Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone for Menstrual Disorders User Reviews

• Glo...
• September 26, 2010

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I never write reviews on things, but since there are so many negative reviews about this birth control and I've actually had a great experience with it, I thought I'd make an exception. Loestrin 24 Fe is the 5th birth control I've tried in the past 4 years, and as I was going on this I vowed that if it didn't work I'd have none of it and just give up on the pill. Lucky for me, it seems like the 5th time's the charm. My skin is the clearest it's ever been, the horrible cramps that would leave me practically crippled are so mild that I can actually walk around without pain, my horrible headaches are gone, and my sex drive is far from lessened. I genuinely give this pill two thumbs up, and want to remind you that everyone's body is different."

• Syd...
• July 27, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "Ladies, please realize you are putting synthetic chemicals into your body. It is completely normal to have side effects, your body won't regulate the pill until after about 3-4 months of consistent pill taking. I have been on Microgestin for about 2-3 years, and it lightened my period, helped my cramps, and helped my mood swings. However, the success of the pill depends on how it reacts with your body. Give these pills a chance (3-4 months), otherwise you won't find one that works. You can't expect it to work within a month."

• bre...
• December 29, 2011

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "Wow! I LOVE this medicine! I am excited about the hope of bigger breasts, aren't we all ladies? It apparently has increased my sex drive. I am 35 years of age, married for 18 years and have 5 children. I cannot say anything bad at all about this medication, I love it! Oh yeah, it regulates my periods so I have them more often with less cramps. I also have lighter periods, which is always a plus."

• mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2014

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I have been on Microgestin 1/20 for about three weeks now, and the side effects were not shy. The first two days, I had bad migraines, the third and fourth, I had cramps, and the fifth to seventh day, I was extremely depressed. I cried over almost everything and anything. Starting the second week, it seemed like things were going okay until I started bleeding, and it hasn't stopped. Isn't that the whole purpose? I got over my period two and a half weeks ago, and now I'm getting it again, and there are no signs of it stopping anytime soon. The good thing is I don't have mood swings or anything anymore, but this excessive bleeding is now the problem."

• Sli...
• January 15, 2013

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "Loestrin is VERY effective as a contraceptive. However, I am on the pill because of irregular and painful periods. The pill is good, but what bothers me is that my monthly cycle, though tolerable, is COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE. The first few months I had a period, short and light. Then my period disappeared, and I thought I was pregnant. My doctor told me this is normal with this pill. After two or three months of no period, it came back preceded by cramping and severe nausea -- I thought I was pregnant AGAIN! The number of days between periods is not consistent. This cycle, I was exhausted, nauseous, and moody a week and a half before the bleeding began. Now I am having nausea, though physical symptoms usually disappear a day or two after bleeding."

• mit...
• July 14, 2014

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I love this pill. I have been on it for 3 years. It regulates my period, and the loss of appetite has helped with weight loss. In February 2013, I weighed 282, it is July 2014, and I weigh 236. I'm more emotional to movies and everything, but that's fine."

• Pai...
• July 6, 2014

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I've been on this for two cycles, and I hardly have any side effects! No weight gain or nausea like some others have experienced on it. I'm a little more sensitive and get more upset over things, but overall, it's been great. Just keep yourself in check and remember that you're on hormones when you start getting overly sensitive. I would recommend this."

• wes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 29, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I got my tubes tied about 8 months ago, and it ruined me. Extremely painful heavy periods. I mean to the point where I could not walk. Painful ovulation, and for the first time ever--- my skin broke out like a teenager. I have never, ever had skin issues. My doctor put me on hormone therapy. Started with Junel, but that did nothing. My insurance changed it to Microgestin, and I was a little apprehensive. I started taking it to try it out, and I love it! My skin cleared up in a matter of a week, no weight gain, no mood swings, and very light periods! It did make me nauseous at first, but that went away. It also increased my breast size a bit. I read the reviews and was nervous to try it, but I must say, I love it!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2013

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I have been on the pill for about 3 weeks now, everything has been going okay. I have less mood swings, I'm more calm, and my sex drive has improved, so that's a plus. There are a few side effects I've experienced, though: my acne is breaking out again, I've been having spotting and severe cramps, but I'm going to finish my 3 months and see how it goes... Hope this helps, good luck, ladies!"

