Gildess Fe 1/20 and Spotting: What Users Say

• Sav...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 7, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm glad I didn't look up reviews 5 years ago when I started taking this. I've never had a negative side effect and definitely never had a baby, so I'd say this little pill is my best friend. Understand that the majority of people that leave reviews are the ones with negative experiences. I totally get that, but I'm leaving a review to say that I've never had a problem, other than occasional spotting, until now. CVS no longer carries Gildess and is switching me to take Blisovi Fe. I'm leaving this review as a goodbye to the best birth control I could've asked for. I really, really hope this new brand is the same."

• Sun...
• January 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I wanted to post this review because there was so much negativity! This is the first birth control I have ever used and love it. I was terrified it would affect my moods, weight gain, etc. It has done no such thing. My period is lighter and very predictable. Only once or twice in the whole year have I had slight spotting in between placebo pills. I recommend this to anyone who wants the protection but is afraid of side effects. The only thing to remember is to take this at the exact same time! Since it is low dosage, you have about a 30-minute window to take it. I love it!"

• 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."

• Hal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 5, 2016

For Birth Control "Worst pill ever. So I was just like you looking, searching, reading reviews for my next birth control, and my doctor put me on this in August 2015. The first 3 months were fine (assuming my body was adapting), my skin cleared up and stuff. But then in December, I started getting spotting and a period almost every other week. And oooooo I was mean! That's the reason I'm writing this! I've become so moody, mean, irritated that is starting to affect my relationship with my boyfriend, and not to mention sex... I want nothing to do with it-HORRIBLE vaginal dryness. I am still on this pill and hate it! Searching for a new one but writing this review because it's changed my life :("

• MJ_...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 25, 2016

For Birth Control "This is the only birth control that doesn't make me crazy. It does take at least 3 months for your body to get used to it, and you have to take it at the exact time to prevent spotting and/or breakthrough bleeding. I don't gain any weight while on it, and it clears up my acne. Once my body became used to it, my periods were not painful, lighter, and shorter. Everyone is different, but the key with this one is you must take it on time!!"

• 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."

• Sam...
• May 24, 2015

For Birth Control "I was questioning taking this birth control after reading all the reviews. I'm going onto my 3rd month. The first month, my period lasted about 2 weeks, but after that, the monthly cycles were super light, only 3 days, and always on time. Everyone's body is different. I didn't experience any low sex drive, spotting, or mood changes. I did notice a slight weight gain, but overall, I'm pleased with the birth control."

• Sea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2014

For Birth Control "This is my first time on the pill to help with cramps, and this birth control is helping a lot. I no longer have raging cramps every month. I haven't gained any weight on the pill either. The only issue I have with it is it affecting my period. My last period lasted for 13 days, and I am still spotting here and there. I am still new to the pill, so it should be something I hopefully get used to. No major mood swings on this for me either."

• Sha...
• December 11, 2015

For Birth Control "I am 41, and I am peri-menopausal. My GYN prescribed Gildess Fe 1/20 for me to 'balance' my hormones. I have tried other BC pills in the past, including Gildess, but had to stop them because of the crazy side effects. But this time, when I tried it, I was spotting, I got weird feelings in my head, I had back pains, flu-like symptoms, chest pain, and terrible anxiety. I stopped taking it after about two weeks. I feel horrible! How long before it leaves my system?"

• 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."

• Jen...
• February 2, 2016

For Birth Control "The first six months of using Gildess were unremarkable. It was effective in preventing pregnancy, did not worsen or produce acne, and I did not experience any remarkable weight gain. It was like any other birth control. After my first six months, however, I experienced spotting, heavier bleeding, and random periods throughout the month. In one month, I experienced two periods. For the past few months, my periods started after two weeks of active pills."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for over a year. I've never had any problems with it in the beginning except a little spotting in between periods and headaches at first. Now I absolutely hate it and am thinking about not taking it anymore because all of a sudden my periods are starting to mess up, and I don't like that at all. This pill has also made me gain like 15 lbs."

• Bla...
• July 1, 2016

For Birth Control "I am a 19-year-old white female who has been on this pill for approximately two months. In the beginning, I couldn't tell a difference in much of anything. I started spotting, which just turned into my period that lasted like normal and wasn't too heavy. I haven't had any cramps to date, but cramps were never bad before the pill anyway. Acne has always been a struggle for me, but the pill seems to have mellowed it out just a tad bit. But here is my number one complaint (with two parts, lol): I experience so many UTIs within my first month. So many! Once I got those under control, the emotions went haywire. I would get very angry with people, and my temper became very short. This side effect has yet to wear off. Very annoying."

• hol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on Gildess for 3 months, it was my first experience with hormonal birth control. For one thing, I didn't get pregnant while taking it, so it does its job! I did have some unpleasant side effects, though. I had constipation and gas while I was on it, along with some mood swings, although I can't be 100% sure that these things were actually caused or worsened by the pill. The pill did cause nausea (mostly during the first month), swollen and sore breasts (mostly during the 3rd month), and a bit of acne. My periods were extremely light on this pill. During the first month, I had cramps (usually very mild) every day, then a normal period 2 weeks into the pack, followed by spotting with mild cramps until I finished that pack."

