Ethinyl estradiol / norgestimate for Endometriosis User Reviews (Page 2)

• Bee...
• June 12, 2020

"I was on Mononessa on and off for about 10 years. It got discontinued, they gave me Estarylla. I refused to take it, but they assured me it's 'exactly the same.' I have endometriosis, and I can confirm that this has helped those issues. I don't get bad cramping, heavy bleeding, back pain, or leg pain anymore. However, since starting it about 6 months ago, the side effects have been getting increasingly worse rather than better. The side effects I have are: migraines, bloating, extremely bad gas, diarrhea, breakthrough bleeding, hair loss, acne, sensitive vision, loss of appetite, sore breasts, and probably more that I can't think of. I would say the worst out of all of these is migraines. If you have a history with migraines, I would not recommend you take this. I do not have a history with regular migraines, but this has caused them for me. I do have a history with ocular migraines, though, and I went from getting 1-2 every year to getting at least one every month."

• Ehi...
• May 30, 2020

"Was on this Tri-Lo-Marzia BC for 4 months for chronic pelvic pain/endo. Helped a little with pain, but I had awful, awful mental side effects. I actually started to hate my boyfriend, became extremely paranoid and anxious, and woke up in such a bad mental fog every morning. I was spacey and couldn’t focus. Had feelings of such hate, anger, and fatigue throughout the day. Went on .35 progestin and wow. Such a difference. Wake up feeling calm, relaxed, and loving again. Still a little tired here and there, but no anxiety. I have felt so relaxed on this BC."

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 11, 2019

"My doctor put me on Sprintec because my periods were all over the place and I'd cramp so bad to the point of vomiting and fainting. I couldn't walk for the first three days of my period. I've been on it since July of 2018. My first month was horrible, bleeding constantly, my cramps were lasting longer than three days and almost an entire month. I had hot flashes that were bad, and so was the nausea. But here is the thing: take it at night at the same time every single night. As soon as I started that, everything was fine after the first month. My depression and mood swings disappeared. I was eating great; I went from 75 to 106 in the first two months, but after my weight went back to the normal 98 pounds. Cleared up my skin amazingly and my hair grew about a foot within the first five months of taking it. But sadly, after almost a year and a half, my doctor is switching me to Junel Fe before surgery to see if it’ll help with my cyst on my uterus and ovaries that keep erupting. Hoping that I can switch back to Sprintec after recovery from surgery."

• Anonymous
• August 13, 2009

"I've only been on Sprintec for a couple of months, but I noticed my depression has gotten worse. I'm tired all the time, dizzy, and just want to cry. I got a yeast infection, and my acne isn't clearing up. As far as my endometriosis, I can't tell if it has gotten any better."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2012

"I had little to no side effects, except for spotting. It's terrible! I've been on this pill for 5 months now, and I still spot weekly, sometimes for a few days. It has made my periods a little lighter, but nothing to celebrate. I'm really hoping to find a better pill!"

• Chl...
• January 12, 2023

"This is by far the worst birth control I have ever taken. Prior to using it, I never experienced depression, anxiety, or negative thoughts, but since starting it, I have been going through intense waves of emotions, anxiety, and mood swings. The mood swings have been particularly severe, making it difficult for me to function at times. It's as if this birth control has intensified my premenstrual syndrome symptoms. I find it absolutely awful."

• Tha...
• March 24, 2017

"Changed my life. The first month was a bit rough, not gonna lie, but that's normal with birth control from what I've heard (this is my first time taking it). Now, the nausea and headaches have almost completely subsided, and my once debilitating periods are manageable. I used to have 5-7 days of bleeding, with 2-3 days of debilitating cramps. I was taking an unhealthy amount of Advil just to manage (think 10 per day on the second day), and most months I had to miss at least a day of school. This past period, I took two Advil. Total. For the entire week. I got scared by all the negative reviews before I started taking it, but my advice is to power through the first month and see how the second one feels. Everyone reacts differently."

• Fat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2019

"I am on week 3 of this birth control. I have been on different types of birth control pills consistently for 11 years. My doctor had me switch off my last birth control due to irregular bleeding and pain associated with my endometriosis. I have gained about 8 lbs in 3 weeks on Sprintec. I initially thought I just had a bad week of not eating great, but was still pretty shocked with the amount of weight gain, which is unusual for me. After a few days of practically starving myself and exercising, the weight still remained. Again, completely unusual for me, I can normally lose weight pretty quickly. My husband agrees I look pregnant. I am stopping the pill immediately. I’d rather have pain than feel this fat. It’s depressing - which is another side effect I’ve heard. Maybe we’re all just depressed 'cause we’re fat!"

