Loestrin 24 Fe and sex drive

I am 28 and have been on Loestrin since March 2009. I was freaking out because this is the second month I missed my period in a row. I keep taking pregnancy tests to make sure I am not. When I did have my period it has either been super light or very heavy. I feel like I put on a lot of weight in my mid-section and my moodiness hasn't changed. With this pill my sex drive has gone down as well. Sorry a lot of people are having the same problems, but glad I am not alone. I actually have been off it since Sunday and still no period!

OMG! SO glad I decided to research Loestrin24Fe. I am on my 2nd pack now well into the 2nd week. I used to be on Ortho-Tri-Cyclen Lo, but that made me moody, emotional, crampy, bloody and fat. I was switched to Trivora which was 10 times worse. I quit BC pills for a year. Now, I am on Loestrin 24Fe. I have for sure experienced some changes good and bad. I feel my sex drive has gone up! But my eyesight is getting blurry, my breast and nipples are sore most of the time. I'm very constipated all of a sudden. I'm also feeling exhausted and started experiencing headaches. I do get heartburn, but I think that's not related to the pill. I will start paying close attention to the things you ladies pointed out. My husband wants me to stop the pill (due to the eyesight thing) but I want to see if things get better by the 3rd pack. I'll let you know.
-L.

I began taking this pill in August 2009, to prevent pregnancy. I am nineteen years old. In the first month, my sex drive increased, I had no "breakthrough bleeding" or spotting, no mood swings that I could tell...everything seemed fine. My doctor put me on this pill because I told her I wanted a pill that wouldn't make me go crazy. This is the first bc pill I've ever been on, and hopefully the last. Let me put it this way: before I got on Loestrin 24 Fe, I actually WANTED to have sex. I had a sex drive. I have absolutely NO SEX DRIVE now. Sex is a chore. What's the point of taking a pill that enables you to have sex without the risk of being pregnant, if you completely lose interest in having sex anyway? I'm extremely frustrated. Over the past two months (I'm now on my fourth pack) I have been extremely fatigued, depressed, and especially anxious. I also have a blistering headache 90% of the time, I kid you not. Additionally, my blood pressure has gone way down, which makes no sense, as I am a very active and healthy person. This pill is literally deteriorating my mental and physical health. I refuse to put these pills, or any bc pills, in my body any more. I would much rather deal with the terrible cramps and heavy periods that I had before. And I still experienced bad cramps while on the pill anyway. I'm sticking with condoms.

Loestrin 24 Fe has been nothing but a nightmare for me. I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo for about a year (originally prescribed for a sudden, random outbreak of HORRIBLE chin acne), and started noticing depression, mood swings, very heavy periods, and severe stomachaches and indigestion problems about nine months into it. I had to switch doctors in order to get off of it...I was seeing a male doctor who thought that my side effects were "in my head" and wanted me to take 5000 blood tests before he'd switch my prescription. My new doctor prescribed Loestrin 24 Fe during my first visit with her.

The first month of my new pill was great; no mood swings, no depression, no issues...I even dropped five pounds, even though the Ortho hadn't given me a problem with weight gain. I didn't get my period until the second day of the new pill pack though, and it was VERY light. I took a pregnancy test that came out negative, even though my husband and I had used back-up methods the first month of the pills to be safe. One week into the second month of my Loestrin pills, everything went crazy. It's been three weeks and not only is my chin AND my forehead completely broken out, but my hair is falling out in clumps when I wash or brush it, I am completely depressed and unhappy with life, I am exhausted beyond belief, AND I have gained a total of TWELVE POUNDS. I am a very physically fit girl...I eat right, I have always had a very fast metabolism, I have been a size 0/1 for years, I work all day and am on the go all day and all evening...and now I am twelve pounds heavier in three weeks and have jumped to a size 4/5. None of my work clothes fit me anymore, and I feel awful. I have taken seven home pregnancy tests just to be sure and have even gone in to the doctor for a professional test, but everything has come out negative.

I am apparently switching to another pill (or whatever will work) today; I'm waiting for my doctor to call and discuss my options as I type this. Ladies, if your doctor suggests this stuff, please take my advice and DON'T try it. It has been nothing but hell for me over the past several weeks. Save yourself the time, money, aggravation, and lost pounds and stay away from Loestrin.

