Femcon FE and good luck

I have been on birth control for over 5 years now, and have never had so many issues like I have with Femcon FE. I was on Yasmin for 5 yrs and loved it. Didn't gain any weight, my breast got larger, and helped reduce my heavy periods the reason I first went on BC to begin with. Well, Yasmin is no longer covered by my insurance so I had to switch. I switched to Femcon. I have cramps, nausea and fatigue. I can't get out of bed in the morning, i just want to sleep all day, I feel like I am pregnant. Besides the fact that I am spotting so much I need to actually wear a tampon, because it is so often and so gross. I have anxiety and stressed out and this medication is not working. I have 3 more pills left and then I am suppose to get my period but after reading a lot of these I wonder if I will even get it now. I am going to switch to Cryselle I tried that once and liked it but I am never putting my body through this again. I feel like I am an old lady when I am only 24 and I am tired every minute of the day. I could fall asleep in the middle of work if I just put my head down. The worst was last night during the night, I felt like I was getting a UTI it was burning feeling. I never get UTI's haven't since I was a young child, and have not done anything different to cause myself to get one. I do think this was a side affect, because today I am fine and don't feel any burning and don't feel like I have to pee.
I would not recommend this at all. Try Yasmin, Yaz, or Crysell. I know those are 3 good ones you don't gain weight, the hormones don't drive you crazy and they seem to work well.
Good luck, get off this horrible drug today!!!!

The first few days were terrible for me, constant headaches and crazy mood swings. I'm on day 14 and things are starting to get better, except for the fact that i started bleeding yesterday (not spotting, period bleeding). My appetite is back to normal and my mood swings have calmed down quite a bit so I'm not as crazy (according to my boyfriend), but I do still have moments where I KNOW I overreact. I'm going to stick with Femcon and see how my body adjusts to it over time, hopefully the breakthrough bleeding will subside and I'll get back on track with my normal cycle. I'd say keep with it unless you're having unbearable side effects. Good luck to all of you! =)

I started Femcon in March. I've had a horrible experience with it. Since taking this pill i've experienced fatigue, low sex drive, anxiety, mood swings and I just didn't feel like myself. I don't recommend this pill especially if you are an athlete or active woman. Get an IUD!!!!!! good luck

One month too long....this is an update from my two previous posts dated May 6th and May 1st, 2009. After starting to spot on the second day of the second week of the pill pack of Femcon FE, I contacted the doctor to verify that everything was truly okay. When it was the third week of the pill pack and I was still spotting quarter sized clots, I called again, and the docs office said to just keep on with it. So I did. At one point I stated to my fiance that the reason it's effective birth control, was because it's impossible to get pregnant if you can't have sex!! He wasn't too amused!!!

I took my last pill of the pack on Saturday May 16th and have lost 4 and half pounds and much of the fullness in my cup size of my already large sized 36DDs. Now, if I were to choose to continue with Femcon FE, which I am not, I would start my new pill pack on Sunday. I would assume that the pounds would come back along with the fullness of my breasts. I refuse to put my body through that on a monthly basis.

Good luck to all of those who are trying to make the decision themselves to take Femcon FE. I was really hoping that it would work for me. So far it hasn't. If I had more time to fool with it I would, but I am getting married in 6 weeks and can't play with my weight like that (I have to fit into that dress!!). I do have 5 months worth of samples left though, so maybe after the wedding, I will give it the two months that the doctor wanted me to. My primary doctor said that she thought the hormone wasn't strong enough since I spotted the whole time, so then again maybe not!!!

Again, Good Luck!!!

My doctor put me on Femcon because I have the Mirena IUD and I keep getting cysts on my ovaries. She said the IUD might not be suppressing my ovaries enough and put me on Femcon. I have been on Femcon for almost 3 weeks and I have had nausea, vomiting, depressions, mood swings, headaches, increased appetite and fatigue. I am not taking this pill anymore! It has not helped with the cramping I have had from the cysts, instead it makes me feel worse. I called my doctor today and am waiting for a call back, I can't stand this anymore. Good Luck to everyone else.

