Loestrin 24 Fe and periods

I started taking Loestrin 24FE about three weeks ago to help me regulate my cycle. I have endometrial hyperplasia and PCOD (or so they tell me) and my periods are always unpredictable and very heavy. Well, my doctor put me on this pill to help me plus I didn't want to get pregnant before I finish my degree. Anyway, immediately I started getting horrible migraines I have not had in years, heart palpitations, dizziness, and feeling so tired all the time. My mood swings are terrible and it has made my anxiety worse all of a sudden. Now I can't eat! On Saturday I started vomitting every time I eat and the smell of food makes me sick. I know that I am not pregnant since I have not had sex since starting the pill. Now I also have a very very heavy period and the worst cramps I have ever had. So bad I almost went to the emergency room on Saturday. My husband is really worried about me so this morning I called my OB/GYN and he told me to stop taking the pill immediately that I was having a reaction to the pill that is not normal. He said that with any BCP you may have a couple small symptoms but what I was experiencing is not normal. Also my skin is starting to itch a lot. Several years ago I had to stop taking Loestrin FE28 because it was giving me horrible yeast infections before my period so this pill is new for me. I would advise stopping the pill and call your doctor. If that doctor doesn't listen find one that will. These symptoms are not normal by any means and can be dangerous. I wish you all good luck!! Oh and he said it would take several days to get out of my system.

I've been taking Loestrin 24 Fe for a year now. It took about 3 months to get used to. The good things for me is that my skin cleared up, my hair was not as oily, lighter periods and no weight gain! The bad things were HEADACHES, feelings of anxiety, rapid heartbeats, moodiness, and dryness. I want to come off the pill but I am kinda fearful of what other methods to take...I guess I should talk to my OBGYN.

I have been on this pill for over a year and I have never had any bad side effects (sorry to those of you who have) my periods always come once a month for usually a day or two. I take my pills relgiously every morning I have not missed one in over a year. But suddenly my periods have just stopped (I'm 28 so it's not menopause) if I call my OB he'll just tell me to come in for a pregnancy test. My husband and I have three kids and I knew with each that I was pregnant right away, I really don't feel pregnant. It just doesn't seem likely considering how long I've been on the pill. But have any other long term users just had their periods stop? Any ideas?

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.

I have previously posted on this site about my experience with Loestrin 24 Fe, and decided I still need more insite and advice about this birth control medication. I have been bleeding for eleven days. Now it is very, very light and heavy in mucus. Is this a normal thing for the pill to cause? I began to take this B.C. because I needed to stop bleeding!

ok I posted a few months ago about my experience with this pill. Well Im now back to say it is starting not to work. My period started about 8 days ago and has not stopped but get this I am not taking the brown pills so I should not be getting a period @ all. Go figure. Also my breast which were large before I started this pill is HUGER now I take pictures from the neck up cuz I l look like Im swollen. I am now taking two pills a day to stop the bleeding so we will see but when this pack is gone im off these for good. I have had horrible cramps as if i was not on the pill. I can say the bleeding was considerably light considering I cannot leave out side my house when Im on my period usually. But the reason for me starting the pill was to not have periods at all!!!

In December of 2006 i was taken from school to the emergency room for sever menstrual contractions. It was the first time i had ever experienced that kind of pain during my period. Literally it felt like i was going to have a baby.
My doctor put me on Loestrin and it worked beautifully. My periods stopped completely after 2 months. I had no symptoms at all, no side effects either. Now that i have been on it for almost 2 years my periods are coming back (only lasting about 3 days), my cramps are returning, ive developed muscle and joint pain, my lower back stiffens up making it difficult to stand or walk for more than 15 minutes, i get dizzy easily, and now ive developed brown spots on my back near my shoulders. if any one else has these spots please let me know so don't think im crazy. My doctor says i have a fungal infection but iv had it for 6months now. IDK!!