• Anonymous
• July 18, 2010

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I was taking Yaz for 3 years. My Ob/Gyn took me off and put me on this one. I have been taking it for 2 months, and until I came across this site, I wondered what was going on with my body! I have gained 15 pounds, no periods at all, bigger breasts, very bad headaches, anxiety, leg cramps, insomnia, and very moody. I feel like a whole different person, and I don't like it. I loved Yaz. I was taking a birth control to help my never-ending periods but have decided I don't like what this pill is doing to me, and I don't plan on taking it anymore."

• Emi...
• May 5, 2014

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I was put on Microgestin because I have awful cramps at the start of my period and ovarian cyst ruptures that would put me in the hospital. Microgestin took the cramps away, as well as my period! I was on it for 7 months before I began to realize that it was giving me some bad side effects. I felt nauseous, had blurred vision, shortness of breath, and felt tired all the time. I also experienced hot flashes and some mood swings. Today is my first day off the pill, and I can already feel the cramps. Guess I will have to decide which one is worse, the cramps or the side effects."

• You...
• April 23, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I've been taking this pill for two months now and have been bleeding for the last 28 days, and this is with already skipping the sugar pills. Can't imagine if I actually had let my body have a period. The doctor said, give it three months, I'm waiting. I have cramps every day, Motrin is like a daily routine now, day and night. Has anyone experienced this?"

• ran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2014

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I take birth control for my severe PMS symptoms, and this is easily the best I've tried. After a few days of very mild nausea in the beginning, Microgestin 1/20 has given me no noticeable side effects besides going up a full cup size. If anything, I've lost weight (including the three pounds I gained on my previous birth control), have had no breakouts or spotting, and cramps so mild that for the first time in a long time, I didn't need to take any pain medication. Plus, the low dose means no significant increase in breast cancer risk. I'd recommend this BC to anyone."

• Tay...
• July 25, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I just started my second pack of Microgestin Fe 1/20, and I cannot complain! I definitely have the side effect of feeling a little sick, but that is to be expected. My first month of using it, I also had started working out, and I actually lost 7 or 8 pounds, so I had no problem with my weight. I'm sure it is based upon your body, but if you maintain a healthy lifestyle, weight gain should not be a problem. I started taking this due to the unreal pain I was experiencing while I was on my period. This past one was nothing! I had zero pain, and it was extremely light and only lasted about 2 days. It was so nice! My only complaint is my stomach hurting during the first few days of pills."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2012

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I've been taking this for a week and a half. So far, two different times I felt alarming numbness in one arm and dizziness - thought I was having a stroke. But it passed. Also, my breasts feel very tender, sore, and heavy. They have not grown, that I've noticed, though. I have also broken out (acne) more than usual. So I have experienced side effects. I'm going to try this pill out for a whole pack before I switch. I haven't experienced moodiness, which I was concerned about, because I am prone to melancholy. I would recommend that you try this pill and don't back out because of the negative reviews. Give it a chance. That's what I'm doing."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 16, 2012

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I love this pill! It has helped my skin, made my periods shorter and lighter (2 days), and I like it because it's a monophasic pill. Triphasic pills often can lead to breakthrough bleeding because the hormones increase each week, but the monophasic pills don't increase, they stay the same."

• Jan...
• February 9, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I am genuinely happy with this pill and haven't had any problems with this pill up until now. I started taking this pill because of my excruciating menstrual cramps, excessive bleeding, and acne. I've been on this pill for six months and all of my symptoms decreased. My period has been very regular since I've taken this pill, I always know when I'm supposed to start my period. My period has never been late before, but I'm currently two weeks late. I've read up about this, and it is said that the low estrogen levels in this pill can make you late or even skip periods, which is the one side effect I do not like because you can't tell if your pill is working or if you are pregnant, which scares me."

