Ashlyna and Spotting: What Users Say

• Cc1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2018

For Birth Control "Last week I finished my first pack of Ashlyna and am now on my second. Don’t let these reviews scare you, I let them get to me and it made me so nervous to start this pill three months ago. Keep in mind most people write reviews when they have a bad experience. Yes, there were side effects at first. I had bad mood swings, nausea, dizziness, light spotting, and breakouts during the first couple of weeks, but that’s just the body adjusting to the new medication. I talked to my doctor and she said to try to finish out the pack. I’m so glad I did because when I started the second month, all those side effects pretty much disappeared and I didn’t see a period until I got to the sugar pills. If you just started this pill or are about to start, try giving it a few weeks for your body to adjust, don’t give up on it right away!"

• bir...
• February 15, 2020

For Birth Control "Ashlyna was my first experience with birth control, and I was looking forward to having my period every 3 months. The first 2 months on the pill, everything was great! Some mood swings, but no spotting, maintained my weight, and no change in skin quality. But about 2/3 into the pack, I started spotting daily. Along with the several weeks of spotting, my sex drive decreased drastically. During the placebo week, my period was relatively normal and lasted 3-4 days. When I started my second pack, it was similar to the first, where I was completely fine for about 1.5 months, then the spotting started again. However, after 2 weeks of spotting, I began to bleed heavily to the point where I would fill pads/tampons within a few hours. I also passed blood clots every day. Obviously, this was concerning, and I made an appointment to see my doctor ASAP! That will be in the next week or two. I have never stopped taking the pill and have been on schedule every day for the past 6 months."

• Hea...
• April 4, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on this 13-week birth control for 2 years now and have had no issues. My first pack did come with some irregular spotting, however, after my second pack, the spotting disappeared, and I have a regular period every 13 weeks as expected. I've gone through 3 other varieties of birth control that left me spotting no matter how long I took them, but this birth control actually works for me. I have very painful cramps and a heavy flow, but it has reduced the mere 4 periods that I do have a year to very light and painless ones. The only downside is my insurance doesn't cover it, and it's crazy expensive, but I'm at least happy it exists at all."

• Liz...
• April 2, 2019

For Birth Control "Horrible, horrible birth control! I took this to reduce my periods. I spotted the entire second month and then had the worst period of my life that lasted, so it was weeks. I ended up in the ER with anemia from all the blood loss. I would not recommend this birth control."

• Lol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I was taking Lo Seasonique with no issues for 2-3 years until I was switched to Ashlyna for insurance and pharmacy reasons. It is the same hormones, but Ashlyna is stronger. The first 3-6 months were seemingly okay until I started bleeding/spotting randomly at any time in the pack (not on placebo pills), mood swings/depression became an everyday thing, and if I did not take the pill like clockwork and was off by even 4 hours, I would get breakthrough bleeding. Not to mention the weight gain, 20 lbs in 6 months. I would not recommend."

• CVa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2018

For Birth Control "So far, I have been feeling good on this pill. It’s the very first form of birth control I have ever taken. I haven’t had any spotting or bad side effects. The only thing that bothered me was that my breasts were really tender/sore for quite a few days, but that went away. I’ve only taken it for 3 months, and I’m about to start the yellow pills. I don’t know how my period will be, but if I can edit this review, I’ll keep y’all posted."

• put...
• January 4, 2020

For Birth Control "My gyno put me on this because at 22, I have an on-the-go lifestyle, working for months at a time abroad. The first 2.5 months, this was incredible as I skipped two periods; however, at the 2.5-month marker, in the middle of my hormonal dosage, I accidentally skipped one day. Period came with a fury, even when continuing on schedule. At first, came minor bleeding that I thought was spotting and lasted about a week to 2 weeks. Then, in the middle of the second week, I thought honestly I might be hemorrhaging (turns out menorhagia) and had to wear both a pad and a tampon and change multiple times an hour. This, along with fatigue, existing anemia, and jetlag, pretty much took me out of myself for an entire month. Going on week 4 and I am still waiting for the flow to subside. I only lasted one packet, a 3-month cycle on this. I know everyone’s body is different, and some have had positive reactions, but I absolutely will not recommend any birth control that skips your period each month. Especially Ashlyna."