I wanted to know if anyone got their period twice a month? I have a two and half month old. I didn't know if it was a side effect from the birth control or if this was normal after giving birth.

i'm 26 and this is the first time i've ever taken any birth control. for the past 2 1/2 yrs, i've had my period every month and a half, then every two months, and the last period was three months late. after many visits to the gyno - ultrasounds and blood work, i gave in to the idea of trying this out for a short period of time to get my periods jump started again. i've been on loestrin 24 for 4 weeks now. i had a period after the first week of pills, i've been nauseous 90% of the time, i have unexplained pains in my chest and i've been crying more than usual. i've felt depressed, anxious, and have severe mood swings - all of these things are more than normal and i thought i was just loosing my marbles. after reading this site things make sense now and i'm going to stop taking it. my gyno says how i feel is normal but that my "emotional" part has nothing to do with the bc. there's no abnormal stresssors in my life as of late but maybe trying a different bc might help.

I began taking Loestrin 24 Fe in May 2007. Three months later when my son left for college I experienced the most terrible depression. It was really not normal to be that depressed. I have had normal anxiety that everyone experiences from time to time throughout my life but nothing like this. I was put on antidepressants and finally felt normal again. Eventually I got off the antidepressants and was fine. Then last month I began to experience unexplained anxiety and depression. I have told several people that I believe it is the Loestrin but my doctor says it shouldn't affect me this way. It is hard to want to get rid of the Loestrin because I don't have a period at all now and it used to control my life. Has anyone switched to another pill to help with periods that does not have bad side effects?

i went on this pill about 10 months ago... i loved it... no periods nothing. then id say about 4 or 5 months after it i started having random anxiety but i didn't really think anything of it since i have been anxious before... then summer started and i came home from school and i have suffered terrible anxiety, depression and really uncontrollable irrational thoughts. the last 3 weeks have been absolutely horrible ... really really bad depression and anxiety... i felt like i was going psychotic i wanted to go into a mental hospital or something... and i am not a depressed person, i am quite the antithesis. my parents were really freaked out and worried about me....well i went to the gynecologist to see if it could be from the pill and he said absolutely... he took me off it and even after only 6 days i feel so much better... im sure a lot of it is because i know im not going psychotic and it could be from the pill. i have also started taking st. john's wort and b complex vitamins among a few other vitamins. NOBODY should have to go through what ive been through the last months... its horrible and im convinced that it was because of the pill.

im so glad i found this site.. i have been taking loestrin24 for almost a year now and i cant stand it. i started taking it about the end of august '07 and of course had some break threw bleeding in the first months. then it stop and my periods became so light, i always felt sick and my breast were very tender i thought i was pregnant. i wasn't, thank god, and decided to just keep taking the pill. the past couple months I've been break threw bleeding again and the pains get worse and worse. I've gained a good 10 pounds threw the course of it and know that its from the pill. I've not changed one eating or working out habit ever since i can remember and never gained or lost a pound then. i get unbearable headaches from time to time and I've lost a lot of self confidence since it makes me some what moody almost everyday. It pretty much just makes me feel like crap all the time. so i have decided today that i am officially done with loestrin24. it sucks.

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 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.

If you are just starting BC,

YOU MUST GIVE IT AT LEAST THREE MONTHS TIME.

BC is a medication. It's a man-made drug. Of course you will have side-effects and probably bad ones while you are just starting it. I really can't say that enough.

When I started Loestrin 24 Fe, it was my first time on BC and I had all the terrible side effects previous posters have had, especially breast tenderness. I had to wear a sports bra at all times, it hurt that badly!

But after that three month mark, everything improved. I stopped retaining water, and actually LOST weight. This pill has helped to regulate my appetite. My acne that I'd had for 7 years disappeared. My periods stopped being weeks long and now last only 3 days at most.

So, until we can create a BC Pill/Injection for men (wouldn't that be more practical anyway to begin with? Get someone on this right away!), we ladies have to endure Short-term side effects associated with the Pill.

I've been on Loestrin 24 Fe for about a year, my periods were never only 3 days and they were barely periods. They were very weird and painful!

I became a royal bitch and my skin was ok but I have always had great skin so when I got a blemish or two I felt that it was because of the pill. To top it all off I gained weight on it so I started restricting my diet and working out harder. My weight didn't go down at all, but I didn't gain. As soon as I stopped taking the pill my working out and eating little helped me dropped 5 pounds (it has been 2 weeks). I'm thinking the pill didn't allow me to lose weight.

