been on Apri for almost nine months, and it works great for me. I was 135 pounds when I started taking it, and I am now down to only 117 pounds. Also, my period used to be heavy, and I ended up getting it twice a month, but once I started Apri, I now only have it for five days tops, and it is absolutely fine. I used to break out really bad, and my face would get really red, but thanks to Apri, I only get a pimple every now and then, and my face is no longer red. Apri works great for me, I love it."

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 4, 2019

"This pill makes my anxiety spin out of control. I don’t get panic attacks like I do with other pills, but I worry nonstop. I worry about everything from my dogs to getting in a car accident. I will lay awake at night worrying about one thing after another. I always feel a sense of doom. It also makes me feel very tired and almost drugged... it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning. I haven’t gained any weight, I lost a couple pounds but also changed my diet, so not sure if it was the pill or not. My boobs are always extremely sore. It cleared my skin aside from the occasional zit here and there. This isn’t the worst pill I’ve ever taken, but anyone with a predisposition to anxiety should watch it carefully. I get panic attacks on other pills and feel almost on the verge of that with this one."

• jac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 14, 2013

"I decided to give Apri a 10/10 score because I've been on this pill for 11 months now and had absolutely no issues with it. As for clearing acne, my acne was already starting to fade away before taking the pill, so I haven't had too many issues. I still break out sometimes before my period is due. My boyfriend and I have not used any backup method of birth control, and I haven't gotten pregnant... so I suppose it's doing its job. But of course, I realize we still SHOULD be using a backup method. Before getting on this pill, I used to have horrible cramping and very heavy periods, lasting as long as 10 days. Now I have short, pain-free periods that last usually from Thursday to Saturday (or very light on Sunday when I begin my new pack.)"

• DMH...
• July 20, 2014

"I've been on Apri for a few years, and it works 100% great! My acne is nonexistent. My periods are always falling on the 3-4 days that are supposed to. My cramps are gone, I used to curl over in pain because of them! Now I have little to no discomfort. But the reason I gave a 9 out of 10 is because your sex drive is close to none. I hate it for my husband, which is why I'll probably have to make a switch soon, but for me, I love the product!"

• lms...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 23, 2013

"I took Apri for over 2 years with no side effects. My periods went from extremely heavy for 6-7 days to very light for 3-4 days. My cramps went away, skin cleared up a little bit. Then I switched to Implanon for a month. During that time, I bled every single day and broke out horribly all over my chest and back. So I got that removed and went back on Apri. Since then, my periods have gone back to normal, I've gone up 2 cup sizes in the last 8 months, but I have been experiencing some very mild nausea and lightheadedness. I love it overall."

• woo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 18, 2016

"I've been on Apri for 7 months. This is my first time ever using BC, so I don't have much to compare it to, but I'm incredibly happy with it. My skin was gradually getting worse and worse with each year, and I can't tell you the last time I've had more than 1 tiny blemish at a time. My skin is amazing! My doctor did warn me about the initial side effects, and they were pretty bad honestly (highly emotional, weight gain about 10 lbs), but after I gave it 3 months, something clicked, and I stopped being emotional, and I have lost all the weight and even a bit more. I have found that I don't have much of a sex drive at all, but it's not worth it to me to switch just for that reason. If you're willing to go through the first few months, go for it!"

• hka...
• April 26, 2016

"I really like this birth control. When I'm not on birth control, I have extremely painful menstrual cramps, very heavy periods, and crazy hormonal acne breakouts. It took about two and a half months to see any improvements, but my face is almost always completely clear, I have much lighter cramps, and a much lighter flow. I did feel a little nauseous for the first couple of days, but I had no weight gain and no other adverse health or psychological complaints. The only other complaint I could state would be that within a week of taking the pill, my sex drive was almost completely gone. The main reason I am staying on the birth control is for the acne treatment! It is something I have been struggling with for years, and I am so happy with the results."

• Anonymous
• October 30, 2008

"I have been taking Apri for at least two years and have never had any problems with it. Some say it lowers sex drive, but my sex life has stayed the same. This is the best pill I have taken. I have taken a lot of different kinds, and I get serious headaches from taking the others. This is the only pill that I have had no side effects from. I only have my period for 2 days, and they are very light. If you are in the market for a great birth control, this is it. You will feel normal, and you won't have heavy periods. So take Apri."

• Rhi...
• January 29, 2016

"I love this pill, I've been using it for over 4 years now. I had some pretty bad acne, and my periods were heavy and long. Now my face is pretty clear, and my period is still a little heavy, but it's super short now (4 days tops). I haven't put on any weight since I started taking the pill. My significant other and I haven't used a condom in over 4 years, and I haven't gotten pregnant, so it works!"