Loestrin 24 Fe and mood swings

I have been taking this pill for almost a year now. Recently in the last few months, I have experienced insane mood swings, irritability, heart palpitations, headaches, and anxiety. I even went to a cardiologist the heart palpitations were so bad. My heart is completely healthy. I have not had a period in like 7 or 8 months which is great but now I am thinking that this pill is doing more damage than good. My poor sweet boyfriend has taken the hit the most and its unfair I dump all my irritability on him. I am calling my doctor in the morning to change. After reading all these negative responses, I think this pill sucks.

I'm 22 and had been on a generic of ortho-low and although I hadn't experienced any of the mood-swings, upset stomach, bleeding etc...I lost all desire to have sex. (Sex was impossible unless we used lubricant and even then it wasn't very enjoyable since it really wasn't what I wanted to be doing.) I stopped using the birth control and I went back to normal, but wanted to try something else so I started on loestrin 24. I bled for almost a week during the 2nd week on it, my breasts have been painfully tender, but more importantly...I have no desire to have sex...again. Poor boyfriend! He knows it's not really me...or anything he's "lacking" in that's contributing to this, but neither of us is happy with this situation. Any suggestions?

I discontinued Loestrin 24 due to is causing 3 months of breakthrough bleeding lasting about 7-15 days along with having a period. I had severe acne from it, constipation, gallbladder attacks,pain in right side,anxiety, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, etc. I have PCOS and this is a combination of hormones that do not work properly. Since I have stopped using this medicine all of these side effects have gone away.

I have now finished my fourth month on Loestrin 24Fe. Still no period. Prior to being on it, I was on Seasonale--now, sure it's great not getting your period for 3 months, but that is another side effect page! Since switching to LoE24, for the first 2 months I had CRAZY mood swings and 6 out of the 8 signs of peri-menopause (I'm only 37). I did find out that Seasonale has a higher dosage of hormones and LoE 24 has less.

When I first switched, I LOVED the Loestrin--it made me feel so much more alive and like me again from the Seasonale. After two weeks, I started the "yogurt-like" discharge that went on for two months--no, not a yeast infection or anything, just weird hormonal stuff according to my doctor. After the two months, the discharge and the major mood swings went away all of a sudden, I was just fine one day and those symptoms have gone. Still, no period...it's been four months and 6 pregnancy tests. Now, I'm still a little moody but I'm not sure if it is pill related or frustration at not knowing what is wrong.

A girlfriend of mine loved this pill, so I guess everyone is different.

I have also been scared that I'm pregnant with Loestrin 24. I have had headaches everyday, nausea, cramps, major mood swings, my sex drive has significantly decreased, my gums bleed a little when I brush my teeth and sometimes I wake up with dried blood on my teeth. My periods barely last a day, and I wouldn't even say I was bleeding. I took a pregnancy test and it came back negative. I'm thinking about calling my GYNO now and asking her to switch my birth control. I have never found a BC that is perfect for me, but these are the worst side effects I've ever had with one.

OMG Ladies I guess I am not crazy after all. I been taking Loestrin 24 since March and everything was ok the first 2 months, but then I stopped getting a cycle completely. I don't know why I have stayed on it so long OH and the mood swings my boyfriend thinks I'm bipolar. I decided to do some research and came across this website and wow I have I found some interesting information about this birth control.

I'm 25, on birth control for the first time and I am just finishing up my first month on Loestrin Fe (I was on Yaz for one month before that). I am a bit concerned that I'm set to start a new pack tomorrow and have not had a period, not even spotting. I haven't really had any of the side effects some are describing of weight gain, chest pain, or hair loss. Maybe a bit more acne than usual, but I had expected that since this is only my second month on The Pill.

However reading your experiences I'm beginning to wonder about the mood swings. I have been EXTREMELY pissed off this month, anxious, and stressed, and in general a horrible person to be around. It's like I'm 15 again going through "that stage." It's awful, and I'm quite embarrassed by my childish behavior though I can't seem to help it. I've attributed it to other factors (which, who knows?) but reading your experiences makes me wonder if this pill isn't contributing. I'm definitely going to pay attention; if this continues for another month I'm going to change to another pill. Ugh.