I also had a diminished libido which sucks because I like sex. It was only the last week on hormones, I was crazy for sex but only then.

I decided to get off the pill because I was hating myself on it and now I see the beginning of bad acne. I haven't had my first period off the pill yet but I have a feeling it won't be pleasant.

I have been on Loestrin for about 7 months. I have had similar symptoms as everyone else has posted, but my main concern is the irregular period. I get it twice sometimes like in the middle of the pack and then when on the blank pills. Sometimes they're painful too. There was a two month span where I didn't get it at all, I took home pregnancy tests religiously for 2 weeks to ensure I wasn't preg. I'm getting nervous, I was on ortho tricyclen before but it made me so emotional and I gained a whole lot of weight. I haven't had any massive moodiness, I gained some weight but I also quit smoking, Has anyone had anything similar to this, how long is it going to take to get my periods normal? Should i switch brands?

I've been on this bc method right after I stopped breast feeding... and it worked wonders for me. I didn't have any periods at all, which was a concern for me since with most bc methods you still bleed... after talking to doctor, they said it was fine. Then I ran out and then didn't take any bc for about 4 months and finally got back on it. Since being back on it (two months now), I've been crazy. Like most of you I've been very emotional, a little depressed, and mood swing-ish. On top of all that I've been having headaches everyday. I'm always hungry and need to eat something... My face looks like crap, I feel fat and bloated all the time, and I hate looking at myself in the mirror. And to top it off, today, for the first time I'm spotting and it freaked the living crap out of me because it was so unexpected that I ran out and got a pt because I was worried I got knocked up again. Thankfully I'm not... needless to say, be weary of this pill.

I am 35, and my doctor recently prescribed me Loestrin 24 Fe to regulate my periods. (I was bleeding/spotting for almost 2 weeks out of the month) and to help with my PMDD. Well, I just finished my 2nd week of pills, and let me tell you, I feel horrible. I'm bloated, have gained 3 lbs(I'm on Weight Watchers, plus exercise 4 times a week) , have insomnia (I've never had a problem sleeping) I am extremely moody (just ask my poor husband and kids) and have more pimples now than I did as a teenager. Since I"m not taking the pill as a form of birth control, (my husband has had a vasectomy), as of tomorrow, I am finished taking this pill. I would rather deal w/2 weeks of bleeding, than the the emotional/physical roller coaster I have been on for the past 2 weeks. Just my opinion..hope this helps someone!

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??

Well I just started 2 days ago taking this BC and I so far have none of the symptoms most of the ladies are stating here. I will start keeping a journal to track my symptoms if they should start.
Now the 1st day of taking the pill I did have a headache but Im very sensitive to salt and didn't drink much water that day so I can not say it was the BC pills. Im excited to be on these BC pills because my periods were HORRIBLE. I just want to wait for menopause and keep my body parts. I also have cysts on both my ovaries.
I m just hoping this will work for me.

I have to agree...I have gained 5 pounds plus on Loestrin 24 since I started taking it in March. I am very petite...4'11" tall...and that amount of weight makes an enormous difference on my frame! Also I get cravings like a pregnant woman, and trust me I AM NOT PREGNANT! This week it was powered doughnuts and Cheez-It that I had to have. I never eat junk like that and get out of control with it. I did this time! I feel bloated a lot too, but nothing like some of you have mentioned. Just abdominal bloating, and it comes and goes.

My biggest complaint other than that is of vaginal dryness. I used to lubricate fine naturally. Now I have to use KY regularly during sex with my bf. It's annoying really...to have to stop what you're doing and put on lubricant.

I am doing my best to just deal with this stuff. I'm close to 40, and got on Loestrin cuz I was bleeding between my periods. Well that stopped, and I went from a 7-day to a 2-day period each month. LOVING THAT! I think 'm just going to try and stick it out. If I gain much more weight though I'm calling the doc!