I was prescribed FEMCON FE to control an unregulated, heavy and extremely painful cycle—and apparently, this is the only BC pill that can do so when one is ALSO prescribed anti-epileptic meds. I was bleeding (and cramping) uncontrollably for 3-4 weeks when put on FEMCON; I’ve been on it for 2 full months. Fortunately I didn’t do much research before beginning the pill—I didn’t really have a CHOICE of pills—these posts would have terrified me… Everyone’s systems are so different, and respond so crazily, especially when it comes to hormones. FEMCON, at least so far, has regulated mine beautifully, with minimal hitches (nothing unusual for BC pills). Some of the past positive postings are similar to what I would have to say—when I was on Yasmin, I still had long, painful, and heavy periods. On FEMCON, again so far, it’s been cut to 3-4 days of super light flow. LOVELY! I suffer from severe chronic migraines, and the halfway-mark seemed to cause me a particularly difficult time, but again, this is nothing FEMCON-specific. It just took me a bit aback. Good luck, all!

I stuck with FemCon for about six months...and I am stopping after this pill pak. My doctor raved about this pill, telling me there are fewer side effects than any other pill on the market. For me, this was the wrong pill. My headaches have become so frequent that I actually had to go to a neurologist who told me that this could be a trigger (as could many birth control pills). I have also gained weight, which never happened with any other pill, and my sex drive is down to zero. I have been on birth control for years and I am going to take a break per the doctor's orders. Good luck everyone :)

I can't believe what im reading, I have almost every side effect to what you are all saying. When I called my doctor after the 3rd day of taking the pill, she said it was normal, nausea for hours is normal! Take it @ night... ok still nausea. I thought it was just me getting older, (44) my mood swings are so out of control I would divorce me...my breast are large to begin with, I feel like im carrying 20lb weights on each one. Leg cramps, nausea, not sleeping, hot flashes. After reading this im done... I'll deal with the ovarian cyst my way...Time for a new doctor to. Good luck girls

I've been reading ALL the reviews on this website regarding Femcon FE and to be honest I haven't gained any weight, my mood swings are no crazier than usual, and I definitely haven't felt any sickness...but what I have felt, after only taking the pills for a Fin' week!!....is breakthrough bleeding! I can't believe this crap, I'm bleeding and my period isn't due for about 3 more weeks!! And I'm not talking a light little spot here and there, I am freakin' bleeding like my period is here! I've been off and on bc pills since I was 19 years old, I'm now 27...there are WAAAYY too many pills out there for me to stick with this sucker! I'm done!! Good luck ladies

I'm 31 years old & started taking FEMCON FE for ovarian cysts detected on an ultrasound 10 days ago which my RE now tells me due to my hormonal profile which came back could have possibly been my ovaries in fact finally ovulating. Little too late. Within the 1st few days of taking it I did notice a "big" change in my attitude towards others, particularly my boss, hubby & kids. I am no longer the patient & loving one but an emotional, irritable wreck. I cry for no good reason, my hair is falling out & somehow everything that I or anyone else does is wrong wrong wrong. I have road rage which is something I have NEVER experienced & I've generally been a nasty person in which I've been fully aware & feel horrible about. Now I remember why I've always refused birth control to regulate my cycles. YESTERDAY was the last night Femcon will ever enter my body. Good luck to the rest of you!
content with my"as is condition"

I am on the third pack of Femcon, switched from Ortho Tri-Cyclen because my periods were too long. I can't say I have any major side effects, no depression, no wackiness etc., One that I do have is breast tenderness, my boobs blew up like balloons and I do have major skin/chin problems that no dermatologist can help me with for the last few weeks. I couldn't figure it out what it was from but I think it might be from the pill. Never had any skin problems, acne and all of the sudden my chin breaks out badly, not pimples more like under the skin red bumps. Anyone with the similar problem???? HELP.

Hello everyone. After getting my period two weeks ago I have been bleeding for the past 5 days as well. I have tremendous breast tenderness as well. However, I have been on the pill for 15 months now. The spotting between periods has been going on for about 6 months now. I mentioned it to my primary dr about 4 months ago. long story short I have a cyst on my right ovary, and a complex cyst on my left ovary. Needless to say I will be having surgery on November 12th. First to remove the cysts, possibly the ovaries. If I can tell any one message this is it..."Listen to your bodies ladies!" You know your body better than anyone else. I originally went on the pill because I had polycystic ovarian syndrome and here I am getting ready to have cysts removed. I am not trying to scare anyone, but make sure the pros out weigh the cons while considering staying on this pill. I have to wear a pad everyday because I don't know when I am going to have breakthrough bleeding. This is very frustrating and I hope it will be resolved after surgery? Not sure if I will continue on birth control following surgery. I am 36 yrs old and I am at my wits end. When I heard about everyone being sensitive, or crying at the drop of a hat I have to say I was relieved. Maybe I am not crazy! Good Luck and please take care of your bodies! You are your best advocate. Thanks for listening.

