Junel Fe 1/20 and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2021

For Birth Control "I thought I was losing my mind until I saw this! I was diagnosed as clinically depressed and referred to a suicide hotline yesterday, no lie. I’m not suicidal, but I’ve been depressed, more depressed than I have ever been in my life the past few months. I’ve become detached, emotionless, and have lost all empathy. I cry all the time and hate being in the same room as myself. I’ve been bleeding for 4 months, and I have no sex drive at all. I didn’t research Junel Fe 1/20 and depression before now because it wasn’t listed as a side effect. My boyfriend just suggested that I look into the pill as a “leave no stone unturned” thing, and voila. I’m not crazy. I’m flushing this stuff right now."

• Sek...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 28, 2020

For Birth Control "Whoa, so glad I'm not alone with all of these side effects!! After having my last baby, I dealt with unbearable periods and cramps while ovulating, to the point it was getting in the way of everyday life. Was checked for endometriosis and was cleared of that, so my OB prescribed Junel Fe to me. The first couple of months seemed great! Very light and almost nonexistent cramps. After a few months, migraine after migraine. Lashing out at my family for no reason, depression, felt like nothing in life mattered, and absolutely NO sex drive. The thought of sex made me feel sick to my stomach (my poor husband lol). After discussing with my husband that I felt the pill was to blame for all of this, I stopped taking it. A little over a week later, I am feeling amazing and am even starting to think about sex again. Yippee. Just hoping not to get pregnant lol. All in all, if this is prescribed to you, please ask for something else!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 5, 2015

For Birth Control "I switched to this medicine (from Camrese), mainly suffering from a very decreased sex drive and heavy periods, with very dismal mood swings. This medicine fixed all of that (yay!). Additionally, periods are very light, lasting about 2 days. I have not had any additional problems with weight, acne, etc. I would highly recommend giving this a shot if you are having problems with other, heavier dose meds!"

• Mic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 26, 2019

For Birth Control "This birth control honestly does not deserve all the negative reviews. I've been on it for 3 years and have had no side effects. My sex drive is lower, but I think that has more to do with being a mom and not a selfish young adult anymore than it does with this medicine. I haven't had a period in the last two years, and it has been absolute bliss, no more ruined birthdays, anniversaries, beach vacations, etc. I was anemic in the past, and my periods used to be so debilitating that I would have to call out of work for the first day every month. I also suffered from cold-induced urticaria since I was 7 years old, and this birth control has somehow made that ailment completely vanish. Now I can go places without a jacket or swim in cold water and not have my body break out in hives. I seriously love this birth control, it has changed my life in incredible ways that I didn't even think were possible."

• Lar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2014

For Birth Control "I'm moving through my second month of these pills after having tried Depo-Provera, which I hated, no sex drive, extremely mental... Seasonique, which caused teenage-like acne, wacky spotting... I like Junel Fe so far. I didn't know the brown pills are iron, thinking they were just sugar, I didn't take them and suffered low iron headaches. This month I'll take them. My period was quick and light, minimal cramping, not even bad enough to take painkillers. I do have a metallic taste in my mouth that started recently. I hope that goes away."

• McK...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2023

For Birth Control "I tried this medication for 2 years, and the negative effects didn't start until about 6 months into taking it. I experienced irregular periods, with only one occurring every 3-5 months. Additionally, I suffered from terrible anxiety, irrational fears, chest pains, mood swings, and prolonged periods of agitation for no apparent reason. I completely lost interest in sex, had night terrors, and felt paranoid, especially regarding personal safety. I ended up making several visits to the emergency room, believing I was having a heart attack, only to be told it was just anxiety. My stomach was upset every day for over a year, starting from the time I woke up (6 AM) until around 2 PM. (I took my pill at night before bed.) These side effects affected all my personal relationships because I constantly avoided being around people. After being off the pill for over 3 weeks, I have finally started to feel more like myself. Week by week, I noticed significant improvements. My sex drive has returned, my mind feels clear, and I am genuinely happy again. I am no longer overwhelmed, and I have regained my patience while losing the constant irritation I used to feel. It's important to share your story and experiences."

• sta...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been taking Junel for 4 years and have always thought the pill worked great. No pregnancy, no weight gain, lighter periods, etc. But now I am starting to wonder if my more frequent hair loss is because of it. My hair was very thick before starting the pill, and now I have average to thin hair. It has really thinned my hair out by my part line, to the point where I don't feel comfortable putting my hair in a high bun without a headband. I never put two and two together, but I also have no sex drive since starting the pill. After reading these reviews, I'm starting to wonder if it's all because of the pill."

