Estrostep symptoms and conditions

I've been on estrostep for one month and things were going great until my fourth week into the cycle. I had my period about a week ago and I am still bleeding randomly.. did anyone else have this problem or is this normal in your first cycle of the pill?

I am 18 years old and I've been on birth control since the age of 15. Why so young? I was raped shortly after my 15th birthday. I was on Estrostep for awhile and loved it, but I ran out and have yet to find more of it. I was then started on Ortho-Tricylen and had been on it for almost 2 years when I noticed something wasn't right. I went to the doctor and they sent me straight to the hospital after having an abnormal ultrasound. Long story short, I had a cyst on my right ovary the size of a tennis ball and my doctor diagnosed me with endometriosis phase 2. I was scheduled to have surgery that following morning. I was in so much pain that I was hoping this one surgery would fix it all. They had to remove my appendix and burn a lot of scar tissue and whatnot to fix me up. After surgery, my doctor told me that I was ate up pretty bad with endo, and that they didn't want to have to do a total hysterectomy on an 18 year old. I don't have any kids, but I have hopes to someday have a couple. He started me on Femcon Fe right away, saying that this would control my endo cell growth. I have been on it for almost 5 months now and it's the worst pill I've ever taken! I have all the side effects listed on the package. The worst of them are breast tenderness, heavy spotting, nausea, vomiting, headaches, acne, weight gain, and severe moodiness. I can't take this anymore! I missed two pills one weekend and ended up back in the hospital because I started gushing blood that looked like black water. I don't know what else to do, so I'm quitting them. I took my last one Wednesday. I will be returning to the doctor next week and seeing if I can get back on Estrostep. I want my body back! I really hope all of you out there on this pill read this and stop immediately!! It's not safe!

Well, I definitely would not ever recommend this pill....even to my worst enemy!! Yesterday was my last pill!! I have had extreme mood swings (crying for no reason), cramps, nausea, spotting & anxiety! I have been spotting for the past 2 days with today having it turn into an actual full blown period. I have read so many negative side effects from taking this bcp and most of the ones I've been reading are so similar to my story! I hope this helps with your decision to either discontinue the use of this brand of bcp or to switch to a different brand. For me, I was on Estrostep when I was 15yrs old to regulate my periods and would definitely recommend it. I would have tried this one again, but I couldn't remember it until yesterday when I was researching my side effects. Anyways, good luck to all of you! As for me, I am totally staying away from the pill in general! I figure, my body can just do it's thing and hopefully my cycles will straighten out on it's own.

I'm 25, and I have never used bc. I was given this from my gyno. because my bf kept taking off his thingy. So the first day, the very first day my hair started to come out. I gave it two weeks, and threw it in the garbage. I had hair falling out everywhere, I had EVERY side effect listed. My vision was also screwed up. I didn't know what the hell was going on with me. My bf broke up with me, my moods were crazy, my boobs hurt, i had cramps, heavy bleeding, nausea, all i wanted to do was eat food, stomach pains, depression, anxiety, a headache, I was dizzy to the point were I just wanted to start crying, I even had the shits...This pill is a joke. I can deal with minor things like spotting, and I realize it takes 3 months for your body to adjust, but I couldn't even take it for 2 weeks. I did notice that if you take vitamins, the side effects were better.. but still my heart hurt so much I thought, holy crap, I'm going to have a mini-stroke at the age of 25. I am so thankful to god that I found this site and I could read other people's stories. I really think the idea of bc is wonderful, but until they make a pill that my body will accept- I'll stick with condoms, they have worked so far, I would even go on to say, I rather never have sex again then to go through the toll of this pill. This should have never been put on the market.

I have only been taking nuvaring for a month (just took it out two days ago for the first time) and I have already been experiencing some of the same side affects as many of the women here. For the last week and a half I have been in the biggest depression I've been in in years. I read an earlier post that said if you already have a predisposition to, say depression, the nuvaring side effects can hit you harder. I think I agree with that. I was crying, moody, hollow feeling, and everyone I crossed, whether friend, acquaintance, or stranger, asked me if I was "okay"... It was, shall we say, noticeable to others.

In fact, it was horrible. I just kept telling people, "I don't what's wrong with me but I'm not right." I was grumpy, tired, and had no zest for life. This depression was so pronounced, extreme, and out-of-character in just a month that I started researching and found this site. (I hope that helps for anyone reading this who is thinking about using the nuvaring and are prone to depression).