I have read a lot of these responses and here and have noticed a common thread among all responses. This may or may not help.

You need to give any new pill a full 3 months before judging it. Your body needs to stabilize with the new hormones that you are giving it. It generally takes about 3 cycles to do so. ANY pill, whether it is Femcon, Loestrin, Yaz, Yasmin, or any other will have the same side effects. So, for that matter, will Nuvaring or other hormonal based birth control methods.

I had problems with Femcon during the first month as well, just like I did with Yasmin. The solution to the problem is giving it a full three months before making your decision. Anything else, and you are simply not making an education decision. Good luck ladies!

I haven't taken the pill in 25 years. I'm now 42, having heavy periods every 2 weeks with heavy clotting for the last 8 months now. My husband and my kids say I'm an emotional nightmare (which I don't see at all). I have called the nurse complaining about constant leg cramping/charlie horse, but I keep getting the same response that it's just a potassium/calcium deficiency. So now what. I'm now starting my 2nd pack taking it twice a day to help control the bleeding. I do have to say that this time around, my period is lighter and cramps don't seem to be as bad. I haven't noticed any weight gain since the pill, but again, my family complains that I'm extremely edgy, and sensitive.

I, do, however, think that all medications attack each person in a different way. Good luck. Sign: PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!!!!

HEY EVERYBODY, IVE BEEN ON FEMCON FE FOR THE PAST 6MNTHS AND I HATE IT. MOST OF THE SYMPTOMS ALL YOU LADIES HAVE, I HAVE HAD AND DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT COULD BE THE PILL: WEIGHT GAIN, DIZZINESS, LEG CRAMPS, GROWTH AND TENDERNESS OF THE BREAST, NO SEX DRIVE, ACHNE, AND THE WORST OF ALL AND THAT WORRIES ME THE MOST IS THE GREAT AMOUNT OF HAIR LOSS IM EXPERIENCING!!! IM 22 AND FEEL THAT I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IM JUST WONDERING IF ANY OF YOU HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND IF YOU HAVE WHEN YOU GOT OFF THE PILL, DID YOUR HAIR COME BACK? YOUR REPLY IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

This is my 2nd month taking Femcon Fe. I am on b/c for my heavy periods. I was nauseous the first month and lost some of my appetite, but ok now. I do still have some breast tenderness that I can live with. I have been having this pain in my thigh not sure if this is from the b/c. I'm going to stick it out for at least 6 months and see how it goes. The worst thing for me is remembering to take it on time. I have as they say been "fixed" and only need to take the pill for the heaviness. What a bummer!

Hi Ive been on Femcon FE for one month now. I am 20, 5'1'' and weigh 100 lbs. I have not gained any weight at all, nor experienced any nausea. The first 2 weeks I felt like I had some mood swings, the third week I broke out in horrible acne... However, my period lasted about 4 days and was soo light I almost forgot that I had it. I never got any cramps either. Now, I am on my second month, first week, and my acne is starting to clear a little bit.. However, I have battled acne for a lil while and - as I have been told by doctors - it takes your body time to respond to all these hormones. If you are having problems with acne, just remember that usually things that are supposed to clear acne will break you out for about 2 months before it starts clearing you up. It's your body's response to the drastic change going on inside. I would suggest seeing a dermatologist and using some topical gel (Differin).. it has helped mine a little bit. I don't think I'll change BC because I would rather my body just get used to one type and just stay on it....
good luck ladies! Just remember, don't get too frightened by all these postings because every woman's body is different so not everyone will experience the same side effects.