• Jay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2018

For Birth Control "My insurance switched me from Amethia to this. It's been a nightmare. Ever since I started Ashlyna eight months ago, I have spotted EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It's been like an endless period, cramps included. I'm switching back to Amethia, with which I never had much spotting. This birth control is AWFUL. Do not use it. You might as well use a regular monthly birth control and suffer a period once a month, because with this you'll have an endless period."

• Sar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 8, 2018

For Birth Control "I've been on Ashlyna for about 9 months now, and I've got to say that this is the best BC I've ever tried! I went through quite a few different brands in an effort to find one that worked for me, but none of them would stop my period. I'd still get it during weird times while taking my active pills. My doctor finally tried me on Ashlyna, and I love it! I get a very small amount of spotting every so once in a while, but aside from that, no period! I've not experienced any weight gain, and I feel like it's really helped to stabilize my moods and prevent acne too! Wish I had found this birth control a long time ago because it is AMAZING!!!"

• Sha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 7, 2019

For Birth Control "Absolutely did not like Ashlyna. I was on it for 6 months. I spotted constantly, sex drive dropped, acne did not get any better, and my emotions were all over the place. I felt down all the time, and it wasn’t until stopping the pill altogether that I’ve noticed how much happier my body is off of it!"

• Amb...
• February 16, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm on week 11 of my pack. Started off fine with no spotting. I have now been spotting with no break for the past 3 weeks. I have to wear a pantyliner every day. Also, the packaging on this brand is horrible!"

• Amb...
• July 4, 2017

For Birth Control "Okay, so I actually just started this. I was fine the first two months. I just started the last month before I start my period, and now I'm spotting really bad, and it was scaring me at first, but reading everyone else's kind of made it easier. Could it just be the fact that I'm on the last month or could it be something bad wrong?"

• Kst...
• September 26, 2017

For Birth Control "I have 2 uterine fibroids, and my periods are really heavy. I was put on this to manage the heavy bleeding. I have been using this for a year. The spotting has been horrible! Over a month straight of spotting. I always spot one to two months before I am supposed to have a cycle. My Dr. says to stay with it, and it will stop... and a year later... still spotting. Not to mention the weight gain! I have gained 15 pounds within the last year! I hate it. I will be switching to try a different one."

• CLo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2019

For Birth Control "Started taking in November of 2017 for normal birth control, and I took it for five months. I almost never had a full week without at least some spotting. Some days it would be more than spotting--like a full-on period. I really wanted this to work. Very disappointed!"

• Chr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 16, 2018

For Birth Control "I was looking forward to this birth control, only getting my period once a month sounded great. Yet I’m on my 6th month, and I’ve been bleeding so often. At times, I would spot for a month straight. Yes, it’s only spotting, but to be spotting for that long is so tiring. I would rather just get a consistent period once a month. At least I tried it. I’m going to switch off this pill and go back to getting my period once a month."

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2018

For Birth Control "If I could give this no stars, I would. This is my second pack, and I thought it would be different than the first pack. My first 5 weeks in, I started spotting, then my period came on for 22 days. I finally just stopped taking them and restarted them later that Sunday. It stopped my period from coming on, and my period came on when I got to the placebo pills. I started the second pack and was hoping that my body had adjusted to them by now. But the second pack, and 5 weeks in, I have started spotting again. I have decided to just stop taking them altogether. I have literally gained about 15 pounds in less than 5 months, and the cons of these pills outweigh the pros (of only getting your period every 3 months)."

• Anonymous
• February 25, 2019

For Birth Control "I started this pill back in December 2018 in hopes of having a period every 3 months due to bad cramps. Well, let me just tell you, this pill is awful. I have been spotting for a month, my hair is falling out like crazy, mood swings and depression, and I'm constantly tired. I am currently on month three, and I'm getting off of this mess as soon as possible. I highly recommend looking into other birth control."

