Nortrel 1/35 and Bleeding: What Users Say

• Ley...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2019

For Birth Control "Okay, so this is my experience with Nortrel 1/35. (Meaning my body reacts differently than yours on this birth control.) So I got on this BC because of the Depo. I was bleeding nonstop for 5 months. My gyno prescribed me this since it was a high dose and was sure my bleeding would stop. It definitely worked as it should. I stopped bleeding, and I get my period at the end of the month. My period now only lasts 3/4 days instead of 7/8 from before I took any type of birth control. Now the cons of this: my mood is horrible. I cry for any little thing, everything bothers me. It even affected my relationship. If you’re currently depressed and have anxiety, I do not recommend it. I have never felt so low about myself. It’s emotionally and mentally exhausting."

• Cam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 28, 2022

For Birth Control "I remember feeling freaked out reading these reviews before I took Nortrel, so I wanted to share my experience! I was taking Sprintec for quite a few years before this, but I had been having some breakthrough bleeding mid-cycle, so my doctor recommended that I try Nortrel, and I'm honestly really glad I did. I have been taking it for about 10 months now. After a few months of adjusting, the breakthrough bleeding stopped, and my periods have gotten much lighter (from 5 days, relatively heavy periods to 2-3 days with super light bleeding). I didn't gain any weight at all, and my mild hormonal breakouts around my mouth (that I got nearly every period) stopped. I still get a bit grouchy on the 2 or 3 days leading up to my period, but I thankfully haven't had any of the mental/emotional symptoms that others here have experienced. It's very effective for me."

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

For Menstrual Disorders "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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2021

For Birth Control "Honestly, the worst birth control I’ve been on. This is the third birth control I’ve tried, and I get two periods per month with cramps and heavy bleeding on one. I’m also super hormonal—more than I ever was with just my regular period. I am depressed and super irritable and tired and hungry. Would not recommend."

• Anonymous
• February 9, 2011

For Birth Control "Nortrel is the third birth control I've tried. I have been taking it for 2 months now. I haven't experienced any breakthrough bleeding, which was my problem on the other two pills, but my periods on this pill have been unbearable. This pill has caused me to have extreme cramps, major mood swings, bloating, back pain, breast tenderness, and a very, very heavy period. It lasts about 5 days, but it's far heavier than my period has ever been. I thought that my body just needed to get used to it, but my second period on this pill seemed considerably worse than the first."

• Rev...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 22, 2020

For Birth Control "I mostly love this pill, mostly. I have been using it continuously for the past two years, and out of those two years, I've probably had my period about 6 times. With taking it continuously, I am not supposed to get my period. It's GREAT for a few months, you feel great, very good protection against conception, and easy. But, every now and then, I will start to bleed randomly. If I keep taking the pill while bleeding, there is brown blood that will linger for about 2 weeks, BUT if it's my actual period, if I stop my medicine for about 5-7 days, I can let myself have a period and then start over. I really don't like it when I start spotting and bleeding randomly, with no clue. Has ruined underwear and been embarrassing. I would say it's a I really like it/really don't like it relationship with this birth control. It works spectacularly against pregnancy and is great for a little bit, until your vagina has enough and decides it needs to have a period, even though technically it isn't necessary."

• Rev...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 22, 2020

For Birth Control "I mostly love this pill, mostly. I have been using it continuously for the past two years, and out of those two years, I've probably had my period about 6 times. With taking it continuously, I am not supposed to get my period. It's GREAT for a few months, you feel great, very good protection against conception, and easy. But, every now and then, I will start to bleed randomly. If I keep taking the pill while bleeding, there is brown blood that will linger for about 2 weeks, BUT if it's my actual period, if I stop my medicine for about 5-7 days, I can let myself have a period and then start over. I really don't like it when I start spotting and bleeding randomly, with no clue. Has ruined underwear and been embarrassing. I would say it's a I really like it/really don't like it relationship with this birth control. It works spectacularly against pregnancy and is great for a little bit, until your vagina has enough and decides it needs to have a period, even though technically it isn't necessary."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2018

For Birth Control "I got switched to this from Ortho Cyclen due to irregular bleeding. I've been on it for a month. It's good so far. I do feel a little more tired. Not depressed, and I'm not sure about this loss of sex drive and crying everyone here is talking about. I feel fine, but I also was on Ortho Cyclen for 7 years before I got switched. Sounds like most of these comments are from people who have never been on birth control or were on a low-dose birth control. So far, so good for me."

• CBa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 17, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking Nortrel for a few years now after trying a few different pills. I have a very hard time finding one that doesn’t cause breakthrough bleeding all month long. This is the only one that has helped with that issue, but it comes with its own consequences. I get extremely moody and have spells of minor depression. I also have zero sex drive, but that’s been an issue with every pill I’ve tried. I have gained weight, but I also don’t eat the greatest and I'm getting older. So, I’m not 100% happy with it, but it’s the only one that doesn’t make me bleed all month, which is my biggest concern."

• Nor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on Nortrel (Necon previously) for about 3 years and satisfied with it somewhat. I took it continuously because otherwise I had wild, continuous breakthrough bleeding after the sugar pills. While on it, I went from 120 lbs to 150 lbs. With serious changes in diet and exercise, I was able to get down to 145, which I wasn't happy with, but dealing with. Recently, due to upcoming lifestyle changes (starting work), I didn't want to have to deal with pills every day, I switched to the Nuvaring. After 1 month on the ring, I have lost 8 lbs, despite working out only 3-4 days a week compared to the 6-7 I was doing previously. I can't definitively say it was the switch, but the correlation is there. Everyone is different, but I can say that this pill, due to the higher dose, may have affected my weight negatively."

• Sha...
• March 20, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on this pill for 10 years now, all of my 20s and late teens. The first 3 months were hell, as the other reviews pointed out: heavy bleeding that lasted two weeks for me, super emotional, cramps. After about 3 months, things started to level out, and I have not had any problems since then. So far, the pill has proven effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy, helped control my acne slightly, and my periods have gotten lighter. One downer I have noticed is it feels like my sex drive has taken a dip after a year of being on the pill, but aside from that, no problems after 10 years."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2022

For Birth Control "I was on Ocella for a few years. My insurance stopped covering it, so my OBGYN recommended switching to Nortrel! This pill is the worst! My bleeding literally doesn’t stop! Even when I’m on the 3 weeks of the pack, I still bleed! After going back and forth with my doctor, he asked me to stop taking the pills for a while, and my bleeding is extremely heavy that I can barely even walk! I don't like this pill and will never go back on it."

• Mhm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2020

For Birth Control "I had been on less strong pills before switching to this one, and I wish I never switched. This pill is absolutely awful. Prolonged bleeding and continuous spotting, terrible. TERRIBLE. Constipation and bloating, and extreme anxiety and depression. Only pro is that my skin has been doing better. I wouldn’t give this pill to my worst enemy."