• kin...
• April 26, 2019

"I'm finishing up my second month of these pills now, and I'm miserable. I have no energy, I had chest pain up until about a week ago, I'm depressed and extremely anxious, and I'm constantly between diarrhea and constipation. I'm nauseous daily, usually right before I take my pill and for the next few hours afterward. My face, my chest, and the back of my shoulders have been broken out. The breakouts on my chest and shoulders are something I've never experienced prior to taking this. The same goes for the spotting I experience about halfway through the pack, and for the severe period symptoms I've been experiencing. I was trying to wait this medication out, since experts say it takes 3 months for your body to fully adjust to new hormones, but I'm going to quit this once I finish this month. I got on this to get my period regulated, but the side effects are not worth it. I wouldn't recommend these pills to anyone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 23, 2012

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I was on Loestrin for a year. At first, it was great. Then my period stopped completely, except for spotting all month long. It constantly made me feel pregnant. My breasts would hurt, I'd feel nauseous often, and the fact that I wasn't getting a period gave me great anxiety. Furthermore, I was experiencing anxiety regularly and developed a sort of hypochondria-where I thought I was sick constantly. I think it was because my hormones were so out of whack. I am now on a higher hormone pill and don't have anxiety issues anymore. I really think this pill was my issue."

• jpd...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 31, 2012

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I was 46 when I first started taking Loestrin 24, primarily because my periods were becoming heavier, more erratic, and with more cramping, basically premenopausal symptoms. I've been taking it for about 4 years now, and I have to say this really took care of all of those issues, and as long as I take it every day at about the same time, I have no troubles. If I do get off track, worst case is a minor yeast infection for a week or so. I totally appreciate the fact that I now have almost no period - just spotting for about 3 days. It also mellowed out my PMS mood swings. My only gripe is cost, as my insurance isn't covering it. I totally recommend Loestrin 24 FE."

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "This pill has been giving me the blues. Since starting, I've had constant yeast infections and BV. Increased hunger, nausea, and severe bloating. The only thing it does efficiently is prevent pregnancy, and by the way, I haven't seen my period in 3 months. Feeling terrible."

• Nay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2016

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "Microgestin is terrible! Although it stops periods, you cannot run out of packets at all with this medication. I missed a pill due to delays while I was in Texas, and right after, breakthrough bleeding started. It happens every month. You cannot miss a pill. The minute you do, breakthrough bleeding starts immediately after."

• Lna...
• January 11, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I'm 22, and this is the 1st time I've been on birth control. I've always had irregular periods, missing them for 2-3 months so that I would only get 5-6 periods the whole year. I have had no side effects at all with Microgestin. During the placebo week, I actually got my period on time as predicted, and it only lasted for about 4 days. I'm used to it being very heavy and lasting a week. During the end of the 2nd week and throughout the 3rd week of the pills, I had brown discharge, but that usually happens before I have my period. Overall, no complaints, and it seems to be working!"

• Nat...
• October 13, 2015

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "I think if you already had some underlying issue like I had, terrible PMS and painful periods, and you felt terrible mood swings, etc., without BC, then this pill seems to work well. It seems like women who have minor PMS and such don't do well with this one. But I have felt amazing since starting it. I barely have a period and no PMS. No PMS! I haven't had any mood issues or hormonal issues since starting it. I have noticed my breasts are more full, which is welcome. Only real side effect was nausea for the first 1.5 weeks in the morning and evening, which wasn't fun. I feel great on it."

• kia...
• January 8, 2011

Ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone "Before I buy a product, I research it. Unfortunately, when it came to looking for a birth control, the majority of the reviews for ones ranging from Yaz to Ortho Tri-Cyclen were negative, so I threw all caution to the wind and allowed my doc to fill a script for Loestrin 24 Fe. Ladies, prior to taking this pill, my periods ranged from 4-6 days and were very irregular with heavy bleeding (one time I bled through my jeans in class, ultra embarrassing). In addition, my symptoms consisted of diarrhea, nausea, lethargy, and severe cramps, which kept me in bed. The first 3 months taking Loestrin were difficult (spotting/mild cramps), but now I've been on it 5 years, and I haven't seen a sign of my old symptoms. Plus, my periods are light and short. I recommend."