Wow. I am not even close to being done reading everyone's comments on Loestrin, and I am already EXTREMELY P.O'ed and at the same time relieved, at the fact that I found this page. I am 18 years old, and I started on Tri-Cyclin Lo when I was 15. I loved it, and never had any problems with it what-so-ever. It even helped with my acne problems. But a few months ago, my insurance decided to stop covering birth control, so my OBGYN decided to put me on Loestrin 24 Fe, because with the card you only have to pay 24 tops a month. But anyway, I now realize that all of the hell that has been happening in the past 3-4 months is due to Loestrin Fe. And after reading all of your comments I am POSITIVE! My Boyfriend and me have been fighting all of the time, and I have just been getting upset for no reason. I thought that it was because things between my boyfriend and me just aren't the same, and that maybe we are just growing apart.. but after reading all of your comments, and taking some time to think about it... IT HAS TO BE THE B.C! Before I started this pill we got along all the time... And also, my sex drive has plummeted so fast and drastically, to the point where my sex drive is NON EXISTENT. It has been hurting our relationship on top of my mood swings, because our sex life is also NONEXISTENT.. and we live together! I used to want to have sex all of the time.. and I haven't honestly wanted to have sex (not even once!) for the past few months...since I started Loestrin!!! Additionally, my face has been breaking out before periods excruciatingly bad. It has seriously hurt my self esteem. I have always had some issues with acne, but it has gotten ridiculous. I even bought an expensive acne kit that is supposed to be number one in the country, and it still keeps getting worse! .. And lastly I have been putting on a lot of weight, even though I have been eating the same.. also hurting my self esteem. Today, my bf and I finally came to the conclusion that "hmmm.. it most definitely might be the birth control." ..so I decided to come online and check out the side effects. AND BOOM! I see tons and tons and tons of comments from Women of all ages with the same, horrifying side effects. I am going to stop this birth control immediately. If my insurance won't cover anything else, and I can't afford any others, I will just deal with my cramps and longer periods. I never thought I would say this in a million years, but I would RATHER deal with the horrible cramps and long periods, than have to deal with the bull s*** that Loestrin has put me through. If anyone has anymore insight, message me or reply! Thanks.

i have been on loestrin24 for about 2 months , its the worst thing in the world!! i was on yaz for 3 years and i started feeling sick about two years in i had anxiety, depression , my hair was falling out and i read blogs about the pill and decided to get off i called my doctor and she gave me loestrin24 , my sex drive is so so bad,my boyfriend noticed it right away! i have nausea,headaches, dizzy spells, blackouts, and worst of all im 27 years old and have never had acne until now!!!! im on my last active pill and i will not continue the pills ...... i would rather have a 5 day heavy period then take this i feel like im dragging all day long and all i wanna do is sleep this is so not worth it !

I had just recently started Loestrin 24, and my doctor told me not to start it until my period started. I normally have 5 day periods, and they're very heavy with severe cramping (which is why i started BC to begin with). Since I've been on the pill.. it's like light bleeding, or spotting. I don't know how long this is going to last.. I hope not long. Before I started this pill I was on Nuvaring for two years, and it blowed. I was on no BC for a month and I lost weight, got my libido back and wasn't so emotional. I hope this low dose of BC helps it stay that way

To be perfectly honest, the big thing that I'm noticing is breast tenderness. I'm a really chesty girl as it is, but even going up and down stairs hurts...

Also, I'm noticing that my sex drive is a lot lower, and that I do have a little more acne than normal.

On the bright side, I'm not gaining weight, which was not the case when I was on Ortho-Tricyclen. I've actually lost a little... It's kind of odd, too, because I've had more of an appetite.

Either way, it takes your body three months to adjust. I'm not that concerned yet. I'd advise you to just try and deal with it for a little while. A lot of it is in your head, especially when you go reading all these horror stories!

I'm 20. This is my first time on bc. I've been on this pill for a month now and my fiance pointed out a lot of changes in me. The ones i have noticed is my sex drive is completely gone! Which worried me deeply since i started to think that i was falling out of love with my fiance. I feel depressed for no reason. Breast tenderness; sore to the touch! And Nausea, to the point where i lose my appetite. My fiance has noticed: Massive mood swings. (i get angry or cry on the spot for no reason), Depression, and headaches.

I haven't gotten that break through bleeding everyone talks about. And my acne and weight is fine. I'm just not sure if my body is reacting this way because this is my first time on bc, or because of the pill itself. All I know is that i am miserable.

i am 24 and i was on loestrin 24 for 8 months. at first i didn't notice any side effects but gradually i became lethargic, moody, and i lost my sex drive almost completely. none of those things described me in the slightest before i started taking this pill, in fact i used to wonder if pms was a myth...now i KNOW its so real.anyway because of the lethargy i was having i went to the doctor to see if maybe i was having thyroid problems, i wasn't but he did tell me that studies he has seen link hormonal birth control to breast cancer and advised me to get off the pill. kinda scary i know. i did quit and ive been off for about a month now and i swear its like night and day, im not moody, i have energy and my intimate life is back to normal, im so happy i quit.

I'm no stranger to BCPs but Loestrin 24 has me quasi-suicidal. Yes, I've actually had thoughts of jumping out the window - I would never do it, but it scared the bejeebus out of me to actually have those thoughts.
I have two young kids and just went back on BCP's after finishing breast feeding my youngest. I have extremely heavy and awful periods so I was looking for a way to manage that. In the past I'd had only good experiences w/ BCPs so I didn't think twice about going back on them.
It's been three months since I started Loestrin and I've suffered from extreme fatigue, crazy mood swings, mental fogginess, forgetfulness, spotting (the least of my concerns), double vision, dry eyes, nausea, insomnia, no sex-drive, menstrual migraines that last up to 72 hours and lots of other fun stuff. Someone below mentioned they thought they had a brain tumor and I chuckled because I was pretty sure I had one too!
I forgot one measly pill this month and boy, did I pay for it.
Loestrin leaves me barely capable to take care of my children because of my fatigue and mental fogginess (it's the only way I can describe what my brain feels like on this drug) PLUS they have to deal w/ a very curt, impatient, unhappy and mean mommy - something I'm normally most definitely not!
When merging on the highway I ALWAYS do shoulder checks to make sure no one is in the way, but the other day I almost got in a wreck because even though I checked, I didn't see a car coming up behind me! I know this was because of my vision changes thanks to Loestrin.
I called my ob today for a new script. She gave me some generic. I hope to Zeus it's better than this stuff.
I think I'm more annoyed because I was never sensitive to meds before. I don't know if it's age (36), having had kids or what, but my body definitely doesn't handle the same as it used to. : (