I am so thankful that I found this site and these words on this drug!
I just started taking Loestrin 24; 2 weeks ago. Within a week I started "flowing." At first it was just spotting then it started into a full period bleeding. More so has been the extreme water bloating in my fingers, hands and feet; they feel heavy & sore/swollen. It's feels like I'm gaining weight or holding in everything in my body and it is swelling up. As well as the cramping in my stomach and back- that is worse than a regular period's symptoms off the pill. And the extreme headache pressure I've had for two days!
I have been off the pill for the last 5 years and only decided to get back on a pill to control my acne (hormone levels) and the strength/length of my periods. Reading these remarks and comments on this sites, makes me want to stop NOW- in taking this. I'm only a little into 2 weeks of this pill- and it sounds like from the comments posted that it can get even worse months on. I'm a little scared to stop taking now, but I'm going to as of today! Thanks all for sharing and making me feel like I'm not the only one experiencing this crazy-ness!

I have been on Loestrin 24 for 4 months now and hadn't had any big problems with it until I get to the sugar pills for me to have my period. I have had the worst cramps that I have EVER had in my life. I've never been on birth control before I began taking Loestrin, so I'm not sure if this is normal. My periods are shorter, but the pain is unbearable. I started it this morning and I have been in bed all day long in excruciating pain. I almost drove to the hospital but decided to hang in there. Has anyone else had a similar problem? I haven't gained too much weight except I've gone up an entire cup size in my bra which I didn't mind too much except that my boobs hurt almost constantly now if I don't have a bra holding them up! My main concern is the abdominal pain. Any thoughts?

i am 100 lbs and i have a moderate appetite and cant gain weight im just really petite. I have been on YAZ ,Yasmin, and also Ortho Tri Cyclin lo, i have no sex drive on that so i have to stop it. i have never really gained weight on any of them but Yaz made me moody and have bad periods.. i am switching to Loestrin24 but After reading all these posts im so scared to start this pill! does anyone have similar body type or reactions that could help me out before taking this pill on Sunday?!?

I have been on Yasmin for 4 months,but had to switch to Loestrin. While on Yasmin my periods were very regular and timely directly down to the day. This month i took loestrin each day on time, and used back up methods. There was only one "slip up" and even it would make it almost impossible for me to be pregnant. i've taken 4 pregnancy test and each reads negative CLEARLY .However im almost a week late for my period according to the loestrin pill pack , and i'm beginning to get nervous because i'm still waiting on my period! Can switching brands of bc cause you to miss a period, anyone experienced this?

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've been a pill taker for twenty years (maybe more). I switched to loestrin FE in November. I realize that any bc takes the body some time to adjust but this has been pretty brutal. I gained 12 lbs and I cannot get it off no matter how much I work out and/or don't eat. I'm depressed too yet I have a beautiful life. My doctor says you sometimes need a year for your body to adjust to a new pill... I don't know if I can wait that long. My kids think I have lost my mind because I cry so much. I too think irrationally a lot more than in prior years. I will ask my doctor about this next week. It seems like this pill might have serious effects on the thyroid? Most of the symptoms described are also associated with hypothyroidism.

I just finished my first month on Le 24 and I am only taking it to regulate my periods (I am peri-menopausal). Unfortunately, I have now had break-through bleeding that I guess turned into a period (all of it HEAVY) for 14 days straight. My nurse-midwife assures me that it takes 3 months to allow this pill to work well and to let the body settle down, but I am tired as a dog and I am sure anemic at this point! Not to mention the zits! I do like the perkier breasts and my tummy is flat. Lots of blood but no cramping. I don't get it? I am getting a little depressed and this is KILLING our sex-life! I am going to keep reading this to see what other's experiences are and If things don't improve soon, I am looking for a better answer!

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:)

I have been on the pill for about 6 months. I hate it. I have PCOS so my periods are not regular, I had a baby and to get them to be regular and to help my depression my doctor put me on them. I think it is worst. I get a crampy period every two weeks that last for 4 to 6 days. I have not lost any baby weight no mater how healthy I eat and how much I work out.I feel like Im still pregnant. My mood are all over the place and Im tired all the time. I want to stop taking the pill but Im so afraid I won't stop bleeding at all and I am getting married in a week and I should not have a period then. Fingers crossed. Im going to stop after the wedding. I would have stopped taking them sooner but my doc. said give it time. No more time Im sick of being hungry and tired and feeling sick from pains. Don't take Loestrin 24 Fe it does not work.....

