Alesse for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 5)

• Elle
• March 22, 2015

"I have been on Alesse for almost 11 months. My first time using birth control. For the first 6 months I was fairly happy with it and did not experience any side effects that I noticed at the time. Now I am considering going off the pill because for the last few months I have had a very low sex drive and gained 30 pounds since starting Alesse. My job has been very stressful and I have stopped working out regularly so those things are a part of it, but I think going off the pill would be beneficial for me and could help with losing the weight."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2017

"I've only been on alesse for a week but I'm already quitting it... no physical pain or acne or anything like that, but I'm experiencing these horrible mood swings. All the sudden I become extremely irritable or want to cry my eyes out, it's unbearable. Also, I'm hardly ever hungry or full now. The not being hungry thing isn't so bad, but I can literally eat an entire tub of icecream and still not be full. I've definitely gained a little bit of weight."

• Sarah
• November 10, 2015

"No side effects for me but everyone is different so everybody's experience will be different and not only depending on your weight or height! Try it for at least six months and if it's not for you just switch!!"

• Amirra
• December 3, 2010

"If you're looking for a birth control that's easy on your body in the sense that you don't get mood swings, no weight gain, good sex drive, etc., you might like Alesse. If you're looking for all that as well as an acne treatment, BEWARE (especially if you have adult acne)! My doctor put me on Alesse because I was looking for a birth control and an acne treatment (I had moderate adult acne on my cheeks). The first three months, I thought I was in heaven. No mood swings, no weight gain, clear skin, etc. Then approaching my period on the fourth month, I woke up with 6 acne cysts on my chin, jaw and lower cheek. I had never had them before. Still getting pre-period cystic breakout, onto Diane 35 next month."

• Pup
• September 4, 2019

"I started Alesse 28 in December of 2018. I was put on it by my doctor to help regulate my excruciating periods (so bad I'm on prescription painkillers). The first 3 months they were still just as bad as ever causing me to miss classes, my acne however cleared up. Since then they have caused me mood swings, depression, worsened anxiety and countless baby scares. My periods are light and short, but still very very painful. I would not recommend unless you enjoy scaring both yourself and your boyfriend every few months with random and confusing unwarranted pregnancy scares. Side effects also consist of sleepless nights, leg cramping, migraines, a non-existent sex drive, and nausea which is great. I've been lucky not to have weight gain, but the bloating is absolutely terrible, it starts early and lasts all day. Definitely going to ask my doctor about switching pills or just going to tough it out, I would recommend painful heavy periods over this any day."

• teen
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2019

"I started Alesse in December 2018 for a couple reasons: 1)to help with my cystic acne 2)prevent pregnancy. My first couple weeks my cystic acne went away but I got a bunch of surface level pimples which was discouraging. By month 2-3 my acne was super clear but now (month 5-6) my acne is the worst I've ever had it. Not cystic but its out of control awful and my skin is super inflamed. On top of all that, the pill has mad me very emotional to the point I sometimes burst out crying for no reason. It has been fairly effective for preventing pregnancy but I did have a pregnancy scare when it made me skip my period one month (but it just skipped for no reason). Overall, was okay for starting out with but definitely switching."

• uaheb
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 27, 2017

"I was taking this as a contraceptive and to prevent ovarian cysts, which I am prone to. This pill worked great for those two things and I had no problems with this BCP for the first year of taking it. However, after around a year and half on it I developed extreme anxiety, panic attacks, severe moodiness and change of temperament, as well as nausea every single day. I am about to go off of it, hopefully I can find a BCP without these side affects."

• Zano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 4, 2018

"I started taking alesse for really bad cramps that left me immobile and missing my classes. After being on the pill for 2 months I've had the lightest periods I've ever had. Only downside is that my mood dropped considerably"

• Joano
• October 21, 2018

"I was taking this pill for the last 9 years. Didn’t really have any side effects for the first few years. In the last year I would wake up with blurred vision that would last for a good hour. I am now off this pill and my vision is much better. Also I started to get major cramps a week after I started a new pack plus spotting. I’m done with this pill and all BC pills"

• Mina
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2018

"I’m a first time user and my doctor prescribed me Alesse. I’ve been on it for 5 months, debating on switching pills for the last 2. This pill caused me acne when my skin was basically almost perfect before and a little bit of weight gain. The only good it gave was some less bad cramps. But over all, would not recommend."

• AJano
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 10, 2021

"I’ve been in this for close to 10 years now. I tried switching to an IUD last year and had to come back to Alesse because my acne got out of control. My skin is super nice on this, my cramping is lessened, my periods are shorter, and I haven’t gotten pregnant thus far. What more could I ask for? I would recommend this but know everyone reacts differently to birth control brands."

• Alesy...
• April 7, 2016

"I've been on the generic of Alesse called Alesyna for about 3 years. I put on over 20 pounds with this BC going from 107-130. I have terrible anxiety and extreme exhaustion. For preventing pregnancy, it worked, but I did NOT enjoy gaining so much weight."

• Jupiter
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2021

"Oh my. Yes this pill definitely was not for me. When I started I got really bad spotting, I also got incredibly bad migraines. I’ve taken it for three months and it put me in such a bad depression. Everyone around me was noticing it and it has caused a lot of problems between me and my boyfriend. I haven’t felt very motivated, or excited and it really got rid of my sex drive. This was not it for me. I honestly wouldn’t recommend for people who already have depression or anxiety, for me personally it just made things worse. I’ve stopped it now and already I feel a difference. Don’t take it!!"