I'm a 37 year old mother of two who is fortunate to work in an OB/GYN office and have different BC's at her disposal. In the last year or so, I've tried Yaz (only stayed on for a month or so and quit due to weight gain and fatigue), the NuvaRing (had yeast infections) and now have just finished my 1st pack of Loestrin 24 FE. I have had spotting all month (enough to use a light tampon), severe mood swings (like a want to tell people off in a bad way!), severe fatigue (want to sleep right as I get home and be a couch potato) and WEIGHT gain (which I HATE!). I am in great shape and wear a size 6-8 but now feel more comfortable in a size 8-10. I know that you should give any BC at least 3 months to work but I don't know if the pros outweigh the cons. Also I did noticed a decrease in sex drive and the drive to want to exercise. I feel horrible after I eat and and feel constantly bloated even when I wake up in the morning and haven't eaten yet. I'm on the fence about staying on this BC.

I've been on Loestrin 24Fe for two months now and I DO LIKE it. I was taking Nuvaring before and in no way did I like it...I have had nausea and have a lot of cravings (lots of pregnant like symptoms, Im 100% sure Im not pregnant). I really like that I have no mood swings, I totally did with Nuvaring, I would snap out of nowhere. My sex drive is amazing! I'm really happy about that. I do get fatigue but I can keep clear headed and if I want to do something Ill do it. I do get heartburn, really bad heartburn but I do eat a lot of chili and hot/salsa food but it goes away with Tums. Oh has anyone been peeing A LOT?? I pee so much constantly and I checked for an infection and didn't have one so the pill might be causing it...also my sister is taking this pill and I asked how she liked it...she said that for the first two months she had mood swings but that after the third month it all went away and she said she liked it...(so she had mood swings for the first two months and I didn't) I seriously do not recommend NuvaRing at all...but so far I would recommend Loestrin 24Fe.

Well, I have reading lots of reviews about this pill since my doctor prescribed it, and being a science teacher, I have to say I am disappointed by how little many women who have issues (or not) go into specifics about their situation. So, I am going to be detailed here about this. Maybe if your situation is similar to mine, this could be helpful... :)
-I am 23...nearly 24 years old.
-5'10", 140-145 pounds.
-Very active, I at least ride my bike and/or go for a walk every day, and I try to work out at least twice a week. Healthy eater, but I still like to indulge...pretty much everyday.
-Non-smoker, rarely drink.
-Occasionally have coffee, mostly a tea drinker, avoid soda and dairy products.
-I have never used birth control before.
-I have been sexually active for approximately 3 years with one partner. We have always used condoms.
-I am on the last week of my first month.
-Reasons for going on the pill:
-Although very regular (comes approximately every 35 days like clockwork), I have very heavy and long periods (*Lots* of clotting, eight days long-my mother had a history of her periods lasting as long as two weeks as she has gotten older, I would like to avoid this.)
-Intense migraines and headaches, generally around my period.
-Intense cramping, diarrhea, and bloating before and during my period.
-Lack in energy, decrease in sex drive, and increase in stress level/unhappiness before and during my period.
-My doctor actually had me start the day AFTER my last period.
-I take it at 8:00 each night (set my alarm so I don't forget).
-Since starting Loestrin 24 Fe:
-Increase in energy level; however, I have found it more difficult to fall asleep. I also get very hot at night.
-Two headaches in the past 24 days, compared to the at least 3 severe ones I would get a week.
-Increase in sex drive, though I think we are both feeling a little less "afraid" of having any accidents, so that may be the difference.
-Breast slightly swollen (like they would be around my period before) and only slightly sensitive, but nothing unbearable.
-My mood has been generally good. Less stressed. Pretty happy lately.
-No pre-period cramping or diarrhea, but lots of bloating; however, I am always bloated and gassy because I have some digestion issues.
-No weight gain yet other than the normal water weight that changes daily regardless.
-Eyes are little dry, not tearing up when irritated. I am not sure if I can cry, and I used to be able to at the drop of hat.
- No real nausea.
-Skin is the same, actually my complexion looks slightly more even. My breakout zones (blackheads on my nose and chin are still there) haven't changed, but no whiteheads have appeared lately.
-Some breakthrough bleeding by the second week, but barely anything. If you had the kind of periods I had, a spot of light brown is nothing at all. I usually don't even need a panty liner.

All in all, I have been pretty pleased so far.

This was the first BC I was given. I tried it for nearly 3 months.
My periods were lighter and cramping less, but thats where the benefits end.

I had MAJOR constipation. I didn't go to the bathroom for 7 days at one point. I even took laxatives. I went off the pill and the next day things were normal.

I was as emotionally upset as usual. Sad, confused, unhappy, withdrawn.

I was always nauseous. When I woke up, before bed, after I ate, in the car.

I lost my sex drive completely. I wanted to want sex, I just didn't. Sex began to hurt a lot. I went off the pill after 3 months but have not regained my sex drive. I'm unsure if trying another pill will remedy this or make things worse. I wish it would come and I wish I never tried the pill.

