Gildess Fe 1/20 and Cramps: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 12, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been taking Glidess for a few years to control heavy periods and have been very happy with it. No more periods, no headaches or cramping. My pharmacy switched to Blisovi when Glidess was recalled. I am seeing terrible reviews/side effects that people are having. I used another generic in place of Glidess in the past when my pharmacy ran out of it, and I had terrible acne and felt sick while taking it, so I'm afraid to take another generic version. I hope the issues with Glidess are resolved and it comes back on the market. Not sure what is the closest match to it, as it seems Blisovi is not it."

• Ale...
• August 9, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on the pill for more than two months, and all I can do is complain about it. I started taking it to regulate my periods, but all it's done is make me have no periods at all- which doesn't help much either. It made me break out so much, and I'm always moody and angry, as if I'm PMSing all the time. Not to mention, I get all the lousy pre-period symptoms, such as backaches and cramps, but no bleeding."

• Mar...
• June 13, 2015

For Birth Control "I would rate this a 10, but I am only 2 1/2 months into using it. The pills are FREE with my insurance. I am 41, and my periods had started getting really bad, and I had been feeling hormonal and was 10 pounds overweight. My doctor was going to prescribe me a mini pill that would cost $60 a month. I mentioned the cost was a burden, and she gave me Gildess. I feel great. I have lost weight, and my sex drive is high. My periods are very light. No more cramps, heavy bleeding, and bad dizzy hormone spells. No bad side effects yet."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 7, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for about 6 months. After getting past the first few months, I am very pleased. I no longer have any sort of spotting, the cramps still come every now and then, but my period is always right on time. I see no drastic negative changes."

• Sha...
• March 7, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on this for a little over 2 years. I was very emotionally unstable before and asked to be switched to one that doesn't alter moods, so they chose this one. My period comes at the same time every month and no more cramps! I had terrible cramps the whole first day I started, no matter what I did. Now they're nonexistent! And I finally feel like myself again. I recently gained weight, but not due to the birth control. It's a great choice for me!"

• Fla...
• April 5, 2015

For Birth Control "Well, this is my first time on birth control, and it wasn't that bad. I just finished my first month. The first week I was on it, I was extremely moody, I cried a lot. Then I noticed that the nice person I was during my normal period cycle was spreading itself throughout my regular life. I experience no weight gain, no bloating, hardly any cramps (which is the only reason I even got on the pill), and my period was super light."

• nev...
• July 29, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on Gildess for about 2 months, and I absolutely hate it. I'm always on my period and never feel good. I always feel groggy, lethargic, and have constant cramps. I cry for no reason, and my depression caused me to have therapy sessions. I switched from Emoquette after a year because I gained 20 pounds, which is horrible. I always have a headache on Gildess. I do not recommend it for anyone. Hopefully, I can find the correct birth control."

• Kel...
• February 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I felt the need to write something because it seems like this gets several bad reviews. I will say the first few weeks were pretty bad. Spotting and cramps, but that's it - once I got used to the hormones, it's been smooth sailing ever since. Expect to spot on this (like every other BC, I'd bet), but doubling up for a few days stops that. No mood swings and cleared up minor acne, so I recommend trying it for yourself! Everyone has different reactions, I did."

• rac...
• December 20, 2015

For Birth Control "I started this birth control 4 months ago right before I left for college in August. I read reviews, and I was iffy, but my OB promised me everyone's body is different and I should try it out. The first month was okay. I was happy as ever at college. I got horrible cramps when I got my first period on it, and my period was really irregular, but I figured I just needed to adjust. Come late October, November, and now December have been the worst months of my life. I'm crying every day, lost my boyfriend, planned on starting therapy, don't want to go back to school, nothing makes me happy, I want to do nothing at all times. Everybody's body is different, but this depression isn't even worth risking. Do not take."

• Gh2...
• June 26, 2016

For Birth Control "This is the only birth control since the depo that I have found that works for me. I get terrible cramps, mood swings, tender breasts, and acne when I'm not on BC or on any other BC. After the first month on Gildess, after my body was used to it, I had ZERO PMS side effects!! I am so happy I finally found something that takes away those terrible debilitating cramps!! I have had absolutely NO issues with this BC!! So grateful to have found this..."

• Hor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2016

For Birth Control "Express Scripts switched this one in place of my Microgestin FE 1.5/30. This has been the worst experience ever. I missed taking a pill by 2 hours and I had already begun breakthrough bleeding and severe cramping. To where I had to leave the office at work and just lean over and hold my stomach. The absolute worst part is the depression. I'm crying about everything and getting upset with my boyfriend over nothing. I've only been taking this for two weeks and it's been a hellstorm. I do not recommend this brand."

• tla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2016

For Birth Control "This is the worst birth control I have ever been on! I am 31 years old and recently had the Nexplanon removed. BIG MISTAKE!!! I never write reviews, but this birth control is the DEVIL!! While on the Nexplanon, I never had cramps, bloating, breast tenderness, or horrible mood swings. Gildess, I have all these symptoms plus paranoia and depression. I have been taking these pills for a month and a half and never have felt more insecure in my life. The weight gain is an issue as well, I gained 12 pounds within the 1st month. I realized that this birth control was making me feel crazy, anxious, and not myself, so I made an appointment for my OBGYN for a better option. I can't wait to throw these pills down the drain. Hope this is helpful."