• alw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2015

"Constant nausea, there are flare-ups where I have no appetite, and I'm very tiny, so losing the weight I have on this pill is scary. Also, the nausea flare-ups are horrible: constant vomiting, and trying to eat anything only makes it worse. Sometimes I have to go days without eating, just waiting for my stomach to calm down enough from this pill to eat. The longest I've gone is 4 days. When the nausea finally subsided, I am currently on a two-day no-eating period because I'm nauseous and throwing up everything I eat. This pill is a nightmare. Stuck it out for 6 months. Switching today to Gianvi. Was previously on Loloestrin, which was wonderful for everything except mood."

• Anonymous
• September 12, 2009

"I have been on this pill for about four years. My doctor took me off of Ortho Tri-Cyclen because of ovarian cysts. My only complaint is the extreme swelling in my ankles and when it's really hot. I was recently put on Yaz and had to be taken off, so they put me back on this. Otherwise, it would be a great pill, but the swelling is getting old, and I am sick of dealing with it."

• Kri...
• February 12, 2018

"So, I have been taking Tri-Sprintec for the last 8 years and have had little complaints. Yes, I gained a few pounds when I started it, but with most BC pills, you will gain weight from. However, it was a few pounds compared to Yaz, on which I gained 20 lbs. I also had the worst mood swings of my life on Yaz. So my gynecologist switched me to Tri-Sprintec about 8 years ago, and I have had very few issues on this pill. My periods are shorter, and I noticed my skin is clearer, and I am less moody on it. Also, it has helped tremendously with my endometriosis. I still get cramping before and after my period, but it is tolerable compared to when I took Yaz. I recommend Tri-Sprintec for shorter periods, less cramping, and better skin! Again, every woman's body will react differently, but I have had a pretty good reaction to Tri-Sprintec, and I have been on it for almost a decade now!"

• Anonymous
• November 9, 2019

"Used Tri-Sprintec to manage severe endometriosis pain. Within 2 months of using the pill, I gained 15 lbs. My mood swings were terrible, crying all the time for no reason, up to 4 times a day. Within 3 months, I started getting terrible stomach aches and cramps, and alternated between constipation and diarrhea that would last for hours. I thought it was related to my endo, but when I started getting them 3-5 times a week, my doc said it was IBS, but there wasn't any correlation between what I was eating and my digestive issues. After reading some reviews, I decided to stop birth control altogether. It's been just over a month and I have not had a single stomach ache, diarrhea, or constipation. The mood swings have stabilized and I have not cried once. This is the best I've felt in 10 months! The only good thing I can say about this pill is it did control my endo pain. I had little to no cramping during the month, and during my cycle, it was only the first few days, and it was manageable."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2019

"I have been on this pill for 2 weeks, and let me tell you, I regret it. I have absolute RANDOM bouts of nausea and cold sweats, I am angry, weepy, dehydrated (hard to force myself to drink because of the nausea), and BLOATED. My fiancé is so worried because I have been to the hospital twice due to intense migraines and dehydration. Honestly, the recalled YAZ gave me fewer side effects than this! I'll be starting something new in a week. The only good thing is that it cleared up my minimal acne. I just want to enjoy my life again!"

• Bec...
• November 4, 2013

"I've been on this medication for 3+ years, and it took a while to get on track. I was put on YAZ first, but my cramping didn't stop at all. On Sprintec, my skin has cleared, and last month I had not a single cramp during the bleeding period. I am only able to extend my period for a month and a half and often bleed before my placebo pills, but I am only on those for 3 days."

• Jor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 13, 2019

"I've been on Tri-Lo-Marzia for about 4 months now. I've tried almost every type and brand of BC and had negative results with all, but this is my favorite so far. My period is much milder. I've never gotten any type of period relief from a contraceptive, and this one helps a good bit. I will definitely stay on it."

• Eve...
• May 30, 2014

"I've been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for about 4 years now, and after the first year, I had a great amount of pain relief. It takes time to fully cooperate with your body. I rarely get bad endometrial pain anymore, and when I do, I just take a naproxen pill (which is very rare)!"