I'm also wondering if I'm going to get my period back? I began taking birth control to control my normally heavy bleeding and severe cramps. Not to eliminate my period entirely!

im 17, and i started on loestrin 24 fe about 5 months ago. at first everything was completely fine and normal. then about 2 months ago everything flipped. i started getting the biggest mood swings of my life. i would start to scream and yell and throw the biggest temper tantrums about the smallest things ever. i flip out and start fights with my boyfriend everyday about the smallest most stupidest things ever. my lifes been a complete living hell for the past 2-3 months. at first i thought it was just me but after reading all these comments from you ladies i feel completely relieved. i just got off the phone with my uncle who owns an auto body shop after making an appt with him to get my boyfriends car fixed due to one of my temper tantrums when i broke his window and rear-view mirror and after finding out that will cost me about 400 bucks i hungup and called my gyno and made an appt to have my birth control switched. good luck to everyone

I'm 20 years old, I've been on it only a week, and the only side effect I have experienced is a HEAVY discharge. Not dark or nasty, but just like a regular discharge but MUCH heavier and everyday. I'm wondering if something else is going on, but I (like the other girl that is 17) take it at the exact same time every day, at night, so that the side effects are at night. I had terrible nausea the first day, cramping the second, and now its great. I had terrible mood swings and spotting with other pills but this one is working well... so far... fingers crossed it will continue!

I am 17 and i was prescribed loestrin 24 as my first birth control pill. I've been on it for less than a week and i can't stand it and neither can my boyfriend! I have had a period from hell with has been 5 days in counting, I bleed so much i get dizzy when i stand up and my legs feel like 1000 lbs i can barely move them. Also i had diminished sex drive and raging hormones (bad acne, emotional hell) so i have decided to stop taking it. I called my gynec. and she recommended the opposite, and told me to get a blood test to check my iron levels and to see if i was pregnant! I'm almost positive i am not but not shes got me worried and i go for the blood test today. Loestrin ruined the second half of my summer but after reading all these other ladies tales i am very glad i decided to quit now. Thank you for opening my eyes, i realized it probably won't just go away in a week. I stopped it yesterday and i feel better already.

I am so thankful for this website. I have been on Loestrin for about 5 months now. Two months ago I started experiencing many of the symptoms the rest of you have been describing. I started having head aches, insomnia, hot flashes, and then terrible anxiety attacks. I've also been having horrible chest pain that extends out my left arm. At first I thought I was having heart problems, but, like many of you, EKG's and chest x-rays came back normal. The anxiety attacks have gotten so bad that I thought I was going to have to go to the emergency room the other night. When I talked to my doctor about it, we decided its stress and depression, and she prescribed me an anti-depressant. I was supposed to start it today, but I got a wild hair to do some research on Loestrin since its the only other med I take. And lo and behold... Thank goodness I found this before I started the anti-depressants. I plan on calling and getting my BC switched first thing Monday morning. You couldn't shove another Loestrin down my throat. I'm so frustrated, as I'm sure many of you are, that NO ONE told me about this. My doctor did not discuss these extra possible side effects because its a low dose pill. And my general practitioner completely overlooked the fact that it might be the BC pill causing all this. Not that I blame her. I overlooked it too, and it is true, we are our own best advocates. Thank you to all the women who posted on here. Just like many of you, I've been feeling like I'm absolutely crazy lately. With the mood swings and uncontrollable crying, no one understands. I think its ok to say this website might have just saved me several years of being on anti-depressants. Granted, I haven't had any bleeding problems like some women, and I love the three day periods. But I would take a 7 day period over how I feel right now any day. Does anyone have any suggestions of what BC to switch to? And can anyone tell me how long it took for them to get back to normal emotionally? Thank you so much...

Hi I just got prescribed Loestrin 24 Fe and well I have not had any luck with birth control pills. I had mood swings (the pen would fall on the floor and I would start crying like there is no tomorrow), I gained weight, had shakes, and I had diarrhea for the 3 months that I took the pill. I stopped taking it after 3 months and it took me about 4 to 5 months to get back to normal. Hopefully Loestrin 24 Fe will not give me such side effects. Any advice on what time I should be taking these pills?