I've been on Lo24 for a few weeks now and don't like it at all. This is my first experience with bc and was put on it as a hormone therapy. I had a tubal ligation 11yrs ago and am a cancer survivor most likely starting perimenopause. Since my tubal my periods have only lasted 3 days, well let me tell you, with this pill it seems like i've had my period everyday since starting it. I have the tender breasts, bloating, weight gain, painful intercourse,and stomach hurts to the touch like so many others have described. I have stopped taking the pill a few days ago and I'm still bleeding. How long will it take for all these side effects to go away? I'm especially looking forward to the bleeding and weight gain to go away. I worked hard in the last year to lose 50 pounds and am very upset now that my pants are snug because of this damn pill. My gyno said there would be no weight gain, minimal spotting for a few days...nice to know they like to bullshit us. I wish I never started on this, lesson learned.

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 been taking Loestrin24 for about 6 months now. I have taken different types of the years, and have never had the side effects that I have with this one. I have become so moody, angry and irritable. I am constantly crying and lashing out at my husband. I was not this way before, and didn't even know that it could be a side effect. It is to the point where it is causing problems in my marriage. I have also gained about 10-15lbs. On the plus side I have great skin and better periods.

Hello all, the first bc pill i took was fencom fe. I don't recommend this to anyone seeing as it put me into such horrible depression. So my doctor switched me to Loestrin fe. My period cycle has been amazing. m on my 4th month and i get my periods for only 2 and a half days and always during the brown pills. My issue now however is that i have been experiencing something like a kidney infection for about 2 months now. I had a test done and they said it was a SLIGHT infection but recently during my 4 reminder pills i noticed it got better! I started a new pack this week and its getting bad again(waking up in the middle of the night to use the toilet, if i have to go then i have to go THEN, constantly having to go). Is anybody else experiencing this? I can't figure it out. The only other horrible side effect im having is hunger! Im never full. Thanks so much!!

I'm 17 years old and I started taking Loestrin 24 Fe a little over a month and a half ago (I am on my second pack). Since then, i have gotten my period three times, twice in the middle of the pack. They are just like normal periods only with less cramping and maybe a little lighter. But i feel like I am always on my period. This is the only side effect I have experienced, so I am hoping it will just regulate itself.

HI EVERYONE I HAVE BEEN TAKING L24 FOR 3 MONTHS NOW AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY SIDE EFFECTS UNTIL RECENTLY I SWEAT VERY BADLY AT NIGHT IS THEIR ANYONE ELSE LIKE THIS. BUT OVER ALL I LIKE THE PILL AND IT'S VERY HELPFUL

wow, i've been on L24 for a yr now and i have very minor acne, NO more headaches (used 2 live with a migraine) L24 took it away THANK U!!! the only bad thing i have to say is no sex drive but hell i'll take it if i can keep NO PERIODS AT ALL!!!! haha! i love L24!!! it actually keeps me very normal and stable moodwise, great find!!!!

Hi, I know this section is for posting side effects but I was wondering if someone could please help me and provide me with some information. I am very athletic and active so any type of spotting/bleeding is NOT FOR ME. I am trying to eliminate my monthly period. I was on Depo Provera for several years and loved it. No periods everything fine except for a low sex drive. Then I ran into some problems and had to stop that. Plus my doctor said it causes osteoporosis.
Then I tried Seasonique which was awful as I had instant weight gain and breast tenderness like crazy. Was only on that for a few weeks!!!
Then I heard about Lybrel which is supposed to stop your periods after some time so I started that at the end of December last year (2007). I had spotting and some bleeding EVERY DAY and a few days ago had a lot of bleeding but I also played with the dosage per doctor's request. So I saw my doctor today and I said enough is enough what else can I try? So she gave me the Loestrin 24 Fe and I will start that Sunday. She said many people stop having periods after a few months of use. HOWEVER, after reading these posts, I am thinking NO BC is right for me now. If anyone can help me on my goal of eliminating the curse or convince me that this pill is OKAY after 3 months I would appreciate it. Please email me at escarle1@hotmail.com. Thank and I hope to hear back soon!