I have to say that I am quite disappointed with this medicine. I started this medicine in June and was excited when I had my period for only one day and it was for a few hours and then it was gone. In July I got my period right on the day when you're supposed to get it and it didn't end until the following Thursday which obvious is more than the three days that is promised. So my period finished last week like I said and then Monday of this week I got it again and I still have it. I annoyed that it is back again since I just had it last week. I am feeling depressed for the past 3 days now and I know it is the medicine because I have never been depressed before. I am also disappointed because it is ruining my sex drive in that I am not in the mood to have sex and I seem to be annoyed a lot more. The doctor wants me to wait and see if this period stops and then if it doesn't she wants to switch me again. I am getting so fed up with these birth control pills and break through bleeding. I thought birth control was supposed to help regulate your periods but so far I am not seeing that happen! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm 23 and more than halfway through my first month on Loestrin. It's been absolutely horrible. I have terrible insomnia, nausea, acne, food tastes different, and as a result I have no desire to eat. I have been extremely moody, depressed, and dizzy. My sex drive has actually decreased, and I am NOT happy about that. My period lasted 10 DAYS (as opposed to the usual 5), and I had worse cramping this time around than when I was not on the pill. I also bled very heavily for the duration. I took Ortho a couple years back and had no side effects other than mild headaches the first month. I do not even want to wait to see if Loestrin levels out. I'm terrified to stay on it.

I've been using Loestrin for 3 years and my doctor is switching me to Yaz because I've been having problems with depression a week before my period and during my period. I'm not sure if it is stress with school or my job but my sex drive also decreased majorly since I've been on the pill. I feel tired all the time no matter how much sleep I get, and it seems like I don't feel like doing much anymore. I start taking Yaz next week so I'm hoping Yaz will help with my side effects but Loestrin just wasn't working for me.

I'm 22 & have been on Loestrin24 for 3 weeks. I have bled for 2 weeks straight, which is the most irritating side effect. I also have shortness of breath, lack of energy, slight mood swings, & ZERO sex drive. I had been off birth control for almost 3 years, so I thought I was starting my period early because my body was reacting to the change. Now, reading that this could last up to 3 months before I "level out", I'm stopping this pill asap! I don't recommend it at all.

I'm currently on my 3rd week with Loestrin 24 Fe and I'm experiencing many of the same symptoms that I have read most people feel. I'm constantly nauseated...usually after I eat, but I have an increased appetite which makes it worse! I never got acne before taking these pills, and now my face is breaking out! The worst thing about these pills is that I have the worst mood swings. I never used to be moody or angry. but one minute I'll be happy as a clam and then the next minute I hate the world! And today I started spotting, and I'm not suppose to start my period for another week! Not to mention, I've had terrible cramping. And I thought birth control was suppose to cure cramping! Like everyone else also, I have a decreased sex drive. Unfortunately I'm a very impatient person and I'm not willing to wait it out for the next few months. I'm getting off of these pills immediately. I would not recommend these to anyone!

I was just given this pill to help with perimenopausal irregular periods (anywhere from 50 day cycle down to 20 days). I'd tried HRT and bled every 2 weeks on that, so gave it up. I'm on day 14 of the Loestrin and just started bleeding (2 weeks after my last period). Sound like this isn't unusual, but it's annoying as hell. I've also been depressed, irritable and had no sex drive.
I can't decide if I'm willing to stick it out for 3 months and see if things level out--I do like the idea of someday having very short, regular periods.

i have read all of your posts here and i have to ask.. is Loestrin the best birth control pill out there at the moment? Can you ladies mention other low-hormone, high success rate, high quality pills out there?
my girlfriend has been on it now for five weeks and she feels very depressed, moody, cries for no reason, has no desire to do anything, hates everything around her, feels fat, ugly and of course she has no sex drive whatsoever. our lives are upside down at the moment. she was told she had to take these pills for 3 months. i don't know what to do. for one i'm going to make an appointment with a gynecologist and ask about Loestrin and what other choices there are but first i'd rather have first hand experiences with other products from some of you. thank you.

I know this is long, but I could really use your help, so I would appreciate you taking the time to read through to the end. (thanks :-) )

First, I want to thank everyone posting. I needed to read this stuff because I'm absolutely terrified of what's happening to me. I'm on the second week of my very first pack of Loestrin- my very first birth control pill EVER. I didn't want to start, but my OBGYN encouraged me to, once I told her I had 8 day long episodes of clots, cramping, vomiting and just sheer misery once a month. She said this would help if I'm sure to take it as recommended.

So I took the first one the Sunday after my period started, at 8:45am and have taken it religiously since. I have not changed my diet or routine. I exercise and eat fairly well. And there are no particularly stressful factors in my life. I am also quitting smoking- just down to 2-3 a day instead of 10 or 15.

Now that I've been doing this for 2 weeks, I think I would rather suffer what I had before. At least it was predictable! I have been bleeding for 5 days now. And this is NOT my time to be on my period. I'm sad and tired. I have back pain and on-and-off cramps. I have nearly no sex-drive. My boyfriend and I had sex at least 4 times a week and I masturbated on the nights we didn't. And although he is INCREDIBLY supportive, I can tell he feels lost and helpless around me. I don't want him to touch me, hold me, or even breathe on me! Normally, we are very affectionate and I am active and fun. Now, I just want to be left alone. I feel fat, unwanted, dirty, depressed...the list goes on.

