Ethinyl estradiol / levonorgestrel for Ovarian Cysts User Reviews

• cbe...
• April 27, 2010

"I really like this birth control pill. It has made a huge difference in my skin over the past few months. I have been on several different types of birth control pills in the past 11 years, and these are definitely the best I have taken. I did experience some spotting/breakthrough bleeding during the first pack, but the benefits overshadowed that by far. I have had shorter periods, less pain, great skin, good moods, and increased sex drive."

• see...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2019

"I was so nervous to give this a try after reading the reviews. I used to get a SUPER heavy period, usually lasting about 7-8 days. I'd need a tampon or pad for at least 3-4 of those days. Combined with ovarian cysts, I always had cramps. I've been on Lessina for 2 months now, the first period I got was 4 days and super light. I was SO HAPPY to see. Yes, the side effects at first do suck. I noticed I was VERY hungry, easily irritable, and had mood swings with some anxiety. After about 3-4 weeks, this finally subsided."

• Fae...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2020

"Been on this pill for 2 weeks! Most horrible experience ever. I was having such extreme stomach pains that I thought I was having appendicitis, and my stomach has been tender to touch, and the cramping hasn’t gone away for a week! Emotional outbursts and crying (sobbing) for no reason. This birth control is horrible. I’m done."

• Anonymous
• August 24, 2009

"For four months, I have suffered from constant cramps, 24/7. My doctor finally took an ultrasound and found two very large cysts. One was filled with blood. He explained to me this is why I am in so much pain. I also have been experiencing other symptoms: thinning hair, low back pain/throbbing, nausea, ill feeling, facial hair, etc. I went back in, and he finally put me on birth control pills. I am 37 and taking birth control pills for the first time. I am almost two weeks into taking them, and to my relief, I have not suffered any bad side effects, but it's still early. I can only hope that this is a good sign. And I can only hope that my pain will subside and my cysts will dissolve. I have my fingers crossed. Wish me luck!"

• Rav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2017

"Have been on Lessina for 3 months (no placebo week) to prevent recurrent ovarian cysts. My 6 cm cyst has shrunk to below 3 cm. I feel great, fewer mood swings, and no weight gain or other symptoms. I am 44, and my doctor doesn't want me to take it for very long, but I feel it has been helping."

• Kat...
• May 13, 2011

"This is my first time on birth control, and I've heard so many stories about how Aviane gets you all irritated and nauseous, but so far, in the one week I've been using it, I feel perfectly normal. I'm not sure if that is because I just started, only time will tell. I'm not having any cramping in my ovaries because of my cysts so far. 10 out of 10 for me!"

• Anonymous
• May 5, 2009

"I am on my second pack of Seasonique. Day 2 of the yellow pills, and my period hasn't come yet. Could be because, 2 weeks ago, I had a 10-day period with heavy clotting. I have had no bad side effects other than lack of sex drive, which doesn't bother me since I am not having sex. I am using this to treat my ovarian cysts that have grown back."

• Cys...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 18, 2017

"I've been on this for almost 2 years, and every other birth control I've ever taken has given horrible hormonal side effects. This one is great. I don't feel crazy, I didn't gain any weight, and it helps decrease the pain from my cyst. I take only the pills and skip the placebos each month in order to shrink my cyst, which is in a tricky spot on my ovary and unable to be removed through surgery. I used to have to take a Percocet to not feel the pain, and it was frustrating. I only feel the occasional cramp, but nothing compared to the stabby feelings I used to endure. The only thing that sucks with this is the occasional reddish-brown goop that I think is my period refusing to die completely. My libido has also dropped SIGNIFICANTLY :( Anyone know a remedy for this?"

• Ann...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 5, 2016

"I love Seasonique! I have been using it for about 4 years. I was diagnosed with extremely painful ovarian cysts in 2012, and my OB/GYN suggested I take hormones. When she said I could take a script where I would only have 4 periods a year, I jumped at it. I noticed a difference right away. The only problem with this is I have a lot, pretty much constant vaginal discharge (due to the progesterone). It's clear and watery. But this is manageable for me, and for all the benefits of the pill for me: worth it. I love the fact that I only have 4 periods a year. And insurance (BCBS) covers 100% of the cost for me!"

• Tab...
• May 25, 2017

"I have been taking Seasonique for 10 years now. I got put on it when I was 15 due to a huge ovarian cyst and very bad periods that made me super sick! I've had no issue with this medication at all, until the beginning of 2016- now I have had no period. Every 3 months I get the symptoms of a period but never bleed. But I have been fine on this medication. I recommend it to anyone!"

• Moo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2015

"I am 40 years old. My doctor prescribed this medication to treat heavy bleeding due to an ovarian cyst that developed after several Clomid cycles with my infertility specialist. After three months, my periods are regular again, but at the cost of several unpleasant side effects. I have painful cystic acne in my genitalia, I have gone from being calm and relaxed to short-tempered, and my sleep cycles have been disrupted, leaving me tired all the time. The first day or two of my period is extremely painful, but that may be due to the fact that I have more like a 25-day cycle and the pill is trying to force a 28-day cycle."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 8, 2016

"I was taking Orsythia for about 2 years, but I switched to a stronger kind, which was the biggest mistake I've ever made. Orsythia did wonders for my acne. I tend to get cystic acne, but when I was on this pill, I would break out maybe once every three months. Also, my ovarian cyst went away, and my periods weren't as painful and a lot lighter. The only thing it didn't help was my anxiety, but it definitely didn't make it worse. I love this pill, but it seems to affect everyone differently, so you won't know unless you try it."