• DON...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2016

For Birth Control "NOT RATING IT HELPED ME. I started this a week ago. Three days after I started, I woke up horribly nauseated but no vomit, so I sucked it up and went to work just to get there and throw up repeatedly for about two hours. Once that stopped, I was fatigued. Then exhausted. Then the migraines started. I had minor migraines in my forehead that got worse with light or after waking up. That went on for three days. That stopped two days ago and yesterday I started feeling weird cramping in my left side just below my ribs, and it went into the tops of my thighs and hips. Today the cramps are still in my side (not painful, just uncomfortable and concerning) and possible constipation. Wondering if any of this matches anyone else, please and thanks."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm 25 years old. I have never taken any form of BC before. Well, except condoms, lol. Anyways... I have always had irregular periods. I would skip a month or sometimes two. I was always tired and would just get in a funk. Well, the past 2 months, I have had 4 periods 2 weeks apart, and they would last up to 8 or 9 days. Had tender breasts for almost the same amount of time... Sometimes they hurt so bad I wanted to cry. I had enough... I went to my doctor, and he prescribed me these. Been on them for 2 weeks. I have been in a better mood and have more energy. I did wake up with a little cramping this morning, and I had a little spot of blood in my undies, but I'm fine now. Oh, and my breasts stopped hurting... Yay, thank the Lord."

• Anonymous
• February 27, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for about 2 years now, and it gets worse and worse each month. I have experienced horrible nausea, headaches, mood swings, and depression. I constantly have bleeding throughout the month, and my period never comes when I'm supposed to have it. It is almost as irregular and heavy as it was when I didn't take the pill. I get extremely bad cramps and bloating as well. Currently in the process of trying to switch to a new pill. Very angry."

• Anonymous
• April 3, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm on the first month of this pill and have had NO bleeding but all the cramping and gas. The symptoms only affect my mood so far, no nausea. The mood swings are bad enough, and since there is no bleeding, I was super paranoid I had somehow gotten pregnant, so I took a test and it came up negative twice. I have also gotten some kind of yeast or bacterial infection... lovely. I'm not sure when I will get my period, but so far it has been working okay."

• Amb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2016

For Birth Control "RUN THE OTHER WAY! I started on Gildess because the mail-order pharmacy chose it as a substitute for my normal brand. I've been on it for 2 months, and I'm up 9 pounds so far despite doing the 21-day fix over the past month. Called my gyno, and she asked me to come in immediately. Rapid weight gain like that is apparently not good. Other unpleasant side effects seem to be alternating between rage and depression, acne on my face, neck, and chest (oh baby!), zero libido, long, heavy periods with a decent amount of cramping, and migraines. Having another kid wouldn't be as bad as another month on this pill."

• Ann...
• May 10, 2016

For Birth Control "Does a good job at preventing pregnancy... But! Gained a little weight and I cry every single day! Makes me so emotional. Was on for 4 months, decided I needed a new one. Also gave me some cramps and breast tenderness the first month."

• ASa...
• October 7, 2015

For Birth Control "So the pro is, it's prevented pregnancy and made me go up a cup size. Oh, and my acne has cleared up. Cons: the first month went well. I'm on month 3 of taking it, and let me tell you... I've been bleeding/spotting for about 34 days now. It's annoying. And when I start spotting heavily, I get severe cramping. It's interfered with my sex life and moods. I do get mood swings, but I'm thinking it's because I am so tired of bleeding. I've gained about 5 pounds, which isn't too bad for switching birth control."

• SMW...
• February 17, 2016

For Birth Control "This drug is terrible. I was actually prescribed Junel (which I have taken previously with no problems), but my pharmacy doesn't carry that brand anymore, so they gave me Gildess instead. It's the same thing, right? WRONG. I've been on Gildess for 2.5 weeks now, and I have never felt so consistently terrible in my entire life. I take the pill at night on a full stomach. I wake up in the morning with moderate nausea that lasts until well after lunchtime. I have headaches and abdominal cramping and gas... oh, the gas. By mid-afternoon, my stomach is so full of air I look pregnant. I'm anxious, irritable, and on-edge all the time. It's literally the worst."

• jes...
• June 5, 2016

For Birth Control "I just finished my first pack and didn't have a pleasant experience on this pill. My period typically comes around every 3 months and lasts for about 5 days, but I bled the entire time I was on this medication. I also never typically have cramps, but boy, did I have cramps. I also didn't have a problem with acne until I started this pill."

• Wei...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2016

For Birth Control "I started taking this birth control 4 months ago. I immediately developed acne all over my face, gained 20 pounds over the course of 2 months, suffered from debilitating cramps, and experienced intense mood swings. I do not recommend this birth control for anyone who is estrogen dominant."

• Kim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I switched to this pill because I switched pharmacies, and the new one didn't have my usual pills. After starting this, my cramps became intense, my periods became so heavy, and my libido decreased significantly, but I haven't gotten pregnant while using it. So I would say it's very effective, but the side effects are not cool."

• 46w...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 12, 2016

For Birth Control "I was given Gildess to help control my ovarian cysts. BIG MISTAKE! I have gained weight, feel depressed and tired, and when I do have periods now, they are horrible, painful, and really heavy. They will last indefinitely too. I have bled for over 30 days. I thought this was just my perimenopause, but after reading everyone's reviews, I felt I had the same symptoms as them and felt obligated to share."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on Demulin and Zovia from the first time I got my period until three months ago. I'm 35, so literally 20 years. I LOVED that pill. No side effects and a very light period like clockwork down to the hour. After turning 35, my doctor said I needed a low estrogen pill, and she switched me to Gildess. First month, I had tender breasts, which never happened before, cramping, and my period lasted over a week. Second month, I started getting nauseous every day, bad cramps, but only got my period for an hour. Four days ago, I started my third month, and I've been so sick. Debilitating cramps, severe nausea, and overall feel like death. The doctor told me today to stop the pill right away. I've never in my 35 years of life felt this sick from BC."