I feel as though there is something seriously wrong with my body, because I shouldn't look or the feel the way I do or bleed like I am. I called the doctor and she said that I should give it till the end of the month. But 1 month is a long time to live with a depressed quality of life. 1 month is a long time to cry yourself to sleep with alcohol and Motrin.

I feel angry that the best the medical society can do is give us something that is trial and error, fully aware that it may hurt us, though temporarily, and make the lives of the people around us miserable. I am concerned the even my doc is in the pocket of some pharmaceutical company to give me a drug that she said would help and has only hurt.

Or maybe I'm just paranoid...

Anyone have any encouraging reasons why I should continue this? My sister, who was on Ortho for a while and DIDN'T like it, suggests that I stick out a little longer and I trust her opinion, but would like more. I'm open to suggestions or comments. (Especially if you know a way to stop my period so I spend less days of the month on it than I am on...)
Thanks :-)

I'm on day 4 of Loestrin24Fe. I've never been on birth control before. I haven't had any side effects. I've had mild headaches this week but I think that's because of being off of caffeine, not the birth control. It seems so far so good. I'm keeping a journal of everything. How much sleep I got, what time I took the pill, what I ate, how I long I worked out if I did, what I'm eating, recording any weight change, watching for bleeding or anything and even recording headaches and vivid dreams. The only two things I've noticed are that every night since the first day I took the pill I've had really vivid dreams that I've been able to remember hours after waking up. And my sex drive is increased as well. I'm a 22 year old virgin getting married in 85 days and the desire for sex has been heightened in the last 4 days - and it has nothing to do with it being the week before or week of me period because that ended a couple days ago. So, that's all I've got report so far. I'll write again down the road and update on how it's been.

I've been taking Loestrin 24 Fe for about 4 or 5 months now. In the beginning I experienced the most horrible mood swings and I bled for the first month straight. My period subsided for a week then managed to come back. This continued for the next 2 months. I'm happy to announce that it sees to have finally started working properly. My period is extremely light. I do still experience about the same amount of cramping I experienced before. Also I did find that the pill did inhibit my sex drive tremendously but even that seems to be improving. Good luck to all!

Hi-First, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has posted here. I appreciate your openness. I'm almost 38, have 3 little girls & a boy in heaven, and am almost done with my 3rd month with Loestrin. I almost quit during the 2nd month because of how it changed my life, but my doctor encouraged me to just stick it out for 3 whole months before deciding, and things should level off. So far, she's pretty right. I felt like I was pregnant basically. I was totally green both months but did not get sick. I was totally fatigued, and it was hard to function daily, especially with homeschooling 3 children. And, the biggest symptom is that it ERADICATED COMPLETELY, my sex drive! That was a big part of my husband's and my relationship and it was gone the day after my first pill. We were devastated. It has put a huge strain on our marriage. But, when I started this 3rd pack, I had my energy back and am no longer tired. I have no nausea at all. And, I can feel myself slowly inching toward wanting to have sex again. Yea! So, we'll see.:-) I had no other symptoms like spotting, headaches, or night sweats, Praise God. I haven't been on birth control pills since 1995, so, I feel a little out of the loop with all these new ones. But, so far, Loestrin is doing ok.-Melissa

Ohh and I have an increased sex drive. I have never had sex before but all of the sudden I am 'craving' it. It is not normal because before I never really thought about sex, but now it is all I ever think about. Not that it is a bad thing, it is just another side effect.

I am 21 and am in the second week of the second pack of pills. I have to attend a low-income based women care and either these docs don't really care or are out of their minds. i have been having problems with cysts on ONE ovary (left) about a year and a half ago the cyst got 2 inches in diameter. It supposedly went away on its own. I ended up in the ER again a few months ago and found out there is another cyst on my left ovary (which i have reason to believe its the same damn cyst, just flaring up and down)
Anyway I have had horrible side effects on just about EVERY BC i've been on. depo and numerous diff pills. I even had a 2 month period while on the depo. but with Loestrin I have had countless side effects that incl:
hot flashes, anxiety, depression and mood swings, cold sweats, restlessness, sore and swollen breasts, constipation, heart burn, almost constant back pain and ovarian pain and worst pain when on my period. I had 2 periods my first month, missed ONE pill in the beginning of my second month and had a second period within 2 weeks with the most horrible pain. The only good side effects are an increased sex drive and a change in appetite.
I really don't know what to do. try a different bc pill or just stop altogether considering all the problems i've had.
i've thought about ortho-novum, girls my age seem to have less complaints about it....
this is so frustrating!!!

Okay. I have been on Yaz for the last year. I have been having horrible migraines. I have been told to switch from Yaz to something else. The doctor prescribed me Loestrin 24. Now, ever statement I read someone says they have had a lot of spotting. Is there anyone taking Loestrin and is not spotting? I am not sure if I should take this pill now?????? I also need to loose about 10 pounds from taking the Yaz. I am afraid that taking the Loestrin I will gain more........ I just don't know what to do.

I'm trying to determine some sort of pattern based on each woman's experience with different brands (estrogen/progestin levels) of birth control... Recently my gyn prescribed Loestrin 24, I have yet to begin a cycle but am trying to gauge possible side effects.
Generic Ortho-tricyclen: AWFUL!!! Reeked havoc on my emotional stability. Bitchy, moody, impatient, weepy (constantly), and weight gain. I did not notice any sexual side effects though.
Yaz: Better than Ortho... Random periods (heavy one month, non existent the next). Emotionally and sexually I feel fine, but hard to measure after taking Ortho and Cymbalta.