I understand what all of you ladies are going through. I myself started taking Femcon a week and a half ago, starting the packet the first day of my period. I haven't been on birth control pills before and I am 26 years old. My breast are extremely swollen and tender and have grown a size in a week, I am having violent mood swings, I have felt suicidal at times, but not enough to actually go through with it (and I certainly wouldn't, I understand that its just the hormones), I am severely constipated, I have only had one headache experience since taking the pills but it wasn't good. I had an extremely sharp pain go through one side of my head and last a while, I had to take three days off from work this week because I was too nauseous, as well as too tired and depressed to get out of bed. I am back at work today barely able to keep my eyes open. I am about to take a nap during my one hour lunch break. This has been a horrible experience for me. I have read the instructions and know that these horrible things will pass. I can't take much more. I am an extremely patient person but these side effects are absolutely ridiculous!!! Good luck to all of you, I feel your pain.

I just started Femcon on Sunday so today is my 3rd day and so far its been ok...after i saw this sight it made me want to stop right away, but i think ill give it a shot. But ill definitely keep you guys updated on my status as I go through this process. This is my 1st time on any kind of birth control and i have to admit its kind of scary reading all of these posts...i don't know what I should do

honestly i thought i was freaking crazy! this is not the right pill for me. I have had the worst mood swings every and i only started taking the pill 2 weeks ago, this is my last week - EVER! I'm dropping femcon like a bad habit. i have been bleeding since the 4th day on the pill with no sign of stopping. i ALMOST broke up with my boyfriend because my emotions are so out of wack, i have absolutely no sex drive and im moody one day and lovely the next. Luckily, i stumbled upon this website praying that i was just nuts and its all the pill not my boyfriend!!! thankful that seems to be the case and embarrassing as it is i had to state my case and hes willing to ride it out for the next week until i can switch back to my loestrin 24 fe. good luck ladies hope this helped! xox

i absolutely hate this pill. i have only been on it for a couple of days and i feel like im going to die! my breasts are not tender but i constantly have headaches, diarrhea and vomit all the time. I hate it but then again im not gonna say its the worst pill bc its the first time i am on birth control. i don't know if i should keep taking it or just stop. also, im a little confused on how to take the pill bc my doctor just handed it to me without telling me ANYTHING about it even when i told him i have never been on any kind of pill before. he was dumb. if anyone can please explain to me how to take them i would really appreciate it. i am just nervous that my period wont come once i get to the brown pill and what if i take all the brown pills and it doesn't come? what do i do? start a new pack? im sorry if i sound dumb but my doctor shouldve told me everything about this pill before he prescribed it to me.

Thank God I found this website!!! I am completly at my wits ends and now I realize it's the damn pill!!! 3 months ago I came off using Nuvaring because I'd only used it for 2 months when I started bleeding and never stopped! Nuvaring was great for not having to take a pill every day, but it did something else to me that was worse. So the doctor suggested FEMCON FE. I continued to bleed for 2 months and was told to give it a full 4 months at least for my body to adjust. As I sit here crying and typing this to you all, it is an effect of Femconfe, I want to say "DON'T TAKE THIS MESS!" I will stop taking it today in my 2nd week of my 3rd pack of pills.
My symptoms are as follows:
My breast are killing me and I was already a DD!
I've gained 8 lbs after losing 20 previously!
I've have headaches constantly
I have cramping lightly, but daily
My anxiety is through the roof!
I am always depressed!
I've nausea to the point of vomiting a couple of times.
I have no sex drive.
and the worst of all, I have such severe dizziness, I can't function, much less focus!!! I'm a freaking' mess with this stuff!! I guess birth control isn't for me but this is by far the worst in my entire life and I'm 38 yrs of age!

To top all of this off, I read another ladies posting about having a touch of food poisoning and OMG!!!, I went through the same thing and wonder if it had to do with femcon as well. It was approx 3 weeks into taking my pills.
I had diarrhea for an entire week! I thought I'd die from dehydration! I'm actually hoping this was just a stomach virus. Who knows, but it just struck me odd that someone else experienced this as well.
Don't use Femcon ladies, and good luck with finding something that works well with your body.

Blessings.

My doctor just put me on this pill I haven't been on BC in 3 years but I have had my period since March and it's now June he thinks this will regulate my body so I will go back to normal. I have only been taking this since Tuesday it's now Sunday and last night I thought I was going to die. I couldn't sleep because I was soooo dizzy ever time I moved the whole room would spin. It's not as bad since I have been awake today but it's still there and I don't know if I should even take it today or not. Is anyone else dealing with this or is it just me?

