Tri-Previfem and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• kmo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2015

For Birth Control "Took it for a month and experienced horrible side effects. Constant cramping out of nowhere, painful sex, zero sex drive, swollen, extremely tender breasts, mood swings, anger and aggression particularly, some depression, constant fatigue, bloating, and an irregular period after years of it being regular. Had to stop taking it to get my sanity back."

• kmo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2015

For Birth Control "Took it for a month and experienced horrible side effects. Constant cramping out of nowhere, painful sex, zero sex drive, swollen, extremely tender breasts, mood swings, anger and aggression particularly, some depression, constant fatigue, bloating, and an irregular period after years of it being regular. Had to stop taking it to get my sanity back."

• Kme...
• April 19, 2018

For Birth Control "I personally do not like this pill. This is my second month of being on it. The first month was good, like normal. I noticed that my period was a day later than usual and that my period cramps were worse than before (I struggle with severe cramps at least 2 times a year). The moment I started my second month on this pill, all hell broke loose. Day 2, Monday, I felt so sick and had a massive headache that no matter what I took would not leave. Day 3, I still felt so sick to my stomach and still had a headache. I had to get Excedrin just to ease the headache. Since I started my second month, I have noticed: weight gain/bloating, sore breasts, more sensitivity to touch, headaches, no appetite, nausea, depression, no motivation, and lack of sex drive. After this month, I'm going back to my original pills, Falmina, I don't care if I have to pay for them. I would rather pay $14 than feel like rubbish every day. Take this pill at your own risk."

• Gtu...
• July 9, 2018

For Birth Control "If I would have stayed on this medication for a few years, I would have developed Crohn's disease. Being on this birth control killed my sex drive, gave me acne that I never had before, and completely ruined my upper GI while on it. If I were to go drink a beer, I would immediately throw it up. I had intense stomach pains every day while on this and constantly felt nauseated. My quality of life went down so much, and my depression and anxiety increased to the point where panic attacks were somewhat frequent. Quitting this birth control was the best thing I did for myself. It ruined me for so long. Hate this stuff so much."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2014

For Birth Control "I am on Tri-Previfem, and it's been about 7 weeks, and I've already consulted with my doctor to change birth control. Overall, my experience on Tri-Previfem was awful. I bled the entire first month, and now, on my second month, it's causing me to have painful intercourse."

• ttt...
• March 9, 2016

For Acne "Absolutely do NOT take this. I have never had acne, and the second I started taking it, my chin exploded into pimples everywhere! Not to mention how depressed I was and the anxiety it gave me. I also had no libido whatsoever! Definitely do NOT recommend, this is horrible!"

• Nob...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 7, 2016

For Birth Control "DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION. I was prescribed the name brand of this medicine, and my insurance decided that they would give me Tri-Previfem instead. For the first 3 or so months, things were fine, no big differences. After that, though, goodness gracious. Anxiety, depression, mood swings, NO SEX DRIVE, dryness 'down there,' no matter how bad I wanted to be. It's absolutely a horrible feeling not being able to be ready for your partner, and that puts such a stress on a relationship. On the menstrual time...... picture every horrible pregnancy symptom you could possibly have, triple it, and add to it the normals of your regular period. HEADACHES. If only the 1-10 scale had negative numbers. Save yourselves and stay away from this medicine."

• cou...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 17, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for the past 5 years now. When I first began this pill, I had no issues, it immediately regulated my period and decreased cramping and acne. However, over the past few years, I have noticed an increase in negative side effects associated with this pill. I find myself to become randomly depressed, emotional, and angry. I have little to no sex drive, as well as terrible migraines during the week before my period. I have been prescribed 800 mg ibuprofen for these migraines, as my gynecologist suggested it could be due to low estrogen levels, and they don't even help. I am considering changing pills due to the uncomfortable side effects."

• Geo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2015

For Birth Control "I've only been on this pill for two weeks. I have chills where it feels like I have a fever-dizziness-severe migraines-neck pain-constant hunger-10 lb weight gain-confusion-nausea-earaches-fatigue-stomach pain-anxiety-weakness-no sex drive. I mean, the list goes on and on! This pill is awful. Stopping it today. The side effects are just not worth it!"

• mem...
• April 22, 2017

For Birth Control "I read the reviews but was still eager to try it -- do not take this. This pill has made me extremely depressed and has caused me to have mood swings. I'm surprised my boyfriend is still with me because since this pill I have been depressed, unmotivated, moody, and have had no sex drive! I do not recommend this pill to anyone."

• Soo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2016

For Birth Control "This is my 4th month after switching from Ortho Tri-Cyclen to Tri-Previfem due to my insurance and availability, and I am miserable. For preventing pregnancy, sure, the pill works. But for anything else, it is horrible. I have gained several pounds over the last month and have not changed anything about my lifestyle. My face is breaking out along my chin nearly every day. I am having constant serious mood swings. I am antisocial, and I have no sex drive. I have considered ending my year-long relationship for the tiniest reasons, and I am horrible to my family. I have never had mental health issues before I took this pill, and I am hoping stopping will help me return to my normal self..."

• Kii...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been taking this birth control for 6 months, and I have finally decided to stop taking it. Although it did help eliminate my acne, regulate my cycle, and prevent pregnancy, the cons outweigh the pros for me. At first, I didn't really experience too many negative side effects, but as time has gone on, I have become severely depressed, moody, and unmotivated. I am constantly tired and have become extremely forgetful about even simple things. I have become overly anxious and paranoid. I did have anxiety at times before the pill, but it was never this bad. My breasts are constantly sore, and I have absolutely no sex drive anymore. None at all. I know it's this pill causing this, and I need to stop taking it so I can feel like myself again."