Hi all. I've been on Loestrin 24 for 5 months. I had some initial spotting - about two weeks into the first pack, but since then my periods have been regular and very short. I haven't experienced the mood swings, emotional stuff, nausea, etc. that many of you have described. I have gained some weight though. As in, 8 pounds. I haven't really changed my diet and my exercise level has decreased minimally. Anyone else experienced this? My md is actually writing a prescription for a generic version since my idiot insurance won't cover Loestrin. For those of you with negative side effects, hope you get to feeling better.

thank you everyone. I am on my third pack now second week. ive never missed a pill and take it at the same time every day ( a matter of 5 minutes difference). i just hope after this third pack i start to regulate... do you think it will take longer then 3 packs? i just don't want to switch to a different pill and start all over again. other than this breakthrough bleeding... ive been great. no mood swings or anything.

I have just started my third week on Loestrin24 and let me tell you, it has not been an easy 3 weeks. I have been on BC for what will be 9 months. The first two didn't work for me but this pill has already caused me problems. As im typing this i have bad stomach pains. I have had horrible mood swings. My poor boyfriend has dealt with so much. I took the pill one night and woke up a different person almost. I've thrown up, spotting, nausea, indifferent moods, etc.
I've read everyones comments on this pill and I've gotta say, im nervous. I am going to call my doctor tomorrow and hopefully get off of this thing. Condoms and a period are much better then these side effects.
For anyone thinking of starting this pill, as you can see from all the comments..i haven't found one positive one..the side effects occur in a matter of days...

I have been taking Loestrin 24 Fe for about a year and three months. I am sixteen now and within the last 6-8 months I have been very emotional and the last three months I have been extremely depressed. I know since I'm a teenager I am very hormonal and that could be part of it. However, I know that this pill has some factor in my depression and mood swings. I was a completely different person a year ago. I was much happier and I didn't have nearly as many mood swings as I do now. My emotions have gotten so bad to the point where there are greatly interfering in my life. At first I thought it was just me and I thought I was just going crazy but after reading some of these responses I have realized that Loestrin has to play some role in it. I have an appointment with my doctor at the women's clinic soon and I am going to ask to be switched to a different pill. I cannot live like this anymore, it's unbearable.

I am not going to say that you should not try this pill because it can effect everyone differently. However, be aware of the side effects.

i started taking Loestrin FE just under a month ago. i havnt gotten to the brown pills yet for my 1st period on it.
since i started taking it ive noticed that ive been pee'n 2 times as much as i normally do..
my gums bleed slightly when i brush my teeth and in the afternoons i get nauseas and light headed..i get really week and after a few minutes it goes away.
ive taken a pregnancy test and its came back negative (i took it today)
but idk

what do you guys think?
plz let me know

I am almost to the end of my 2nd pack of Loestrin24Fe. I have no thad my period since I started it!! At first I was nervous thinking I was pregnant. Not pregnant. Just not getting period. My breasts have been so tender and sore to the touch. I have never have breasts tenderness like this in my life. At first I thought all of this would eventually go away. I am trying to remain patient. I am thinking maybe after the 3rd pack I will be back to normal again. I don't like the fact Im missing my period because skipping periods boosts the odds of breast cancer.etc. I am bloated and feel disgusting. I don't think its good to keep switching birth control pills. After reading all the posts I see there really isn't a happy medium. Women either have their periods for months straight or not at all. Ahhhh!! I think this is giving me mood swings as well. I have never had a problem with my skin. In fact I get a pimple about once every two years! All of a sudden I am noticing some minor breakouts on my forehead. Not pimples just bumpiness! I guess Im not alone.

I started bc about 4months ago and it sucks. Im always going through mood swings. Every month i think im prego. My boobs r sore. I need chocolate everyday. I have headaches. Im not get tn my regular periods. Before the pill every 28 days i would get my period now every 2months i get a period. But during the wait of my next period im going through bad pms. Im happy to hear im not the only one feeling this way.