I am 34 and started taking loestrin 24 at the advice of my doctor cause I have really heavy periods and a lot of breakthrough bleeding mostly due to fibroids which has made me quite anemic. I was hoping this would help. I started Loestrin 24 about 16 days ago. On the ninth day I started breakthrough bleeding and it hasn't stopped! I feel like it's become a full fledged period! I just hope the bleeding stops soon. I have pretty bad cramps and backaches. I've been popping many advil. Also, my breasts are tender and they're definitely bigger (I liked my boobs the way they were!). As far as mood, the first week was fine, but I was pretty lethargic and depressed the second week. Starting the third week yesterday, my mood has been much better. It sounds like people have had success after the 3 month waiting. Me, I'm willing to duke it out for another month for the almost-nothing periods. But 2 more months of this I don't think I can handle. I'll let you know what happens

I have had increased frequency of migraines (MRIs, various medications, etc), missed periods, spotting for days and breast tenderness for about 2 weeks before my period. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one thinking I'm pregnant every month! I also get mild cramps randomly throughout the month. I'm going to talk to my doc, especially since it's not just me experiencing these things. I'm definitely going to switch to something else!!

This is my 3rd month taking Loestrin FE 24 and so far I hate it! I am 25 years old and I've been taking othro-tricyclen for about 5 years and switched to loestrin to have a lighter period. So far I have gained weight, gotten headaches, and skipped 2 periods. The first month I was on it, my period was very light, more like a brown discharge, and lasted about 8 or 9 days. Then I didn't have any periods or spotting for the next 2 months, so I've been taking pregnancy tests, which all come out negative. I have also been having headaches around the time I'm supposed to get my period. It is a terrible feeling to skip a period and think you are pregnant, and this pill makes you have that feeling 24-7! My doctor said that side effects like this are common for the first 3 months, and then they should lessen after that. I will stay on it for another month or so to see if the side effects go away, but if not then I'm definitely switching back!

When i was in college i was taking orthotrycyclin low, But stopped it for about to years just to clean out my system. Usually during my period (with no bc) last for one week and very heavy with pain. On top of that i only have one ovary. My doctor suggested that i should get back on some sort of bc to control my periods. I tried the patch but as soon as I placed the patch on my lower abdomen I had a migraine. (I've never had a migrane before). So I immediately was scared and took it off. I went straight to my dr. and he told me to try Loestrin 24. So I did. The first 2 months were not that bad. But recently I have been very moody especially when it comes close to that time of the month, I've felt much anxiety, and have been in and out of depression. Of course i've never had depression before but i come straight home from work and just feel down and like not doing anything. The other day I was busy with work and happened to miss my pill. Well ladies be sure not to miss a pill. I had severe cramps and spotting. I'm at the point that I want to get off of it and am really considering. I tried getting off of it before and realized that MY MOODINESS increased. Believe me my co-workers and boyfriend let me know. and my depression increased. I also gained about 15 lbs. since i've been on Loestrin 24. I consulted with my doctor and he said the bc's don't not make us gain weight. But after reading all these blogs i know I'm not the only one going through this dilemma....

I am 38 years old and have been taking Loestrin since August 07. Since beginning this pill my periods have NEVER come during the 4 day "off" time period of the pills. My period has remained inconsistent. This past January I started bleeding twice a month. My migraines have increased in intercity and frequency, the bleeding and cramping is horrible. I am losing large blood clots and experiencing dizzy spells. I have made a doctors appt for Monday and have stopped taking the pills after this last period. I was put on this pill because of a history of migraines, but they have just gotten worse and always occurr right before my period starts.