• luc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 5, 2021

"I have been on Lessina for about two years (I'm 18 years old) for ovarian cysts. I've noticed my periods are much lighter and more regular, which is awesome, and haven't had a cyst rupture while on it yet. Though it does regulate everything, I've found that it makes me depressed and makes me gain weight. It works for cysts, but wrecks my body and mind more than I thought it would."

• NVa...
• March 20, 2011

"I started using LoSeasonique a little over a week ago, mainly for irregular periods and the periodical ovarian cysts. I started my period on a Friday and started taking the pill on the following Sunday. I did not take the pill right away because I heard that if you begin taking the pill after the first day of a period, you will have lots of spotting. Anyway, my period stopped that Sunday, and I have not had any spotting since. It has been exactly one week, and I haven't experienced any cramps, bleeding, bloating, or anything uncomfortable. I take it at 3 PM every day and usually take it with a whole glass of water so I won't experience any headaches. I really like this pill so far and hope that I can continue."

• Gen...
• September 7, 2015

"I'm on this medicine to help with a current ovarian cyst, but the side effects are pushing me to surgery if living like this is my option. It makes me feel depressed and ready to cry at the drop of a hat, angry, mean, antisocial, and it has absolutely killed my sex drive. I'm on my fourth and last dose because I'm not feeling like this anymore!"

• Jud...
• January 20, 2015

"I've been taking Aviane for about 2 months, going on three. The first two months were great, now that I am on the third pack, I've been feeling really nauseated. Although it did help with severe cramps, I do not like feeling like I have to throw up all the time. It also cleared up my face a little."

• kbe...
• October 2, 2009

"So far, so good on this medicine. I have tried just about every birth control pill out there. The only (and most annoying) side effects I have had so far are breaking out really bad. There are waves of breakouts (mostly on my chin) that I have never had before. I am hoping that will subside. Also, I have been more easily emotional about things. Like if something is sad, I am more likely to cry about it than I would before. Hope this helps people out there wanting to try this. Beware of any acne that may arise!"

• Mic...
• January 18, 2017

"I have been on Aviane for 2 months now going on three. Within the first month, I've experienced headaches, depression, mood swings, severe cramping, and bloating, as well as stomach gain (which went down). All of those symptoms went away by the second month of taking this pill, which I've experienced lighter periods. I still have mood swings and get depressed at times, but I have very bad breakouts all over my face, chin, and neck, as well as black marks on my forehead. I've always had acne, but I've never experienced it this badly. I will continue to take it for the 3rd and 4th month just to see if anything gets better, and I will keep you posted."

• Anonymous
• November 12, 2009

"I loved Seasonique. I took it for about a year. I am switching to Jolessa only because it is a lot cheaper through my insurance. I never had bleeding unless I was on the inactive pills or I missed pills. I always had light periods while I was on it that were about 4 days. Wish I didn't have to switch."

• Sha...
• August 29, 2015

"I have tried a lot of birth control already, and I am only eighteen. I have been hospitalized for extreme ovarian cysts. I first tried Ortho Cept, and from missing one pill, I bled for two months straight. After that, they put me on a low-dose three-month pack that gave me horrible breakouts and breakthrough bleeding. After those pills, I tried the Evra patch, and I was rushed to the hospital for extreme bleeding, and my arm became paralyzed for a day. After this, I was put on Seasonale, and it took two packs to start working. I then had to add the Depo shot with it. For people with extreme cases, this will not be enough for you. For normal people, this will make you gain a little weight, but no breakouts and no breakthrough bleeding or weird side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 7, 2015

"I have been taking this for a year now, and I think it's wonderful. I haven't had a cyst rupture since I've been on it. I've had four ovarian cysts rupture, and I'm only 18, they started when I was 14. I have been on 5 different birth controls, and this is by far the best."

• Han...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2017

"I was switched to this generic after being on many others, including the same Rx formula and other formulas in the past. This was by far the worst pill I've ever taken as far as being ineffective for hormone control. My ovarian cysts returned, I had more painful periods, acne, bloating, mood swings, and the feeling of not wanting to be near or touched by anyone. Once I was back on my previous brand of generic for 2 months, I stabilized completely again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2018

"Nonstop bleeding for 3 months after having a regular period for 30+ years. Anxiety, depression. Headache, nausea. Increased facial hair, breast size, and retained water. Would NEVER recommend. 3 days after I stopped taking it, my mental health immediately stabilized, but the 'breakthrough bleeding' continues. Glad I survived this preposterous experiment. Should be a class action suit!"

• Anonymous
• November 17, 2011

"My GYN put me on LoSeasonique because they were out of regular Seasonique that I normally take. I've been on it for three and a half weeks. Yesterday, I started very little spotting, and today it was just a little heavy, enough that I have to wear a liner. Other than that, I have not experienced any other side effects so far. I will admit some of the reviews on here have me a little skeptical."

• lev...
• May 10, 2016

"This pill was great for the first 2 to 4 months. OK side effects included: weight loss, slight mood swings, cystic acne flare-ups, normal sex drive. BAD side effects: breakthrough bleeding that was brown, then red, then brown again for 2 months. Vag was very dry, would burn and itch, so uncomfortable, I had yeast infections for no reason too! The reason my GYN put me on this was that I had an ovarian cyst found in Oct '15, and each month after that when I'd get my period (which always lasted 3 days), I was in severe pain that required Vicodin or Percocet or Oxy to treat. I was off BC for 2 years prior to taking Levora. I can't take the breakthrough bleeding anymore, which is why I'm switching to Minastrin. Hopefully, that works better for me too..."