• JBa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2020

For Birth Control "I've been taking the Tri-Previfem pill for a few months now. I was on Ortho-Tricyclen for years with no issues, and then my insurance switched me to Tri-Previfem, and it's been awful. I now get headaches, stomach aches, and my sex drive is very low. I am going to go back to Ortho-Tricyclen, even if I have to pay for it out of my own pocket."

• Jen...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 14, 2019

For Birth Control "I took this birth control, Tri-Previfem, for 8 years. I just got switched today after talking to my OB/GYN and realizing that it was causing anxiety, depression, low sex drive, headaches, and extreme mood swings the week before my period. I thought it was all normal or just me, but she said it was the medicine. I have now been switched to Mili. It did regulate my periods, but I would have 7-9 days of fairly heavy bleeding each month, which is not supposed to be a thing. Very effective in preventing pregnancies, as I have not been pregnant while taking it."

• smh...
• May 5, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I switched to this pill about 7-8 months ago, and it has been hell ever since. I became very depressed, anxiety was heightened, exhausted all the time, no motivation/energy, did not get out of bed, became very negative and angry, and had no libido. I would sleep for 12 hours and still be tired and take naps during the day. This affected my relationship, and my boyfriend ended up leaving me due to my depression. I have now quit the birth control, and I feel like a brand new person and back to my old self. Ladies, if you're having these side effects and it's affecting your relationship with your significant other, family, or friends, do not wait it out!!!! I wish I could go back and quit the pill a long time ago!"

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2015

For Birth Control "The first month of this pill, I had breakthrough bleeding basically the whole month. I also had this terrible stomach feeling. The second month, I had no bleeding and no weird stomach feelings. I just switched off to a lower dose pill due to my breasts growing 2 sizes and being extremely swollen (I was already a D, I didn't want them any bigger!) and also I lost my sex drive completely. Happy to have had no emotional changes at all (in fact, I felt happier). Overall, this pill wasn't as terrible as all the reviews I've read made it out to be, but everyone is different."

• Not...
• June 10, 2017

For Birth Control "Up until last month, I'd had no negative side effects; no migraines (which are normal for me), no depression, regular anxiety, cleared my hormonal acne, regular if not strengthened sex drive, fairly regular periods. Two months ago, I had a long and heavy period. It was the first time I've ever bled through. Because of that, I was prescribed Trivora, which I hated. In the very beginning, my sex drive peaked, but that quickly ended because it made sex very painful and it lacked any pleasure. It also left me extremely depressed and crying constantly (I NEVER cry). I switched back to Tri-Previfem after only a week on Trivora. Everyone has a different experience, but mine was positive. P.S. it's only $9 at Walmart."

• Pen...
• August 24, 2021

For Birth Control "After using Tri-Previfem for roughly 2 years, I am switching birth control brands. I originally went on it to control my horrible acne, which it helped quite a bit, but definitely not 100%. I also noticed a dramatic increase in mood swings, lows being very low. My period lasts a normal amount of time, cramps are minimal. It definitely lowered my sex drive. I didn’t gain or lose any weight on it. I also noticed that if I accidentally skip a day of BC, my acne almost immediately flares up again. As for contraception, it’s very effective. I’m ultimately switching BC due to the absurd mood swings."

• Ari...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 8, 2017

For Birth Control "After years on Ortho, they forced me to switch when my insurance no longer covered it. My skin broke out, I gained 10 lbs, my libido was non-existent, I sweat constantly, and between migraines... which lasted for 2.5 out of 3 weeks I was on the pill... I had depression and breakthrough bleeding. Not something I would recommend."

• Alc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 24, 2017

For Birth Control "One negative thing, I believe it has decreased my libido. I was never one to have huge desires every single day, but I noticed I have barely any drive at all. I've been on this for about 2 years. The biggest thing for me, it cleared up my awful hormonal acne. I used to be on Lo Lo-Estrin, and that ruined my skin. I still have some scars. It hasn't helped a ton with oil production on my face either. I still tend to be oily. As far as weight gain, this pill hadn't affected me that way."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2014

For Birth Control "I am currently taking the last of my second pack, and I feel like my sex drive has been lost. I'm not sure if it's this particular brand or not, but ever since I started taking it, I have felt no desire for sex. I am soon going to consult with my doctor to switch. Also, it gives you your period for a week, which I do not like. Had pretty heavy bleeding my first period, guessing I'll have the same with my next cycle. It works differently on everyone, but for me, it doesn't seem to be the right choice."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2018

For Birth Control "I started this pill for 3 months and nothing changed when it came to acne, and I like that my period starts exactly at the same time every month. However, I gained 15 pounds on this pill with no dietary or exercise changes, my sex drive has decreased, and I’ve been experiencing more depression and anxiety when it comes to panic attacks. I’m going to the obgyn to see if I can switch to the IUD."

• Mor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 30, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on birth control for over 3 years. I too was on Sprintec until they changed it to Tri-Previfem - didn't notice any changes with my body between the two. The first month I started taking the pill was crazy, my emotions were uncontrollable (it was scary), and my skin was breaking out. I don't like Tri-Previfem, but it does keep me from getting pregnant. Skin still breaks out, but I don't know if that's just me or the pill doing it. I never really got period cramps/symptoms before the pill, now I do. Periods are much lighter and shorter, though. My boobs grew about half a size. No weight gain. No libido either - my boyfriend hates it, but the pill is the best way to avoid pregnancy. Wouldn't recommend unless necessary."

• Hil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 17, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on this for three years. It was very effective in preventing pregnancy, but the side effects are not worth it! No sex drive, mood swings, and anxiety. Stay away!"

• ss7...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2015

For Birth Control "No sex drive at all. In a bad mood sometimes throughout the day for no apparent reason. Thinking of switching to something else."