I've been on Loestrin for 6 months; I was taking Yaz to help with lighter periods and my doctor also thought the lower dose of hormones would help with my menstrual migraines. Yaz wasn't working so he switched me to Loestrin. The first couple of months were fine; I noticed a lighter period and less cramping. I was still getting migraines but they were coming at a different time than before. I just thought my body was adjusting.

For the past two months, things have gotten much worse. I'm having two periods a month and migraines leading up to each one. The headaches last 3-4 days. I've been very emotional and have never suffered from depression, but I have noticed that I've been isolating myself from co-workers and friends, and just want to be home alone after work. I am not sleeping well either, and feel bloated all the time. I'm not one to weigh myself regularly, and lead a healthy lifestyle, but I recently went clothes shopping and noticed I have gained at least 10 pounds since on this pill. I have a headache right now and this is the 4th day; I started my second period for March on Friday, and it's mostly the brown discharge some of you had mentioned. I'm on week two of the pack and don't know if I should finish taking them or not. I'm calling the doctor on Monday. Good luck! There has to be an easier way.

I'm 17 years old.
I started taking birth control to help lighten my periods and reduce cramps. I also thought it would be nice to know exactly when they were coming.

Back in November (07), I started taking Yaz. I bled through the whole first pack. I bled halfway through the second pack until the end. I bled halfway through the third pack until the end. By the end of the third pack i already had a new prescription lined up for ALESSE.

I started taking Aviane, which is the generic version of Alesse. I started bleeding on the 13th day of my first pack until the end. I'm on my second pack and started bleeding on the 10th day.

I called my doctor and she said I needed more proestregin. So, she prescribed Loestrin. However, what she prescribed me is the the 21 pills with the 7 day period.. But I have free samples of Loestin with 24 pills and a four day period. My question is, does it matter which one, like, will the length affect anything?

After reading some of these posts it freaked me out, but everyone responds differently. I'm going to give it a shot when this Aviane runs out. Just thought I'd share my experience with other pills. Funny thing is, I have two friends who take Yaz with NO problems, and two friends who take Aviane with NO problems. All these girls are different sizes, weights, taking it for different reasons.. so once again, it affects everyone differently. Good luck, ladies.

I just finished my 2nd pack of Loestrin 24, before that I had been on Enpresse (generic i believe) for about 3 years. A week after I started taking this pill I had spotting for a few days...and now I haven't gotten my period at all, not at the end of either pack. I called my gyno yesterday and he asked if I felt anything abnormal and when I said no he said that if I don't get it at the end of this new pack to call him back. I took a pregnancy test after the first month of not getting my period and it came out negative (twice). I'm debating whether I should take another one since I didn't get it yet again...has anyone else stopped getting their period?

I have been taking Loestrin 24 for about 7 months. I originally started taking it to clear up acne and regulate my periods. I was on Yaz for three months before that, but it didn't help with my acne. However, I usually don't have an actual period on the pill. I usually just have light spotting for 4 or 5 days when I should have a period. Then, last month I didn't have a period at all, which kind of worries me. I'm not sexually active, so I know that I can't be pregnant, but not having a period seems worrisome to me. Also, I have gained about 20 lbs since I started taking the pill, and I've had a lot bloating/gas every month. This I'm also having a very sore lower abdomen. Has anyone else experienced these side effects? The pill has cleared up my skin, so I hate to stop taking it, but I'm worried about the additional side effects.

I am 20 years old and I was on Loestrin 24 Fe for about 3 months. It was the first pill I ever started taking. I felt like my periods never came.. it was just spotting for 3 days and then gone, not heavy at all. I also had break through bleeding for awhile which is very annoying. I became extremely emotional and realized how bad it was when I started crying to the movie Milk Money (not a movie to cry during). I did become depressed at times. And the big one was the non-existent sex drive. When I first started, I noticed how it was just not there anymore. I didn't feel in the mood ever. I totally embarrassed myself with a guy a couple of weeks ago when I just could not get wet or in the mood at all. Nothing was working, I just did not want to have sex. Two days after that experience, I stopped taking it. My best friend was on this pill for a year and she told me the same thing happened to her so I am off it now. I am just going to take a break from any BC pill for a couple of months and let my body get back on it's old cycle.