Junel Fe 24 and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Jul...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 25, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m not great with keeping a specific time, but I always take this pill between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. This pill should take about 3-6 months to regulate in your body. Within those months, it’s normal to feel some mood swings, slight changes in period, and/or weight gain, so don’t worry. Prior to this pill, my periods were 5-7 days tops. The first period while being on this pill lasted 2 weeks, the second lasted a week. From the third month moving forward, my periods last about 3-5 days tops with no ovulation. My period dates also shift a bit. I didn’t notice any mood swings until about the 6th month. To today, I sometimes feel sad or depressed, and I won’t know why. I also cry a lot easier now. It’s nothing I’m concerned over though, not too bad, and the mood swings are easy for me to quickly get over. Positive side effect: my breasts have gotten noticeably bigger. My boyfriend has also “finished” in me multiple times with no pregnancy outcome, so the pill has been doing its job. I’d recommend."

• Les...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2021

For Birth Control "I was switched to Junel Fe because I was spotting heavily in between my periods on my old prescription. I pretty much had a period all month long! On Junel Fe, I had minor spotting when I started taking the pack, and now I have none! I have zero of the side effects discussed on here by other women. I have seen no weight gain, but I am on a 1300 calorie diet, so that may be why. I love this prescription, it’s definitely worth the switch!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for a year now. My skin is clear, and I haven’t had a pregnancy. Because of this, I have been pretty happy with it until I realized I gained 25 lbs. For perspective, I started at 115, so 25 lbs is a huge gain for me. I started researching side effects of this birth control, and I realized that this is likely the cause of other issues in my life. My sex drive has been at an all-time low. I don’t want to give or receive oral, sex feels like a chore, and I’m not even turned on by the thought of it anymore. Additionally, my breasts are constantly sore. Lastly, I had to get prescribed an anxiety medication a few months ago. I have always had anxiety, but I have been able to keep it under control until recently. If I was cognizant of these symptoms a while back, I would’ve stopped. I’m so discouraged that this birth control could’ve disrupted my relationship and my self-esteem."

• sar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 28, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been taking Junel Fe 24 for almost two years because my cramps were so bad to the point where I would throw up and get a fever. I highly recommend this brand, I don't get any cramps, I get a super light period, and my acne has really cleared up. But some downsides to it are low sex drive, weight gain, and sometimes being moody. I know I kind of contradicted myself up there, but I really enjoy the aspect of having no cramps. Unfortunately, it's great for me but can be horrible for you..."

• Ely...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2017

For Birth Control "I took Junel Fe 24 for a few months after switching from Lo Loestrin Fe. My periods were very irregular-maybe once every 3 months. They were light and usually only lasted like 2 days. They helped keep my skin clear, which was a plus. My sex drive came back after I switched from the Lo Loestrin. My anxiety was still pretty bad. I had increased appetite and gained another 10 pounds. I was always bloated. I think I'm going to find another birth control."

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2019

For Birth Control "I've been taking Junel Fe 24 for about a month. I have experienced nausea, breast tenderness, an increase in appetite, weight gain, and a slow decline in my sex drive. I am unsure when the side effects will pass. I am trying to wait to see when it will pass. It is starting to draw some concerns. I am strongly considering trying another brand."

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

For Birth Control "My entire stint with this birth control, Junel Fe 24, has been awful. I’ve experienced every terrible side effect in the book - mood swings, weight gain, bloating, acne, you name it. I have felt incredibly depressed the whole time I’ve taken it, and my mood is all over the place - I actually cried for several hours when my succulent lost a leaf. My period is painful, and I apparently will not stop bleeding. Worst birth control I’ve been on so far."

• Lex...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 25, 2019

For Birth Control "I started taking Junel Fe 24 a little over a year ago when my gyno recommended it to me after I complained about heavy, painful periods and acne. She told me it’s her favorite BC pill to prescribe, and I see why. This is the first BC pill I’ve taken, so I have nothing to compare it to other than horror stories I’ve heard from friends, but I quite like this one. I’ve had no issues other than some minor weight gain (less than 10 lbs), my periods aren’t painful anymore, and I haven’t had an acne breakout since I started taking it! I used to have a pretty irregular cycle - it was not unusual for me to go two or three months without a period - and while they only lasted 4-5 days, I’d bleed so heavily that I had to wear a pad as backup to a heavy tampon if I knew I’d be out for more than a couple of hours. Couple that with breakouts at every period and cramps so painful it was hard to get out of bed, I needed a solution, and for me, it was this pill."

• Liv...
• March 2, 2017

For Birth Control "Only been on this about a month, but I'm not pregnant, so that's good! But in the beginning, I did have diarrhea and abdominal pain. I had very light spotting, barely anything at all. I do believe this has made me gain some weight, though, which I do not like, but other than that, I feel fine mentally!"

• Aye...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 11, 2021

For Birth Control "I have been on Junel Fe 24 birth control for almost 2 years now. I've had no issues with it. Before I started, my periods were irregular and nothing made sense. My doctor took me off my old birth control and started me on this one, and I've never had any issues with it. I have gained some weight, but I've been at a steady weight for a little over a year now. I recommend it, but yet again, everyone's body is different."

• jzh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on Junel Fe 24 for about 2 weeks after getting my Paragard IUD removed due to terrible, debilitating cramps (which I had never had before). It's been good so far, although my period seems to have lasted longer than normal (~8 days, and I'm still spotting...). I also feel like I've gained a few pounds (~2-3), which is strange because I've been eating better and exercising more, and I do also feel more bloated. But in terms of everything else, it has been great so far, no mood swings/anxiety, no decrease in sex drive, and good skin."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been on Junel for over a year now. It’s the first and only birth control I’ve ever been on, it’s not horrible, but it isn’t amazing either. It made me gain weight by causing my appetite to go insane, making me binge eat every single day and never get full, just stuffing my face 24/7 while eating “like a bird” my entire life. It absolutely tanked my sex drive. TMI: before starting birth control, my bf and I were being intimate 3 times a day almost every day. A year after being on Junel, I don’t want to have sex at all. I barely even like being touched sexually, my sex drive is completely gone and it really sucks. I will be asking about switching from Junel ASAP, hopefully a different pill will give me back my sex drive? Besides the negative side effects, I’m not pregnant, so that’s good."

• Kae...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 28, 2021

For Birth Control "I've been on Junel Fe 24 for about 1 1/2 years now. Works very well as a contraceptive. Definitely causes significant weight gain if you are not active. I am able to have a period every 5 months, though I have to be off the pill for at least a week before the bleeding starts. Bleeding stops about 3 days after I begin taking it again. If you decide to take this pill, it will take a while for your body to acclimate to it. You have to be on top of the weight gain once it begins. Periods may be hard to control or manage at first, but once you get into a rhythm, it is great. It is a great contraceptive. I have unprotected intercourse twice a week with my partner of about a year and have not had any pregnancy scares or worries. I highly recommend this."

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2019

For Birth Control "Extreme bloating, nausea, weight gain, increased appetite, declining sex drive, breast tenderness, and fatigue. These side effects are concerning. I am considering another brand."