Please share thoughts and experiences

I started my first pack 20 days ago and I stopped taking them last night. I was taking them to control extremely heavy periods but the side effects are not worth it. I will deal with the heavy periods and just suffer through. This pill has made me extremely moody (and I take anxiety and depression medications), my face broke out like it hadn't since I was sixteen and I have had no sex drive at all...and sex was painful.

Of course today, I am dealing with the side effects of stopping. I feel like crap but at least know this feeling will pass soon and I will be back to my old self.

I am 47 years old and I started these pills 2 months ago to deal with bad headaches,
Since I began taking them: my hands ache, my right foot is swollen, my knees hurt, I have to ice them at night so I can walk in the morning, I'm moody, I have diarrhea, god-forbid I have gas,
I don't want to eat or I'll have to poop almost immediately sometimes before I'm finished with the meal I have to run to the bathroom, my sex drive is up but I'm scared to have sex in case of anything embarrassing in bed.
I have hemorrhoids and because I have to go so often they won't go away.
I HATE these pills.

My doctor prescribed Loestrin24 to me after three failed attempts at other birth controls. I was on the Depo shot for about 9 months, and had my period for 4 months which is why we decided to switch. My period went away within 4 days of taking loestrin which was great. I haven't noticed any side-effects until now. I have been taking this pill for 1 month and 1 week, and for about 5 days I have been extremely rude and moody. I am having horrible stomach cramps that make me feel very depressed. I don't want to leave my bed, and I don't want to eat. I have lost 7 lbs in a little more than a week. My sex drive has increased, which is great, but the stomach pain and mood changes are too much for me. I just feel like giving up on birth control because nothing seems to work for me. If you have any suggestions for a better birth control pill I would appreciate it very much.

leg cramps, irritability, now a nagging pain on my left side during sleep.

I have been on loestrin 24 for over 3 years now and haven’t had a period since I started taking it. No period at all, my doctor said this is normal. About a month ago my husband and I decided we should have kids soon since we are close to 30, so I stopped my BC. However, I still haven’t had a period I thought for sure I would see something in a month. I’m not pregnant; if I were, I wouldn’t be posting this message. Does anyone know how long it takes to get this out of my system. I read though all the post and I see a lot of women have the same issues as I do after being on this pill for so long, migraines, slow hair growth or hair loss, gum issues. All these side effects just started about a year ago and I didn’t relate it to the pill until I read the postings because they didn’t start right away. Any how if you experienced the same problem, not having a period and know when I could expect to see one it would be nice to know a month to me seems like an eternity.

I have only been taking this pill for 6 weeks. I am 44 and was put on it to help with severe cramping (I would pray for death every month). I have not been on any type of birth control since I was 23. I also have never been pregnant (not by choice). I have read hundreds of reviews from users on different sites and do not see anyone having leg cramps (calves). They are so bad at times that they hurt the next day from cramping so bad the night before. I have called the nurse and am waiting for a call back. I also have noticed that I am way too emotional and it has only been 6 weeks. I'm just not sure I can wait out 6 more weeks. Every night just about now I seem to be sick to my stomach or have diarrhea. I have always had headaches so I can't contribute Loestrin 24 to that. I have gained about 5 pounds...which I certainly don't need. Like I said in the beginning, my most severe side effect is the leg cramping. I wish they would just do the hysterectomy and put me out of my misery!

I've been on Loestrin 24 Fe for 11 months. I switched last year due to complications with Yasmin, which had such a high dosage of hormones my body spazzed out and I suffered from yeast infections about 4-6 times a year for 4 years. Not fun. So, my gyno decided to put me on Loestrin because of its lower hormones. The first month I skipped my period, which I did my first time with Yasmin so I wasn't too worried. My hair and skin became super oily, which I was told to be a slight reaction to the new pill but that my body would become more use to it over time. My hair would be so oily that I had to wash it 2 times a day and not use conditioner. I looked horrible with acne and oily face! Finally this has calmed down, but I do tend to get oilier than I use to before this pill.

After skipping the first months period, my cycle was awesome for 3 months....then, I skipped another one! This was with no missed pills, too. I took a pregnancy test (or three) and they all came back negative. So, happy with the results I carried on with the pill and things were fine for another couple of months. I have now missed a total of 5 periods with the last two being back to back. I still have the usual "period" symptoms; nausea, severe migraines, bloating, cramps from hell, etc.

I've been going out of my mind lately, too. Like crying lots and snapping at people. I've always been a bit moody, but this is just ridiculous. My husband is accusing me of cheating since I have NO sex drive and my moods have led to some massive arguments. (Mind you all, he's no angel in the mood department either....maybe he's on the pill, too?) There has been some weight gain, about 10 pounds, but I can seem to get it to come back off despite working out and dieting.

I'm going to see my gyno in May and will most certainly talk to her about these problems. I just thought I was going out of my mind! I will still be going to buy a preggers test to assure myself until then, but this time I might not buy them in bulk and take them all in one night....maybe.

Thank you all for sharing your troubles with Loestrin 24, thus helping alleviate my stress levels just a smidgeon. I do hope that everyone on here eventually finds the bc pill that suits them!