I also had extreme tenderness in my boobs about a week into putting it in...like so bad you have to gently glide down your stairs because any bobble will be painful...you know what I mean... :)

I had taken estrostep for a few years but I had gone off it for a year until I decided to try B/C again and my gyno recommended nuvaring for the convenience. I don't remember having any side effects with estrostep and I plan to go back to that immediately.

My doctor switched me to Reclipsen when i started to have lots of spotting in between periods after being on Estrostep for years. With Reclipsen i have had 0 spotting, but my periods are heavy, unpredictable, and i get cramps days before my period even starts. I've also been moody and have had headaches but i felt this way on my previous BC pill too, so i didn't know if it's due to the pill or something else. My doctor is switching me to Loestrin 24, but after reading the reviews i'm hesitant to start those!

My side effects have mainly to do with the generic for Estrostep. It is called
Tri Le Gest FE. In one month it raised my blood pressure from 120/80 to 144/99. My doctor put me on Ativan thinking I had anxiety. That reacted badly also.
Ended up in the ER with BP 165/100 heart rate 135. Since stopping generic my bp is now back in the 120'/70 range. I have gained 15 pounds and had my cholesterol go up 20 points in one year. I will blame regular Estrostep for that but the generic form really messes with your heart. Just wanted to let everyone know to keep really close tabs on blood pressure.

Hi I had been on Estrostep for 2 years and I hated it it caused me to have blood clots every time my period would come since I have been of the pill I have not had a period its been a year.

I too have just started taking Femcon about a week and a half ago... I had just started when I began taking it. I had a regular period and then started again yesterday. I am bleeding heavy and have horrible cramps. My doctor gave me this as a sample because he was out of Estrostep what I usually take. I was in a car wreck a few weeks ago and was unsure of whether or not my headache were from that or the BC... I like the convenience but the side affects seem to out weigh the good. I don't believe ill stay on this one.

I'm on my 2nd month of taking Femcon. The first week starting it, I had heart flutters and anxiety, then coinciding with depression and mood swings. I was patient though and all of that subsided. Throughout this entire time, I've had occassional nausea in the first few hours after I wake, but no vomiting. My ankles have been continuously swollen since on it, and I'm generally just bloated, I have to take a water pill to relieve some of it. My breasts have been tender, off and on, since I started taking it.
By the end of the 1st pack, I figured I was ok, I had my last period just a little over a week ago. A week after my cycle had ended, I started spotting, and now in the past 24 hrs I'm heavily bleeding, I'm actually concerned. I'm passing clots, bleeding heavily, having moderate to severe cramps in my lower back area. I'm currently trying to reach my doctor and hoping they'll call me back, since I've had 2 miscarriages in the past, I'm showing signs of a possible miscarriage, but I've been told that the pill will give you symptoms of pregnancy, so I don't know. Any advice on what to do? I believe I will see if the doctor will put me on Estrostep, I took that about 7 years ago and had no problems with it, but the doctor felt that Femcon is more effective against pregnancy. Anyone know what could be happening with me?

I've been on various pills over the past 8-9 years, including OrthoNovum, OrthoTri-cyclen, Orthocyclen, Estrostep and others. I basically switched every year because I had constant break through bleeding.

By contrast, Yasmin is by far the worst birth control I have ever been on. I'd been on it around 2 years, maybe longer. I am a level-headed, career minded woman. About a year ago I started to suspect I might be bi-polar or depressed.

Here is a list of the side-effects I had while on Yasmin that have disappeared since I stopped taking it 3 months ago:

-Depression
-Suicidal thoughts
-Paranoia
-Anxiety
-Nausea
-Decreased libido
-Intense Anger/Rage
-Irritability
-Increased thirst
-General disinterest/lack of motivation
-Acne
-Break-through bleeding
-Irregular periods
-Overly sensitive/swollen nipples
-Yellow discharge

I only had the above symptoms during the time I was taking Yasmin, not before and not after. This stuff is vile.

If you don't have any side-effects from this pill you are lucky. But I still urge you to pay very close attention. It is very easy for these symptoms to slowly grow over time until one day you wake up and don't even recognize your own self.

Since I stopped taking hormonal birth control I feel normal again, which by comparison means even the worst day is 10x better than a single day on Yasmin.