I have been on loestrin 24 fe now for 6 months. it is the only birth control I have ever tried. For the first 2 months, I had a continual period. Once the bleeding stopped I noticed that I had UTI's weekly which have declined but I still have regular uti's. In the 4th month of taking the pill I started to notice the mood swings that have been with me since. Crying for absolutely no reason. The feeling of being unable to control my emotions. DEPRESSION! which I have never experienced in my life. Anxiety and wanting to be alone and yet sad because I am lonely....Inability to concentrate and reason with myself. Inability to be my normal positive self. Needless to say I am getting off this pill. I have already spoken with my doctor and received a new prescription today. All I can say is that if this is what birth control is like........ Forget it! I will try this one other pill, but if I still have symptoms like these, I am switching to condoms.

Well i have been on loestrin 24 for a yr and 1mnth now and when i 1st started i had the btb and then it went away and no other real problems with it...its work the way it should no real bad mood swings/acne/weight gain and lighter periods..but now all of a sudden i have btb again but so much worse..it last about 2 weeks and i get the worst cramps. i don't understand why now that its been a year ( & my body should be use to it) how i have this annoying btb. i just need to know if i should wait it out or just swith bc?? anyone feel my pain??

Ok today I don’t have a migraine but I had another one last night. My Boyfriend came to my house yesterday and I told him to be good to me and to please let me know if I got out of control, but in a good way, he was telling me that he can tell that my mood was different than in the past 3 month (PMS) and that he didn’t like it, but that he understood that it was cuz of the pill (he wants me to stop them, cant blame him, poor him he is so good to me) Last night it was bad for me I could not sleep at all, I woke up every hour with some kind of anxiety but no sure what it was, it was a restless night, one of my nipples is itching a lot(maybe something bit me) and this morning I’m cramping very bad ( never had this painful cramps before, just the normal before a period), and lower back pain and blurry vision. I have 5 more pills to go and I’m coming off it. I wont stop cuz Im going on Vacation to the beach on Friday and I don’t want to have my period, (but Im thinking about it) Today going up the stair in my work I got very dizzy and I feel some how pregnant but I think is all part of the stupid pill, My friends are all joking with me about been preggo but I don’t think I’m. Shit they forgot to tell us that’s how it work…. you can get pregnant cuz you don’t want to have sex any more, or your significant other wont touch you cuz they are piss off at you for your mood swings.

BAD.... I hate it, and you should too.
I was on other BC pills in the past and they also cause the same side effects on me, I took them for 4 years and I quitted, four month later a got pregnant, two month after giving birth I had to get my gall bladder removed ( also a side effect of birth control). I started back on birth control because I in a serious relationship now and we don’t want to have kids at this time.
This pill is giving me lots of problems. I love to have sex with my boyfriend to the point I though I was a nympho and now my sex drive is BAD.....We start very good, and after a few minutes.....I get very dry and that’s the end of it. I hate it. My BF is the hottest men in the world (to me), and we had very good sex, we were like rabbits lol, I always had one or two orgasms, always natural lubricated. Now I get dry and we have to stop, I started the pill a month ago, I take it everyday at the same time, my breast is itching (I guess its growing) as the rest of body too, back pain and very irritable. I'm ready to quite, I’m going to try the IUD or the ring, Today I have the worst migraine and yesterday I had very bad mood swings all day, for not reason, I was seating in a meeting and all the sudden I want it to scream and run and just go off at everybody but a seat there and talk my self out of doing it, by telling my self it was the BC and I need it to come down cuz its nobody’s fault but the stupid hormones, I cry this morning also for no reason. IM DONE WITH THIS PILL. I won’t even recommend to my enemy.(migraines, mood swings, vaginal dryness, low sex drive, back pain, nausea, hungry all the time, breast tenderness, and I guess with all that depression its just natural)

BAD.... I hate it, and you should too.
This pill is giving me lots of problems. I love to have sex with my boyfriend to the point I though I was a nympho and now my sex drive is BAD..... I want to have sex with my BF. We start very good, and after a few minutes.....I get very dry and that’s the end of it. I hate it, My BF is the hottest men in the world to me, and we had very good sex, we were like rabbits, I always had one or two orgasms, always natural lubricated. Now I get dry and we have to stop, I started the pill a month ago and I’m not taking it anymore, I’m going to try theIUD or the ring. Today I have the worst migraine and yesterday I had very bad mood swings all day, for not reason, I was seating in a meeting and all the sudden I want it to scream and run and just go off at everybody, I also cry this morning cuz I could not satisfied my BF in the last 3 time we tried. IM DONE WITH THIS PILL. I won’t even recommend to my enemy. .