• Yas...
• June 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I started taking this pill around 7 months ago to treat my extreme mood swings. The first month included some nausea, but everything else seemed fine. As the months have gone on, I've experienced heavier spotting in between my scheduled periods and lighter periods because of that. This last month I didn't even have my period. I am currently on day 10 of my weird spotting when I should be having my period (on day 1 of the placebo pill). I also am experiencing some bloating and nausea. It has really helped with the mood swings, but this nasty spotting all the time isn't any good."

• Jen...
• November 4, 2015

For Birth Control "I really love this pill. Only bad thing is that I spot a little after sex or after a bowel movement. I'm on my 4th month. My mood swings were so bad before I took the pill, and now I feel so normal and in control. Less abdominal pain. Less moodiness. Less blood flow during my period."

• YKG...
• June 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for two weeks. I had a Mirena IUD for 3 years, and I had it removed because I had low sex drive, pain from ovarian cysts, and I was getting frequent migraines. I was switched to Seasonique generic, Ashlyna, but it made me very nauseous and VERY hungry. I gained about 6 pounds in the first week. Since then, I was switched to Gildess, and I am back down 6 pounds and feeling better. The only thing I noticed is that I did develop a large boil on my chin for the first few days, and I am unusually tired. I have spotted for about 10 days, and my breasts are a little sore, maybe swollen. I have to be on birth control because I have severe endometriosis that has been removed twice. Anyone have a similar experience?"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 26, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for a little over one year. When I first started this pill, my appetite doubled. Therefore, I gained about 7-8 pounds. The next six months were great, and I had no issues. My acne went away, and I did not experience any cramps. When the seventh month came around, I had my period for two weeks straight, followed by extremely painful cramps. The cramps would return every period for 2-3 days. The next month, I started spotting in between my periods for the first time. I also developed cystic acne every time my period came around. In addition, I started getting very emotional."

• cks...
• November 3, 2015

For Birth Control "Terrible - depression, mood swings, highs and lows, uncontrollable moods, went to the emergency room for possible DVT, turned out to be nothing. I have spotted every day taking this pill the last two months and have pink discharge after sex."

• Mad...
• January 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I was switched from Genress Fe, the birth control I was on for 5 years, to Gildess Fe 1/20, the pill my insurance would agree to cover. Before starting on Gildess, I had no mood swings, no acne, and no spotting - even when switched to generic Genress. As soon as I started Gildess, I began to get angry over silly things just prior to my period beginning. I also began to break out in acne - a problem that I had not had for about 4 years. Then today, I had random spotting even though I've been on the pill for 4 months and am extremely moody (something that was never a problem when on the other pill). To say I'm dissatisfied would be an understatement. I will be calling my OB/GYN to switch the pill tomorrow morning."

• Kdu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 16, 2015

For Birth Control "I have taken this pill for about 8 months, and I have had no problems with it. Until about 2 months ago, I started to spot in between periods, and I get really bad cramps if I don't take my pill on time or if I skip a day. I don't know if it's because of that reason, but let me tell you, this pain is killing me. The pain usually happens when I'm spotting. Other than that, I love this birth control!"

• ABC...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 26, 2016

For Birth Control "I switched to this over a year ago from NuvaRing because my insurance did not cover it. It took a few months for my mood swings to get better (I felt like I was going crazy for about 3 months), but for the last 9 months, I feel great. Only have a 2-day period, sometimes some spotting the week prior. But if that happens, I don't even have an actual period during my last week."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I get so dizzy and nauseous on this pill. With headaches. No weight gain or decreased libido. Just terrible cramps and tons of spotting and mood swings and depression. I've also broken out more. And gotten terrible yeast and BV infections. Don't take, please."

• Shu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I was prescribed Loestrin to get my irregular periods regular, and Gildess is the generic that my pharmacy carried. It did a really terrible job of regulating my periods because they are crazier now than they were before. The first month, I spotted almost the entire month, but my period was on time, short, and light. When I didn't spot at all the second month, I figured it would be smooth sailing. Nope. My period was really early that month and longer than usual. I either had an extremely early period the third month or heavy spotting accompanied by bad cramps and no period at all. It didn't affect my sex drive, but it did cause me to have vaginal dryness for about the first six weeks of taking it, although thankfully that side effect did go away after a while. I found myself to be incredibly short-tempered after starting this medication, but I think that side effect subsided (ask my friends, I guess haha). I also became alarmed at the amount of hair that was falling out, but a call to the doctor assured me that the hair is falling out faster, but also growing back in faster. I haven't noticed a change in the fullness of my hair, so I'll take her word on it. I have noticed myself having more pimples in the last month, but this could be related to stress because I hadn't noticed it the first two months. Bottom line, I'm giving it a six because while it served me well as birth control and I didn't get pregnant while taking it, and most of its side effects subsided for me, it has served me poorly for the reason it was prescribed, to regulate my period."

• New...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 22 years old, and I just started my 3rd week of this pill. This is the first time ever being on birth control. I started the first day of my period, and I've been spotting, whereas I actually need to wear a tampon basically ever since. I have lower back cramps from time to time, too. Before the birth control, I had lower back cramps whenever I had my period, and it'll last for 7 days. Now I've been spotting for about 8 days. I say 8, but I haven't stopped bleeding since I had this last period. But this bleeding doesn't seem like period blood. Someone help me, please. Should I call the doc or wait until the next period (end of month)?"