I went on Loestrin 24 about 3 weeks ago and have kept telling myself to wait it out. From the first day I started to feel depressed but I stayed with it. Ive started to fight with my boyfriend of 2 yrs now and questioning our relationship more than ever. I have NO sex drive what so ever, Im constantly depressed, I have anxiety and my mind is constantly all over the place with weird thoughts that I have NEVER had before. Ive already started to gain an uncomfortable weight. I am 5'4 and 115 pounds, very active, and I eat very well so the weight gain does not make sense to me. The only plus is that my boobs are getting bigger...but feeling like total crap and hating everyday of my life isn't worth it. Im debating going off of this pill but keep telling myself to ride it out. I was on the shot for about 5 yrs and went off of that about 2 yrs ago. I started back on this pill because I get really bad PMS...the shot made me gain about 20 pounds. So I dont want to go back on that. After reading all of these horror stories - Im beginning to think that my 3-5 days of serious PMS are totally worth it vs. 3 weeks of serious depression

I am 27, married, and have been on birth control continuously for four years (right before we got married). I have been on Loestrin 24 Fe for five months and just stopped three days ago. I thought there was something wrong with me. Our whole marriage I've had sex drive issues, depression, tiredness, feeling sick all the time, and headaches. All of it got even worse on Loestrin 24. In talking with a co-worker and then doing research a few days ago, it occurred to me that my these problems could be a result of the synthetic hormones I've been taking in the form of birth control. Prior to Loestrin 24, I was on Ortho-Tricyclen, Ortho-Tricyclen Lo, and Yaz. I suffer from endometriosis and have problems with severe cramps and bleeding. My Gyn thought Loestrin 24 would help, with fewer inactive pills. Since taking Loestrin, the side effects mentioned above have gotten worse. In addition, I have had cystic breakouts on my chin and neck, horrible vaginal dryness, fluctuations between nausea and ravenous hunger (I've gained 8 lbs. in five months!), chest pain, muscle and joint pain that gets to be almost unbearable, moodiness, anxiety and paranoia issues, and hot and cold flashes. I think Loestrin 24 should be taken off the market. I've only been off of it for three days and already feel a bit better. My husband and I are now researching natural family planning. No more synthetic hormones for me. Keeping your body's estrogen levels so artificially high all the time is bad news. Not to mention it is a leading cause of breast cancer.

I hate this pill! I have been on it for a month. I been getting bad back and hip pain and I am always tired, I can sleep for 12 hours just like last night and be up for 3 hours and want to go right back to sleep, I noticed my hair has been coming out when I get out of the shower and also when i brush it (more then usual), I'm gaining weight and that's bad for me cause I have weight issues and I can't stop eating! All I want to do is eat. As for my sex drive and moodiness its better then when I was taking ortho tri cyclen, with ortho tri cyclen when I was in the mood it would go away instantly, my moodiness was crazy I would break up with my boyfriend over the tinest things. I think I'm done with taking birth control, I didn't like either way I felt with either one.

Also I spotted for 6 days not even heavy, idk if I should take a pregnancy test or not. I called pph and they said it could be because I don't take my pills at the same time but they don't know. sometimes I miss one pill and ill take it the next day wit that day pill but I never take it at the same time sometimes I take it an hour or two later. Should I take a pregnancy test?!

I had my yearly OB appt. earlier this month. I had been on the pill before. She gave me free samples of Loestrin24. HORRIBLE! I never had any negative side effects with bc pill. With this one my sex drive is GONE. My mood swings are terrible. My appetite is gone because of my nausea and intestinal woes. Not only that I am having acne on my face, chest and back. I am 25 years old and I haven't gotten this type of acne in years. Ridiculous. I DO NOT recommend this pill to ANYONE!

I just started my first pill of loestrin24fe and am very scared from some of the comments i read on this site like worse acne, no sex drive, hair loss, weight gain, etc. My gyno put me on this pill because of my endometriosis. But I have hormonal acne and I really don't want it to get worse.

I started Loestrin 24 on 12/23/08 that was may last period. I just started my 3 pack (I have 6 more) and after reading all these entries and seeing what you all are experiencing and comparing it to me. I am wondering what I should do. My story is comparable to some of yours. I am a SAHM to 2 children (2 yr and 9m) I was previously on BC before that, I started again after 3 yrs. I explained to my Doc that with previous pills, I hated mood swings, lack of sex drive, and being temper mental. He said that Loestrin 24 had the least about of chances for this to happen. So I agreed. I started it and since then I have had only 6 days of spotting (light only 1 "sighting" of blood per day). 3 of the days were a week after I started the pill. The other 3 were mid Jan. I called my doctor and the nurse did not seem to be bothered by it. "Its normal not to have a period on the pill". Based on what I have read "shorter and lighter period" are normal not missing one +. Now reading all these other stories, moody swings, not feeling like yourself, snapping at people for no reason, cry fits, temper mental, and lack of sex drive. It made me start thinking about my last 3 months. I will have to agree that it all seems to fit my situation and what has been going on with me. So here I am thinking, WHAT DO I DO? Do I continue and see what happens or do I stop? I know thats for me to decide, but reading "your" stories is very unnerving. Has anyone missed/skipped periods while being on Loestrin 24?