Hi ladies!
I'm 19, and I've been on loestrin 24 for about 5 months now.
In the first two months I started to notice that I was losing hair! But I didn't think it was the pill, I really thought it was me-maybe I was washing too much or blow drying to much, but I really didn't think it was the pill. Then around March I started to get little rashes, and they have been off and on since then. Thank god I haven't experienced mood swings, yet, lol, but I just called my doctor and told her I needed off this pill. This pill really does scare me =/

Hey all! I've been on Loestrin 24 for an entire month (just finished my pack today) and things have been smooth. No tender breasts, no weight gain, no depression, nothing! ***EXCEPT I still haven't got my period! I'm almost completely positive I'm not pregnant.. my boyfriend and I are extremely careful. What's weird is that I keep expecting to get my period because I'm getting the usual signs I get right before my period..

**Has anyone else experienced no period on this birth control???

I have been taking LoE24 since February 11th. At first my period was light and mild cramping. This month I had spotting for 2 days around the 13th, and then again on the 15th. Now it is the 29th and I started bleeding on the 25th and it is really heavy. Has this happened to any of you? Is this normal? I think I have gained weight and I have back pain, and mood swings. Every once and a while I have pain under my ribs and on my side as if I have just ran 3 miles. What should I do?

LADIES - CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR ASAP!!

I JUST CAME FROM MINE AND HE SAID I HAVE DEVELOPED PMDD. IT'S A VERY SERIOUS SIDE EFFECT FROM THIS BCP. YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR GYNO CHECK FOR ALL YOUR SYMPTOMS BUT MINE SAID THIS IS THE REASON I WAS HAVING MOOD SWINGS AND BACK PAIN!

I have been on this pill for 10 days and have already gained 7 lbs, have horrible skin, mood swings and depression, I have been bleeding since last night (2.5 weeks premature) and I am home sick from work today because my lower back is killing me!!! ugg!! This is a nightmare, who cares if my periods are 3 days shorter? It won't matter because I'll be too fat, ugly and miserable to do anything anyway! I called my doctor and am going off this pill today.....the search continues for a symptom free form of effective BC! Please ladies, offer any suggestions:)

So I just finished my second month on loestrin24. And I have to say things went much better. once I started the white pills on the second month - I had no breakthrough bleeding (no spotting) the whole month. My period was pretty light (lighter than what they usually are for me) and cramps were much lighter too. My breast tenderness has gone away, but I still feel a little moody (i'm not sure if this is the pill or me!). My first month was god awful - 2 weeks of heavy bleeding, breast tenderness, mood swings. I originally took this OC to help with heavy bleeding from fibroids. I just hope it continues to run as smoothly as the second month did. Doctors should really let folks know what they might experience before starting this pill.

I have been taking Loestring24Fe for the past two months and I am really considering stopping. I have experienced breakthrough bleeding, mood swings, emotional roller coaster, post nasal drip, sleepless nights and loss of appetite. I was placed on the pills to help with my heavy periods. I think I would rather have heavy periods then deal with all these side effects. I was trying to figure out what could I do for post nasal drip without having to go to the physician. I only have one pack of pills left. The question is should I continue for one more month or stop?