• Cec...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 13, 2019

For Birth Control "Ashlyna was my second birth control. I was on a monthly one, but I have such miserable cramping during my period that I would get sick. My doctor recommended Ashlyna so the frequency of my pain would be decreased to 4 times a year rather than monthly. However, I'm extremely disappointed. She told me to give it some time... so I made it through the first three months and spotted just about every week; along with the spotting was some slight cramping. I've decided to keep trying with it... I'm going on a year on this medication, and it has done horrible for me. I can last about a month to a month and a half with no period now, but then I'll have it for a month straight with miserable cramping the entire time for the last month. Then I get to the actual week I should have my period, and it's heavy with awful cramping. Along with all of this, I've noticed changes in my energy and weight... sadly, not positive changes. I'm about to go to my doctor to be taken off."

• Bri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 23, 2022

For Birth Control "DO NOT TAKE, I’ve gained 26 pounds in 6 months, spotting soon as you are an hour or 2 late taking this pill, mood swings, and my anxiety is through the roof. The worst experience EVER! It cleared up my maskne but was not worth it!"

• Owl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 31, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been taking this since July of this year. I just finished my first pack and started my second. I don't know if it's just coincidence or not, but I haven't liked the side effects I have experienced. 1. Weight gain - overeating. 2. Constant spotting - daily for over a month. 3. More irregular than I was before. 4. I keep getting bacterial infections. I have not had any problems with infections at all until I started taking this."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 18, 2021

For Birth Control "About 7 weeks into my first pack, I started spotting for 2 1/2 weeks, which then turned into a full-on HEAVY period for another week. My doctor said to stay on it, things should level out. During the 7-week placebo pill, nothing happened. Went several more weeks with no period, then a 3-day period. Followed 3 1/2 weeks later with another 8-day period. I've had the worst acne of my adult life with Ashlyna, causing huge, painful pimples under the skin that will not go away. My husband says I am moody. Definitely low libido. I'm going to try one more 13-week pack after I finish this one. If things don't level out, I need to do something different."

• AXL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2021

For Birth Control "I started my first pill the same day when my last period just started (7/30), then continued taking it for 13 days at exactly the same time every day. Then I had to stop it as I just couldn’t stand the nonstop spotting and bleeding! I took this BC with the intention to skip my period as I travel a lot for work. Now I ended up with constantly bleeding!? Today is day 3 after I stopped the pill. It turned from spotting to light/medium flow, which is expected, even though it is just in the middle of my normal cycle. I hope my cycle was not too messed up. Definitely not for me!"

• Lin...
• December 16, 2020

For Birth Control "I started this birth control in February, and I experienced spotting for about 2 weeks. Then I started to bleed 1.5 months into it and didn’t stop until I started the next pack. This still happens every pack, and I’ve gotten used to it, but I plan on switching not only because of this. Also, after 4 months on it, I started to realize I became very emotional (which I used to never get upset or rarely cry), and I would go through depressive episodes that lasted about a week where I wouldn’t want to leave the house and would just cry for no reason. I also gained 10 lbs since starting this, but this was over quarantine, so not for sure if I can directly say it was the birth control. I get headaches 2-4 times a week, which I used to never get. My boobs grew two sizes. My acne got a little better, but not really. It did lighten my period, which was nice because I used to have the heaviest period where I could only make it 45 mins in an ultra tampon. Overall, I do not recommend this birth control."

• Cwi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 29, 2024

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Ashlyna for a little over 10 years now. It’s been great. I take it religiously and not once had a pregnancy scare. I have zero side effects; no acne, weight gain, spotting, or bloating. I get my period for 3-4 days every three months. The only complaint is the packaging sucks and has sucked for years. Just have to press the pill through the foil with only your fingernail to make sure you only pop that pill out and not rip the package. Other than that, I will forever recommend this birth control!"

• jen...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 2, 2021

For Birth Control "I have noticed little to no side effects since being on this birth control pill for over 5 years. Of course, I experienced the usual headaches and occasional breakouts, but there was one side effect that frustrated me the most. I assumed that after being on this pill for 5 years, my body would’ve adjusted to it by now. However, about 2 weeks leading up to my period, I experience heavy spotting every day. It’s very frustrating to me because when this happens, it seems like my period lasts for 3 weeks. I’m very religious about taking my pills every day at the same time, so I think it’s time for a change in my birth control. Other than that, I was very pleased with Ashlyna!"