I'm 21 and have been on and off birth control since the age of 14. I've always had terrible periods. My cramps are cripplingly bad and cause me to projectile vomit. Birth control I've been on in the past has made me gain unexplained weight fast (which I always lose as soon as I go off of it). As someone who has struggled in the past with eating disorders this is definitely not a pleasant side effect for me so I generally avoid the pill. In the last 6 months, my periods began getting worse again (they sometimes calm and spike depending on time of year, diet, etc). So I recently went to the obgyn after being off the pill for a couple of years. They did tests on me and discovered I have Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome, uterine fibroids and the cysts on my ovaries are constantly rupturing and leaking the fluid into a cavity in my pelvis causing a build up and more pressure and discomfort. So the doctor prescribed that I take Loestrin24fe. I'm only halfway into my second packet and already it's been a nightmare. As bad as my periods used to be, at least the majority of the pain was only for one day. About a week ago, I experienced extreme nausea. I was waking up ever couple of hours in the middle of the night to vomit. I've had a constant uncomfortable feeling in my uterus (kind of similar to mild cramps), my chin has broken out in pimples (which is really rare for me), I'm by no means overweight but I've been exercising 2 hours a day for several weeks and have mysteriously gained weight, I've been moody and teary, had continuous headaches, my sex drive has dramatically decreased and my vagina sometimes feels uncomfortable, slightly itchy or painful (and this is with just sex with my husband by the way, I don't have an std or random partners or anything haha) and then to top it all off, last night I almost fainted. I had a sudden fever and broke out in a sweat and then felt really itchy all over. Especially on my back. My husband looked and said I had broken out in a rash covering my back and spreading to my chest. I drank some water and went to bed and I guess I slept it off because I feel okay today. Bottom line is that I wouldn't recommend this pill to anyone. I've had unfortunate side effects with BC before but none like this. Only problem I'm having now is deciding whether to finish this month's packet or just quit halfway through.

I was on birth control in high school for about two years because of problems with my period. Right before my senior year I asked my mom if I could stop taking it because it made me gain weight. Since then it's been about a year since I've taken birth control and I starting taking Loestrin 24. I instantly gained about ten pounds and my mild acne got worse!!!! My boyfriend noticed mood swings I would have randomly and the change in my sex drive. I try to fight my unexpected sadness and loss of interest in other things but I can't. I just get very sad and depressed for no reason and I snap at everyone! I want to stop taking birth control but at the same time a family is not in my plans. UGHH is there a birth control out there that works without so many side effects????

Continual breast tenderness, which has only added to my already decreased sex drive while on this pill. Fatigue is also a side effect I've noticed. It has prevented my migraines.

After taking yaz for for three months and finding that my sex drvie disappeared i went to the doctor and switched to loestrin 24 fe for two days still it did not help me . I ended the pill after the two pills of the pack that i have started because enough was enough i would have mood swings and my libido was also disappearing. i have been off of it for three weeks i would say and still i don't have a sex drive sometimes and still feel like my libido is not there i know its not my boyfriend because before i went on the pill i loved sex. now its either i am to tried or just not in the mood i feel so bad for him! can someone please help me is this normal will i be better in a month or two?! does my body just need time to get back to normal?! do you think its from me just stopping the pill right away it messed up my body?!

I have been on Loestrin 24fe for the past three years. The first two years were great; no period since Dec 06, it's very rare that I have any spotting. Since June 2008, my health has gone down hill. I have had extreme weight gain (20 lbs), retaining fluid, fatigue,terrible migraines, memory has gotten poor, lack of concentration, depression has gotten worse, very very moody and will cry at the least little thing. I have also experience eye floaters and eye twitching. My dr. wants to change my BC to Yaz, but the horror stories are the same. At this point, I really don't know what to do. I have been on BC for 18 yrs total. When I first started taking Loestrin, it was wonderful.....up until last year. I am still taking it, not sure if I should switch to another type or totally go off of BC to give my body a rest.

Hi, I have been taking birth control for almost four years now. It has been a journey like many woman have experience. I started with Diane which made me gain a lot of water weight! More than 10 pounds in a month!!! Then I switched to Yasmin, which was grate for a few months and started to have mood swings and severe depression, I went psycho with this pill, doctors prescribed me and antidepressant which in turn made me loose the little libido I had left… so I switched to Nortrel which was ok, but I still gained weight, so finally I started Loestrin24Fe about four months ago. The first two months were fine, a little spotting between weeks two and three, but I considered normal since is a side effect, after that, no more breakthrough bleeding but lately I find it extremely difficult to wake up every morning, my head feels so heavy!!! It feels inhumane to wake up!! ( I have never ever had that problem before) and also I feel that my libido is slowly disappearing… so, so far that’s the story…. Have any of you experience anything like this with Loestrin24Fe, and if you have, how did you solve this problem?? I found a website that suggests taking multivitamins, but don’t know if its going to work.
Anyhow… please help!

I have only been taking loestrin 24 for a couple months. It was recommended to me by my doctor when I asked to switch from Yaz. When I was taking Yaz, my skin cleared up and it helped with my mood swings and PMS but I was getting yeast infections monthly (1 week before my period like clockwork). When I switched to Loestrin 24 it seemed to be better, I haven't had a yeast infection and I think it has definitely improved my sex drive. I have, however, recently experienced some mood swings and I have been very tired no matter how much sleep I get. It's just a little frustrating to be so negatively affected by something that is supposed to be beneficial!