Signed notlikingthepill

OMG. I'm 25 and I have been on this pill for a lil over three weeks due to heavy bleeding from fibroids, and irregular periods. I hemorrhaged when I was 15 and had to have 2 blood transfusions. So my OB/GYN put me on Lo24 to stop my periods altogether. In this short amount of time that I have been on this medication I have experienced heavy bleeding w/ severe clotting since the second day of taking the pill from hell with extreme cramping comparable to that of a miscarriage :( and the mood swings are terrible I cry for absolutely no reason, am extremely sensitive and irritable most of the time, can’t sleep through the night, breast are swollen and sore, and have already gained about 15 pads in this short amount of time. I was going to try and stay on it for three months for my body to regulate it's self but after reading many of your post I am not sure what to do. PLEASE ADVISE. Sad to say I feel worse now than ever before

wow after reading your posts i feel much better!!! i thought i was losing my mind...i have terrible periods, full seven days terrible painful cramps, just periods from hell come to find out i have endometriosis and an ovary thats stuck to the vaginal wall my doctor put me on loestrin 24 and its been the pill from hell im constantly bleeding on and off, my right leg goes numb, i had healthy clear skin and now its really dry with fine bumps, my mood swings are crazy im happy then i want to cry, depressed most definitely, constant headaches and nausea after taking it and this is only my first month taking it, i also noticed that im always cold!!! i would rather put up with my painful period then this crap

I have never been on bc before, until last September when I got pregnant, I had miscarried. I then decided to start the pill in December. In the beginning my only side effect was my moodiness and ZERO sex drive. It took a toll on my boyfriend and I. He felt I didn't find him desirable and such wise, and my constant mood swings eventually caused us to break up! It is not May, and I am having CONSTANT random spotting. I had my period 3 weeks ago for about 3 days, then a week ago I spotted for a couple days, and here I am now..... once again spotting!! This inconsistency is SO frustrating!!! I'm thinking about getting off of it! I don't know!!

I am 20 yrs old and this is my second month on Loestrin 24 Fe. So far I have been experiencing a lot of the same problems everyone else has, no period, but constant spotting. I haven't had too many mood swings but I have noticed that I am a little more emotional than usual. I snap at my boyfriend sometimes over the smallest things. I even got a cyst for the first time! My sex drive has decreased greatly and I tend to be really dry whenever I do have sex with my boyfriend, and of course that is uncomfortable. This month I have noticed a brown discharge or maybe its just the spotting I am not sure. Also I missed one pill this month and I got a mild yeast infection without the burning or itching. This has really effected my sex life with my boyfriend cuz it seems like something is always wrong. I also thought I was pregnant since being on the pill but it was just a false alarm. Loestrin 24 is the first form of birth control I have ever taken in my life because I never wanted to get on it. I didn't think bc was natural or healthy because I felt like if God didn't want women to bleed or get pregnant, we wouldn't. But my boyfriend had talked me into it. Being that this is my FIRST experience, I am almost positive I will be getting off the pill. I haven't gained much weight, maybe about 3 or 4 lbs if that. This pill is horrible and I don't recommend it for anybody!!!!

I have been taking Loestrin 24 Fe since January 2008 and I just don't know what's going on!!! I started the pills immediately after my cycle went off and came right back on 2 days later!! I had another cycle for 2 weeks! I went to my OBGYN and he said that my body was "adjusting" so don't worry. So in February nothing happened, no cycle, no spotting nothing!!!! I went to my OBGYN again and he said once again my body was "adjusting". In March I spotted a couple days, during the white pills, and had heavy bleeding for one day. I have had sleepless nights, night sweats, mood swings, I haven't gained weight but my stomach is sooooo bloated. I have also had the problem of random spotting during white pills. After reading some of the other post I believe I'm going to back away from them and take the cramps like a woman!

I was on L24Fe for over a year and experienced MAJOR depression, mood swings, crying for no reason, zero sex drive, bad acne. I stayed on it so long because I had no idea that it could do that to you and I thought i was having a mental breakdown at college...not good. There is good things about it: i did not get any headaches, cramps, spotting and not prego. I am now changing to Cyclessa...heard good and bad about it just like any other pill.