• Tap...
• September 7, 2016

For Birth Control "For 5 years, I took Junel. For the first year, it was fine. Lighter periods and fewer cramps. Year 2, I started suffering from increased anxiety and what everyone else decided was depression, even though I insisted it was fatigue. I was as tired as if I had the flu all the time, and the week before my period, I could not handle a thing. So I got therapy and started eating healthy to treat what my doctors insisted were not symptoms of the pills. I worked out, ate healthy consistently, but the weight kept coming on at 5 to 10 lbs a year. My sex drive completely disappeared, which doctors will blame on the depression. I finally couldn't handle it and went off two weeks ago. I feel like crying at how much better I feel. It's like I woke up from a coma."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on Junel FE 1/20 for the 3-month adjustment period. Once I finished the 3rd pack, I decided not to continue because every 3 weeks I was getting yeast infections. In total, I had 4 infections during the 3-month period. As for my acne, it got worse the first 2 months and then better. Skin was really dry, though. Sex drive decreased. I didn’t gain any weight, though, which was nice, and my emotions were very stable even with my history of anxiety and depression."

• Sin...
• November 15, 2020

For Birth Control "I took Junel Fe 1/20 for 6 months, it was prescribed to me to help with my (moderate) acne and also to help with my painful, uncomfortable periods. The first two months, my bleeding was very irregular, but it stabilized after 3 months. In regards to helping with menstruation, it’s great! However, it did virtually nothing for my skin and actually made my skin break out more frequently on my chin and around my mouth area. I recently switched my birth control to Nikki, which is a generic form of Yaz. If you struggle with hormonal acne like me, I would not take Junel for that. Take a birth control pill that contains a progestin that’s anti-androgenic (like Nikki, Yaz, Beyaz, Ortho Tri-Cyclen). In regards to mood on this pill (Junel), I didn’t really notice a difference. I did notice that I lost weight on this pill, perhaps it’s just a coincidence. And this pill lowered my libido substantially. That’s the side effect that does kind of suck. Overall, I wouldn’t really recommend this pill."

• oh_...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2020

For Birth Control "For me, this pill is bad. Yes, it's prevented pregnancy, but the side effects were not worth it when there are other good options on the market that work for me. Side effects: - depression and anxiety during PMS - extreme emotional sensitivity/weeping for no reason - migraines all of a sudden - decreased sex drive. I will never go back. Blisovi worked way better for me."

• Sad...
• November 18, 2015

For Birth Control "I began this birth control in January of 2015 (after about 10 months of being off BC). I moved, so I got a new doctor who prescribed Junel Fe 1/20. I had never had an issue with BC before, so I never thought this pill would put me on the downward spiral that it did. Let me state that it took me 10 months to realize this pill was to blame because I lived with my in-laws while purchasing a home and planning a wedding...stress was becoming a close relative. But this pill gave me back acne, weight gain, chin hair, migraines, a cyst on my breast, no sex drive at all, and mood swings so bad that suicide or divorce would cross my mind. Worst pill ever. Strongly advise against."

• Aan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 8, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Junel for almost two years, and wow, those first 3 months were TERRIBLE! The nausea, anxiety, mood swings... it was insane! But after 3 months, it all went away. I had light, regular periods. It was really a great pill, I gained maybe 5 lbs on Junel, which wasn’t that bad compared to the 20 lbs on a pill I was on years ago. HOWEVER, the reason I’m going off of it is because I feel like it changed me completely as a person. I feel like I have no emotions, which is terrible because of my patient, loving boyfriend. I feel like this birth control protected me from emotions because I feel so disconnected with the world and myself. Also, this pill ended my sex drive... like *bang* I just can’t feel anything to get aroused. Smh, I hope this all goes away after stopping next week!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 18, 2021

For Birth Control "Junel Fe 1/20 was the worst experience ever! First, I became anxious and depressed and had no sex drive. My primary care physician put me on anxiety medication. Then I gained so much weight that was never like me, especially while dieting, then night sweats... The last straw was when I bled for a month straight... I wish I had looked up the reviews for this sooner because I would have stopped this way sooner."

• Bre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 29, 2020

For Birth Control "I started Junel Fe almost a year ago, and it hasn’t been bad except for the fact that it does not control my acne like I was told it would. I was previously on Yaz, which was amazing and kept my skin looking like porcelain, but switched due to it causing me to bleed a lot. My doctor said Junel would keep me acne-free, but it has caused me to break out bad. I get clusters of whiteheads on my chin and my forehead and the weekly pimple somewhere on my face. I hate it. It has also caused my sex drive to drop significantly. I’m gonna give Yaz another shot and take my chances. Good at preventing pregnancy, but not for treating acne."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2014

For Birth Control "I am only on the beginning of week two, however, I've never had a lower sex drive in my life. I've also never been more nauseous in my life. I throw up nightly. Took a pregnancy test, and I'm not pregnant. Unless it gets better after this packet of pills, I'll be calling my pharmacist to switch to a different type of birth control."

• Gke...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 25, 2013

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had fibroids and ovarian cysts, and the doctor said the only way to prevent painful periods was to go on the pill. I was horrified. I had been on the pill for 10 years previously and 3 years clean. In those 3 years, I finally felt free. Junel seemed okay at first, no side effects. But now I am on my 10th month and slowly figuring out that maybe this has to do with my 10 lb weight gain since I started taking it. I cry easily and am way sensitive. Not sure if it's the pill or weight gain, but I have absolutely no sex drive."