I had been on Yasmine for about two years with no complications until last week. Last week my heart began beating extremely fast just while sitting at my desk typing. Later on in the day my chest began feelign tight and I had an "anxious" feeling in my upper body. At the same time my lower body felt completely weak- as if my legs could not support my body weight if I were to stand. Evenso, I thought nothing of it and just assumed my normal one cup of coffee just so happened to have a strong effect on me that day. The next day the anxious feeling and weakness had subsided but my left arm and hand were tingling. It felt as if they had fallen asleep and now had that "cotton" feeling. The next morning I lost all feeling in my left hand except for my first three fingers. This is when I began trying to figure out what on earth I may have eaten, where I had been, had i drank too much coffee, etc.

I rarely drink alcahol, don't smoke, have no family history of heart problems, etc. I don't take any other medications, I don't take vitamins, I dont eat strange foods, and exercise regularly. The only thing I could possibly change is my birth control. I immediately quit taking Yasmine and all problems disappeared in two days.

I

I started out on Estrostep, then Triphasil, then Orthotricyclin-lo, and now I am currently on Yasmin. I have noticed I have more mood swings with yasmin, more acne (i used to have a VERY clear face), and a sex drive that is barely there!!! Also,I have headaches, some mild and some severe, just about everyday!! Most of them come on suddenly, and last for quite some time! Tylenol helps, but doesn't take them away! Although I do have side effects, my periods have become MUCH shorter (from about 14 days before any birth control pills, to about 9 with the above mentioned pills, to like 4 days with Yasmin) and with very little cramping. With all of the pills i've been on, i've noticed some weight gain associated, but nothing severe! If anyone has any suggestions to a pill that has fewer side effects, please let me know! ~Thanks

I had been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for 6.5 years and NEVER eperienced any problems. I got on Femcon because I was moving to a new state and inbetween insurance companies. My doc gave me a 6month supply before I left so that I could still be on the pill. I'm on the first two weeks, and like everyone else I have experienced break through bleeding. I haven't gotten headaches or mood swings. But as a teacher and a coach, I can't afford to have any of these problems. I'll stick it out for a little bit longer until my new insurance kicks in, but then I think I'm switching back. Anyone know how long this bleeding will last??? did anyone stay on it long enough to see if things setteled down afterwards?

I've been on the pill since early January. I got put on it so i wouldn't get pregnant and to regulate my period. About a month ago i started having real problems with it. I've had a headache every single day... and it doesn't start until a little while after taking the pill and in the mornings before i take it im fine. I've been feeling really sick after i take it to the point where i feel like i'm going to throw up but i haven't actually yet. I'm depressed and having horrible mood swings. i'm starting arguments and yelling at my boyfriend for the stupidest reasons but i just can't stop i dunno whats wrong. i'm barely 18 and i used to be the happiest person you know. i know i need to be on some form of birth control but im worried that all other pills are going to have similar effects. It's practically ruining my relationship because i get out of control angry within seconds at times. Last month i missed a pill... but you what? That whole day i was headache free so i know the pill is whats having an effect on me. I'm having trouble sleeping, i wake up multiple times throughout the night which never used to happen... even though the pill eventually gives you shorter periods, it messes you up. its not worth it.

i used to take estrostep a few years ago and i was fine i never even gained weight felt like nothing, here i am taking it again and in my 3rd month, i have never been this depressed in my life, i cry alot i get mad at everything im always fighting with my bf and on top of that ever since i started it for these 3 months i havent gotten my period and no im not pregnant! before i got on it i was perfect and happy with my life and out of no where i am like this

Took Estrostep (sp?) from May until early October. Constant bleed thru. I'm only on BC for acne. Started taking Yasmin and within 2 weeks was having trouble sleeping and loss of appetite. In a month I was depressed, anxious, and second guessing every decision. I'm taking no other medications and and before this I was a happy, productive, college student. Last Sunday morning I woke up and decided to look up "side effects" of Yasmin. After discussionwith my parents i decided to stop the Yasmin immediately. It's been a week now - how long before before these feelings of anxiety and panic abate? I have been to see my family doctor and he was supportive of my decision but advised that it might take up to a month for everything to be out of my system. Any one else have the symtoms and for how long after quiting?