I was just changed by my gyno from Nordette, which I loved, to Loestrin 24 fe. I was switched because he thought I was losing to much iron w/ my periods w/ the Nordette. I have been on this pill for 12 days and have had heavy bleeding (like a period) for the last 3 days with cramping, back and every other muscle pain, headaches and I have been sweating like crazy due to the hormone change- so much that yesterday at work I had to sit down because I was sweating and dizzy to the point I thought I was going to pass out. It was crazy!! Acne is coming out too. Try it for 3 months, I don't think so. I have never experienced side effects like these, didn't experience any on Nordette for 4 years. I am going back to Nordette. I would honestly rather not use anything than this pill. The only good thing I can say is I haven't had any mood swings so far- I gotta go now I have a headache.LOL

First let me say that I am glad that this just isn't in my mind! I thought that I was going crazy!!
My doctor put me on Loestrin 24 at the end of last month after I had a miscarriage. Since I have been on this pill, I have noticed my mood swings and I am more emotional. I noticed the vaginal dryness and my lack of interest in sex. I was on Yasmin for about a year prior to this...missed a few days and got pregnant. But I never experienced any of this side effects before. I don't see my doctor again until May, but I am definitely going to ask about changing my pills. He told me to take this pill two months straight without a break in between. I am now having my period and it is slightly brown. I am afraid of infection or something....this is really starting to freak me out...

It kind of feels good to read these posts because now i know it's not just me. i started birth control when i was 18 years old. i started out taking lutera. i don't really remember having many side effects. after maybe a year of being on lutera my doctor switched me to loestrin 24 to give me lighter and shorter periods. well, the pill really took it's toll on me. my mood swings have been so bad my boyfriend and i fight constantly, i have been so emotional crying over every little thing. and my sex drive? it is GONE! like non existent. when my boyfriend wants to have se i just can't really get in the mood, and I'm really dry down there. it just hasn't been fun. it's really taken a toll on my body and my love life. i finally just went back to my doctor and told him to switch me back to lutera. i was on loestrin for a full year! so for me it wasn't just the first couple months your body goes crazy because of new hormones, it just wasn't worth it to me. there were so many months that went by and i didn't get my period. i was constantly going out buying pregnancy tests to make sure i wasn't pregnant. I'm 21 now, i don't need to freak out every month thinking I'm pregnant. and then there were months when i had my period for a week sometimes two! and i had spotting like you wouldn't believe. i had to throw out a lot of underwear because of those little surprise visits in the middle of the month. i know birth control effects everyone differently but i just wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

recently I went to the doctor and I told her ive had break through bleeding and was on orthocy lo. She told me that possibly having a straight dose of hormones the whole month may help that. So I switched. After the first week on loestrin, I was miserable. I cried for three days straight, I was moody, miserable, and gained two pounds. Now I am almost done with my pack and ive gained almost 5 pounds. The mood swings stopped but I started to get severe cramping in my ovaries for no reason. I had sex the other night and was very dry. After, I got such bad cramps that I threw up and just today I woke up from a nap in so much pain I couldn't move. I guess I would rather have break through bleeding than all these crazy side effects. When I get mr period I am goi g to start taking my old pills again. Any advice on a pill that doesn't cause break thru bleedding or any of the loestrin side effects?!

Im 20 years old, have a 5 month old baby girl, and have been on Loestrin for about 3 months now. Before i got pregnant, i was taking Loestrin and i was having HORRIBLE back pain, headaches and my husband thought i was CRAZY b/c of all the mood swings and crying. Needless to say, i quit taking the pill. About 4 months later, i was pregnant. After i had my baby, i decided to get back on BC b/c i do not want another baby right now. I started taking Loestin again, hoping it wasnt the pill that was makin me crazy. The first 2 months were ok. I started my period fine, i wasnt acting "crazy" and my back pain was normal(i have scoliosis). Now im on the 2nd week on my 3rd pack. I have been bleeding for about 8 days now, for no reason. I had my normal period and after the first week of the pack i just started bleeding out of no where. I also have noticed that i am very irritable and moody(like before) but much worse this time. I find myself getting aggrivated at my 5 month old and SHE CANT EVEN DO ANYTHING TO MAKE ME MAD!! SHE'S ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD. I cant take this anymore. I am not going to take Loestrin anymore. I agree with some people that side effects vary from person to person, but there are to many people taking Loestrin with the same side effects. I wouldnt recoment this for anyone!!