I am going into my 3rd week of my 2nd pack of Femcon Fe and am having a horrible time. I am extremely bloated and nauseous most days, very moody and paranoid, so emotional I cry at the drop of a hat, no energy yet I cannot sleep at night, night sweats, severe headaches, back pain, diarrhea and the list goes on. Please tell me that others are experiencing this too. My gyn will not take me off until I have tried them for 8 weeks due to large cysts on my right ovary yet I am so worried and anxious about what I am experiencing that I feel like I cannot get a grip and that the life has been removed from me. WEIRD.

My doctor has asked me to go on the pill for years. I'm married, and not really interested in it to prevent pregnancy-I can use condoms. I am simply on it for medical reasons since I have heavy periods with cramping, constantly get ovarian cysts, and I'm anemic. I am trying to hang in there, but I've had my period for two weeks straight now and this is my third week of pills. I take it at 7pm, but every morning I get up with horrible stomach pain regardless of what I eat or if I eat even anything. I know it has to be this pill. I really don't want to stop this one just to start another pill with another list of side effects. Any advice to when the abdominal pain will go away?

I have been on femcon for about a year and a half and prior to that i was on ovcon for 4 years. The only side effect I have had with taking femcon is headaches. However, for the past week, I've been experiencing breast tenderness. I take Femcon everyday and I use condoms as a backup plan to be extra safe. Does anyone know all of a sudden why a person may experience new side effects despite being on Femcon for a year?? is this normal?

I've been on Femcon for the last 8 months and in the beginning it was fine, but these last 2 months have become a complete nightmare for me. I've gone into a serious depression. I'm completely bipolar and feel anxious most days. I'll start crying over nothing, and feel frustrated by my life, which let me tell you there is nothing to complain about. I feel tired a lot of the time, and can't get out of bed some times. I'll go to the gym and feel good while I'm working out but when I'm done i feel blah and unhappy. I missed my period one month and was freaking out that I might have been pregnant...it's making me insane because I'm usually so happy go lucky.....it's a relief that I'm not really crazy!

Has anyone experienced hair loss while on Femcon? I have longer hair and in the past two weeks I have had so much hair faling out I am really worried about it.

I am 21 years old and have never been on birth control before. I went to the doctor asking for yaz but she suggested i didn't take it because of the high level of potassium it has. I wanted yaz because i get severely depressed right before my period. But when i told the doctor about my cramps she suggested Femcon FE. So i said sure why not! I've only been on it for 2 1/2 weeks and I've have breakthrough bleeding for the past 3 days now, and i woke up 4am with the worst cramps in my entire life! i was in so much pain i vomited! finally i was able to sleep...and when i woke up i called the doctor and she said she could write me a prescription for the cramps, but i said no since they went away. Also I've never been so depressed! and this is coming from a girl who has fought depression for years. I'm on my spring break now and i don't want to do anything but cry cry cry! i feel bad for my boyfriend and my mom having to deal with me. Even I'm getting annoyed with myself! I had high expectations for birth control, i thought it would change my life and help out with PMDD. I really hope this changes, I'll let you know what happens cause I'm going to stick it out for the next 3 months! If anyone could suggest another pill just in case i still hate it in 3 months, that would be very helpful!

i have been taking Femcon for the past 5 months. never had any breakthrough bleeding except for the first month. i am now almost through my 5th month and ever since Saturday morning i have been spotting. i am kind of worried because i have never experienced this before. i am supposed to start my period next week and not sure what this spotting could be from! i don't know if i could be pregnant but don't see how since i have been taking this pill religiously at the same time every single day. never missed one! my boyfriend and i did have sex Friday night but we have before and never experienced this. can someone maybe ease my mind and let me know why i may be spotting? oh maybe this has something to do with it, not sure, but Saturday morning i started taking Contac Cold/Flu??? HELP!!

Hi ladies, my Dr just gave me 4 mos of sample packs for Femcon Fe. I've read that it's the chew able version of Ovcon, and I haven't read this many bad experiences with Ovcon. I wonder if anyone has had a good experience with this drug and am a little worried about starting it. I am going to finish out my last pack of Yaz and I guess we'll go from there. This will be my 6th pill since 2003, as I have had breakthrough bleeding with all the others, including Yaz. I did read on Femcon's website that this is a good pill to take to stop breakthrough bleeding, has anyone taken this pill and NOT had breakthrough bleeding??? Please someone let me know!