Silke, Foggyhead,
Yes, believe me, I am MUCH better than I was just 6 months ago. I was in and out of the emergency room (that didn't help either...they didn't know what to do with me). I took Estrostep for a year and then switched to Yasmin for two months....then almost died (or so I felt!) My doctor NEVER told me to stop the Yasmin. A hospital pharmacist rescued me, and then later I found this site....how could I have been so stupid and trusting? If I had just looked up the pill, I would have seen all of this. I NEVER had ANY problems before. I am 28 years old and have been post Yasmin 15 months. After I stopped the pill, I slowly got a tiny bit better every month. In the past 3 months, my period has become very regular, but different. It only lasts 2 very heavy days (used to last about a week), then some very scant spotting. I did not use ANY pain medication during this last period (perhaps the exercise helps)!!! My period was good this time, but the anxiety started on day 4 of my cycle and has increased until now (day 9). The anxiety (vision problems, hunger, vomiting, weakness, minor head pain/stuffiness) seems to start right when my period abruptly stops. I used to have just about EVERY side effect mentioned on this site, but most of them have now gone!!! I still have my meltdowns, and believe I am going to die again, but they are much fewer and I have not run to the emergency room for about 6 months. And I will say they did nothing to help me anyway except confirm "nothing was wrong". My husband helps to keep me positive, and I force myself to stay busy. If I am too weak to get up and move, I try to keep busy sewing, talking to someone about SOMETHING ELSE, reading, or just praying I will survive all this......and I have.

Silke,
My sister took acne medication with some kind of Yasmin mix.... she has been off of that for about 2 years (she is 22). She has a very painful period (although not enough to keep her out of work) about every 6 months. The doctors think she may have a cyst caused by the Yasmin, but are not too worried as it should go away on it's own....at least she is having a period every 6 months.
Virginia

I have been off of Yasmin for about one month now and I'm not really too sure how I've been feeling. I got my first "period" about a week late, but it didn't even last a day. Two days later I had horrible cramps with shooting pain down my leg. This lasted about two days. Its two weeks later and I started my "period" again and I think its the heaviest I have had in the last three years (I was on Estrostep for 1.5 yrs and Yasmin for about the same). I am having a hard time figuring out what my normal cycle will be, which is frustrating b/c my husband and I are ready to start trying to have a baby.

Can anyone relate?????

Took this pill for a few months and then stopped. About two months later I noticed an increase in hair loss on my head. It has gotten worse....so, I have been losing tons of strands of hair for more than three months! Do not take Estrostep!

Wow, I am relieved to learn I am not alone. I've been taking Yasmin for about 2 cycles after switching from Estrostep based on the idea that Yasmin helps with acne and my gyno gave me free samples. Since then I've experienced noticeable weight gain and tender breasts. Additionally I've also experienced severe insomnia, I can't remember the last time I got a good night's sleep. That being said, I attributed a lot of this to what was going on in my life. However, after I randomly decided to do more research on Yasmin and thank goodness I did, I am going off Yasmin. It's comforting to learn I am not alone in my symptoms.

Within days of starting estrostep my face, upper arms and upper part of my back broke out. Thought it would start to clear up, but no sign. It's getting worse and itches/hurts on my face. My ob/gyn prescribed it to HELP my acne, oilyness and large pores. My breasts seem to be getting bigger, but really need more time to tell. Very concerned about my face breaking out...will it clear up?

Hi ladies...
I am new to the board and am absolutely having problems with yasmin. I was on estrostep for three years and switched over to yasmin because i hardly ever got my period while on it. Anyways ive been on yasmin for 2 months.. going on the 3rd month & i have been so sick. The sickness doesnt happen until Im suppose to start that week of placebo pills. I will get diarehha horrible & also get nausea so bad i cant even hold up my head. I will also get pretty bad cramps as well. During this time.. im not even spotting. The rest of the month is alright. I will be very moody & sometimes have no sex drive, although sometimes my sex drive will flip flop and i will be really in the mood. You know what im saying... let me know

Thanks Ladies
Heather

My doctor switched me to Ovcon 35 after I was spotting two weeks before my period on Estrostep. This is my second month on Ovcon 35 and both of these months I have had brown dishcharge spotting with lots of dark clots starting with the second week of my pack like the Estrostep. I have had no weight gain yet (X fingers crossed that I wont ever) have had nausea however which may or may not be related. My breasts also get very sore about the same time that the spotting starts in the second week and this lasts through my period, which is not much of a period, it is exactly like the spotting except it turns to red blood. ??? My yearly is next month, but I dont know if I want to change to higher dosages of hormones because I've gained weight on them before.

Sabresgirl,

I recently posted a message on this site regarding the rise in blood pressure I have since being on oral contraceptives. I wasn't on Yasmin, I was on estrostep. My BP went as high as 151/100. I came off the pill a little over 2 weeks ago and my BP is now 145/94, so it is coming down. So to answer your question, I think any oral contraceptive has the potential to give you high BP. I am excited that my BP is on its way down. I hope it continues to go down. I wish the same for you.