I've been using this bill for three weeks now an I'm going crazy i' 25 yrs old w./ 3 kids and i have a headache that want go away pressure behind my eyes mood swings crying i feel lonely bloated an I'm bleeding for no reason at least 2 pads a day oh an i feel sick to my stomach i haven't been able to eat anything in days an for some reason i haven't been in the mood for sex either yesterday was my last day on this pill....

This is very scary. I cannot believe I have denied myself the reality of all of my health problems being due to the pill. Side chest pain I have had for years.. mood swings.. headaches... and as of late major anxiety. I am def going to try getting off the pill after this pack. God to think for the last 7 years all these symptoms and bad feelings I was having was due to this!! Wow! Thank you all for blogging and for this blog in general!!!

Increased blood pressure. Went from 122/65 to 165/110!

Heart palpitations.

Weight gain/ bloating. About 15 lbs.

Panic attacks.

Mood swings. Seriously.

It DID help with my severe cramps though...

Overall, not worth it!

oh my god my gyn want me to start Loestrin 24 Fe this Sunday but after hearing you ladies I'm so scare now.I used to be on yaz but i couldn't take the way i felt i was so depressed and emotional My poor boyfriend had to deal with the mood swings the crying and didn't know what to do. Here is my question what birth control work best without these side effect. I mean if the pill makes me feel this way there is no way i will try the Ring or patch. Please if anyone have any advice please share with me and the other ladies that i know want to know.

Hey everyone! My names Janelle and I'm 20 years old. I went on Loestrin about three months ago and am going to quite taking it. I have experienced just about every side effect mentioned above. From depression, breast tenderness, severe mood swings, increased fatigue, and increased weight gain. I am a very healthy eater and exercise almost six times a week. The exercise has helped with the mood swings a bit but has not helped with any of the other side effects. My plan is to stay away from birth control, exercise frequently and remain abstinent until marriage! I know this won't work for some of us so I would recommend taking another pill. I have also tried YAZ and that was MUCH WORSE. Probably the worst birth control pill out there!!!

Does anyone suffer from interstitial cystitis? I've been on Loestrin 24Fe for exactly 12 days and have felt perpetual PMS symptoms, horrible mood swings, cramps, depression and bloating/weight gain. I swear my IC has flared up, but my doctor swears none of the symptoms I have could be a cause of it.

I've been on Loestrin for over a year now, its been okay, I did the patch before and that was a NIGHTMARE! So I switched to Loestrin and since then i have developed horrible migraines, my doctor has given me an MRI for it. I actually never thought that my birth control might be causing this until I've read some of the postings up. I am also going on my third month with no cycle, I get very worried because, to me, thats not natural. A woman should get her period and I do not want to take something thats going to mess with that. I originally started taking it for the lighter periods because heavy periods run in my family.

I also have been experiencing mood swings and being depressed, but like before i never thought it had anything to do with my birth control. Its effecting my relationship with my boyfriend big time.Also lost of sexual drive, and thats annoying. Does anyone know of a birth control PILL that doesn't have so many horrible side effects. This is a freaking nightmare

I'm freaking out!!!!!!!!! SOMEBODY WITH THE SAME SIDE EFFECT PLEASE HELP ME....I was on YAZ since the summer and it sucked cuz I'd get my PD every 2 weeks....i finished my last pack on November, took December off and towards the end of the month i had unprotected sex so i had to take the PLAN B pills and three days later i got my pd. so everything seemed O.K.....theeeen i started on this jump off LOESTRIN PILL. I was supposed to have "protected" sex for the first month but towards the end of the month (when i was NOT supposed to be ovulating) i had unprotected sex and i haven't had my PD. for 2 months now....Last month i did a pregnancy test and it came out negative....I don't really have any "early pregnancy" signs....i feel fine but CAN ANYONE LET ME KNOW IF MISSING A PERIOD IS NORMAL? I'm just thinking that switching from a different birth control pill and taking the plan B pills might have messed up my cycle. Thanx.