• Anonymous
• January 3, 2010

"I used this pill during my teens and it caused irritability and heavy mood swings. Perhaps it was just teen angst but I tried microgynon recently, which uses the same hormones just different levels, and experienced similar mood swings and depression."

• Tiff
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 12, 2018

"Worst birth control I have ever taken BY FAR. Took it for 3 months (gave it a fair shot). Broke out in the worst cystic acne of my entire life. Zero sex drive. Prone to sadness. Can't wait to start a new pack of something else. Not for me."

• Notsu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2016

"I've been on alesse for 2 months now, going on my third month. This pill is not so bad, no weight gain/ acne/ or mood swings. But I'm experiencing chronic fatigue on this pill, when I am on my period week I feel soo much better. Everything else is really great, but I'm not sure how much longer I will stay on this. I can't live my life with exhaustion it makes me lose desire for things I normally love, coffee fixes it a little but it is still there, I would rather have the old me back, or maybe switching my birth control? But it's a good birth control other than that ( you will find nothing perfect out there)"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2020

"I took this birth control for a month which went well then I stopped taking it and then started taking it again and it’s been 2 months of continues chest acne that almost looks like a fungal, folliculitis. Stopping it tomorrow to see how things go."

• Soph
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2014

"I've only been on Alesse for 3 weeks and since this is my first time on a birth control pill, I can't really say all that much except for the fact that i've been spotting for 5 days, I should be getting my period in about a week and I get cranky extremely easily now (well more than normal) but other than that, it's been a decent experience so far I guess."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2017

"I took Alesse for 1 month and 1 week. After the first week I broke out with the worst cystic acne I have ever had in my life. I tried to stick it out to the three month mark to see if it would clear up, but it was so horrible I decided to stop 1 week into my second pack. I'm giving it 5 stars because I didn't experience any other side effects whatsoever, which I have gotten on other pills."

• m09m
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 29, 2017

"I'm a 27 yo woman, who has only used the pill as bc. I started bc at 24 yo. I was on microgestin 1/20 fe that worked pretty well for me for a couple of years. No weight gain, no migraines, no anxiety or depression, decreased pms. The only thing was that if I was a little off on my timing I'd spot. So I switched. Thought maybe there's a better pill out there for me? I was on alesse for 10 months. I went from 112lbs to 122lbs. Which I didn't mind, really. What I endured with this bc was horrifying. I was constantly bloated. Pregnant belly bloated the entire month, had severe cramps that would immobilize me completely, I suffered from panic and anxiety attacks and slight depression. I had a foggy mind and would sob at least 2 times a week."

• ky087
• August 8, 2017

"I was on Alesse for about 4 years. Just going off it now just to see how I feel off birth control (if I feel any different). My experience with it was great. My period cramps became way more manageable and my periods only ever lasted about 4 days max. For the last 2 years me and my boyfriend would have sex no condom and never had any scares so it works well! ( I was good with it and took it every night before bed). I don't have acne prone skin so I didn't experience any problems while on the pill. I've been on Alesse since grade 12 so I'm curious as to how my body might be off the pill thats the only reason I'm going off it, and I would definitely take it again if/when I go back on the pill."

• anony...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 11, 2017

"I started taking this pill about 3 years ago. At first, I wanted to use it as a birth control & to clear up my acne (which wasn't that bad; I had light/moderate acne with no cysts). However, my acne got A LOT WORSE (severe cystic acne) and I didn't know it was from that pill. I had acne like I never had before and I started experiencing violent headaches (at least 1 or 2 per week). I tried a lot of treatment for acne, but none of them worked. Due to a breakup with my ex-boyfriend from the last 5 years, I stopped the pill about 3 months ago. Honestly, my face cleared up now and it's as smooth as a baby's butt!! Also, I never experienced headaches again since I stopped that pill. So yeah, that pill did it job as a birth control, but, it wasn't the great one for me and it's too bad that I realize it 3 years later!"

• SJano
• September 3, 2019

"I've been on birth control for just under 10 years and am still taking Alesse. The first 3-5 years were TriCyclen Lo, but then I got my period for over a month straight and my doctor recommended switching to Alesse. The first day I took it, I felt incredibly nauseous. This went away after a day or two. During my time on this medication I rarely experienced spotting, my periods were very light (about 2-3 days long, never required more than a regular-sized tampon), and while I didn't have bad acne in high school, I did get fewer zits while on both TriCyclenLo and Alesse than I did in high school. I am about to try getting a copper IUD, though, because I've been experiencing some depression, anxiety and low libido, and think they could be caused by birth control. I may also have gained some weight but not sure what that's attributable to."

• Cheer...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 12, 2016

"This birth control was the worst experience of my life. It gave me horrible breakouts for an entire week during each month and I gained a significant amount of weight. I stayed on it hoping it would get better but it never did. I've finally switched brands and finally seen improvement in my skin."

• NWano
• September 15, 2016

"The first day I took alesse I felt perfectly normal. The next day I instantly felt nauseous and tired. The third day and 3 days after I had severe migraines that never seemed to go away even after taking 2 400mg advils. The migraines went away for a week but came back this week for another dreadful 4 days. Couldn't handle it anymore and went to my doctor who advised me to stop taking the pills and wait a week to see if the migraines continue without the use of alesse. Hopefully I just need to change brands of birth control to better suit me! I'm sure it's a great birth control just wasn't for me!"