• Kat...
• May 13, 2021

For Birth Control "This birth control was awful for me. I took it for about 7 months, and it made me so depressed. I stopped hanging out with my friends because I didn’t feel like it anymore and was super clingy toward my boyfriend. I would cry at least once a day and get angry for no reason. It also made sex painful because I was dry, which never happened before. The pros are that it helped my periods, I didn’t get pregnant, and I lost weight. However, I went off of it two months ago, and I’m doing so much better. I feel like myself again. I do not recommend this BC at all."

• Cca...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 24, 2020

For Birth Control "So I'm writing this review to help others. This pill works great for preventing pregnancy, but if you already have problems with anxiety and depression, I don't recommend taking this pill. I've been taking Junel Fe for about 9 months now, and it has caused me to become very moody, angry, very depressed and anxious, low energy, and very little sex drive. Now I've had regular periods, not very painful periods, very light periods. I do have some acne, but not bad. Again, if you already have depression or anxiety, I do not recommend this pill, but it did great for my periods and preventing pregnancy."

• Ria...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 21, 2019

For Birth Control "On this Junel Fe 1/20 pill for 3 years. The first 3 months, I had spotting if I were late for a pill by a few hours. It would last until my next period. I also had bloating. My mood was improved after the first few months (I used to get major depression and was moody). My sex drive decreased, still is, but it’s not terrible. After year 1, everything was regular except occasional missed periods. Now I get it every month, varying lengths, but no heavy bleeding and hardly any cramps. I did gain weight, but I was underweight before and could manage my weight if I tried. I gained 25 lbs approx. Overall, this pill makes my life a lot easier with my period, my emotional state, and for me, weight gain and enlarged breasts were a positive. One time, I got terrible pain in my stomach randomly, I figured my body was adjusting to the pill, but it may not have been. In the first months, you might get weird or annoying symptoms or side effects, but they often dissipate. If you cannot function on it, though, by all means, discontinue."

• Bk1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I had taken Junel Fe 1/20 for six months. At the start of the third month, I broke out in acne all over. My chest, neck, and face were literally covered. It was terrible. My neck and chest cleared up, but my face was broken out badly for the last three months consistently with no relief. I was traveling and forgot my pack at home, and because of that, I decided that's it, it’s been 25 days, and my face is almost back to normal. Second, it ruined my sex drive. Third, when I did have sex, I was so dry that after just a few minutes, sex became very painful for me. I’ve since had sex after stopping Junel, and it was the best I’ve had in recent memory because my body was responding normally again."

• End...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 10, 2019

For Birth Control "3 YEAR USER: I suffer from endometriosis, and my doctor prescribed me this medication after trying several other forms. For the first year, I suffered migraines, mood swings, severe nausea, and a complete change in appetite. The past two years have been the worst, with the past 9 months being ABSOLUTE HELL!! I have NO SEX DRIVE, and I am 26 years old. I am depressed, feel lazy, cannot read as I could before, I stutter, my memory is bad (I forget things in seconds). I mean, the list goes on. Reading other reviews today, I am considering going cold turkey and just dealing with my endometriosis (as painful as it is)!!! I DO not recommend this at all. I actually recommend NO BIRTH CONTROL and pray for a real cure for endometriosis."

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking Junel Fe almost 2 months ago now, and I would never recommend it to anyone. Ever since starting it, I feel so depressed. It’s become a daily thing for me to get overly irritated and lash out at everyone around me and cry about absolutely nothing. My mood swings are horrible, the times when I am in a good mood are short-lived and right back to feeling sad and unmotivated. I have never had any major acne problems my whole life, now I break out pretty often. Already in the short amount of time I’ve started this birth control, I’ve gained a lot of weight all in my stomach area and cannot lose it from working out either, not to mention that I’m 19 years old and have the sex drive of a 70-year-old. Everyone’s body reacts to things differently, but I really wish I would have come here and read most of the other reviews before starting this pill, would have really saved me from going through all this."

• Cal...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 4, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on Loestrin for three years and was prescribed Junel after my insurance would no longer cover Loestrin. I just stopped taking Junel after four years of being on it, and I am happy I did. I lost all desire to have sex, often I felt nothing. Sex was more like a chore to please my fiancé rather than actually enjoying it. I often told my GYNO how I felt, and she never once offered to switch. I knew at 27 years old this is not normal, I should not have a decreased sex drive at my age. Now that I am off it (only being a week), I feel so much better and actually want to have sex rather than pleasing my fiancé. I don't recommend this pill at all."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been on Junel Fe for almost a month, and I can't stop bleeding! On top of the ruined underwear and annoyance, I have experienced lower abdominal discomfort (light cramping), headaches, low libido, and my anxiety has spiked. It has been a nightmare. I plan on talking to my doctor ASAP because nothing about this situation is pleasant."