• 100...
• March 4, 2017

"I've tried many methods to reduce pain and period flow for endometriosis, and Tri-Sprintec was the only thing that worked. Yeah, you get nausea, but that's common with birth control. I've been using it altogether for 4 years. I have no children and no pain in my pelvis while using it. Was the best one for me."

• Jay...
• January 8, 2016

"Took this pill for one week. I was so nauseated, dizzy, and had a headache I couldn't get out of the house or even look at food. I have been on several other pills before, and none have affected me this badly."

• Ang...
• December 17, 2014

"I wanted to try a new pill other than Sronyx. Sronyx caused very bad depression, weight gain, and a general disinterest in sex. Overall, I guess you can say it was a very effective birth control for me because I never felt like having sex. My first month on Previfem, I experienced slight nausea, low mood/energy, and spotting. However, my acne and oily skin cleared up immediately, and I was not expecting this pill to do that. My skin is so clear now. It's a great plus. I have just finished my 2nd month on Previfem, and my only real complaint now is the spotting. My mood and energy have improved, but I am still experiencing light spotting 3-4 days after my period is supposed to end. Hopefully, that will clear up as my body adjusts to the hormone."

• Ali...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 9, 2021

"I’ll start by saying that I was on depo injection for 8 years without any issue. I quit taking it because I wanted my periods to be regular again. My periods have always been extremely rough, but about a year ago, I started having cramps almost constantly. This went on for months before my doctor prescribed me Tri-Sprintec. It got rid of the pain, and my periods were light and short, which I loved, but everything else got out of control. The first month was fine, but after that, things started going downhill. I am not an emotional person, and I found myself crying for no reason and so depressed that I barely got out of bed. It was a huge strain on my partner and me. I also had weighed 125 pounds my entire life and have now gained 40 pounds in the past year that seemed impossible to get rid of, even while eating healthy and exercising. I quit taking this a few weeks ago and already feel a million times better. Hoping that I can lose all this weight and start feeling normal again."

• Han...
• January 23, 2015

"I have endometriosis and have stomach pain, digestive problems, and abnormal bleeding. The digestive problems are just as bad as they were. My periods are better. The medicine does have side effects such as an unsettled stomach and headaches."

• Lea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 15, 2015

"I took Ortho for just over 1 year. This is the worst thing I ever did for my severe cramps caused by endo. I don't think I will ever fully forgive myself for it. While my cramps subsided completely for 8 months (and ONLY 8 months --- then they came back in full force without any change in lifestyle or medication), the side effects were a nightmare. I developed extreme pain in my breasts to the point I was barely able to wear a sports bra and totally unable to wear a regular bra. I developed severe cystic acne, which has left my face permanently scarred. My hair began to thin, and small patches fell out while I suffered from crippling depression and insomnia. I would never take BC again in any form after this experience."

• Aan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2018

"This drug is so, so horrible. I have unbearable endometriosis with extreme pain every single day and was prescribed this to help. I’m surprised at all the positive reviews on here because this pill has literally made me feel like I’m dying. Extreme nausea constantly every single day, to the point where I couldn’t get rid of it and had to go to the hospital for anti-nausea meds. I'm also crying at literally everything, and my mood is all over the place. If you try this birth control and start to experience these side effects, waiting it out is honestly not worth it, at least for me. I have been so miserable and finally decided to call it quits. So excited to start feeling normal again and explore other options for my endo."

• Bjs...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 9, 2019

"Reading these reviews has really shed so much light on my situation. Since I started taking this pill, I've experienced extreme mood swings/depression. I often experience nausea and have gained 20 pounds in a year. I don't know if that is directly because of the pill or more related to the depression/exhaustion that I experience. On the bright side, my periods and cramps are much more manageable, I break out less, and I'm not pregnant. It does what it's supposed to do, but I don't think that it's right for me. I'm going to talk to my gyno to try to find a better fit."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2019

"I started Estarylla to regulate abnormal bleeding from endometriosis and PCOS, but it didn't help at all. Just after the first month, I was hospitalized because I started losing so much blood I couldn't stand up without passing out. And the pain was awful-it shot down my legs and up my back and neck like electric waves. That period didn't stop for nine weeks, and I was in severe pain the whole time. Almost worse was the depression and panic attacks. I have a history with these struggles, but it got so bad on this medication that I wouldn't sleep for days. It's been so tough to try to figure out what's going on at the same time as I'm trying to find the motivation to do regular life things."