Loestrin 24 Fe and weight gain

I have been on Loestrin 24 for almost 3 years now and have virtually no side effects. Slight weight gain did occur however I also attribute that to starting college around the same time. My periods were slightly irregular during the beginning but have evened out substantially and now last a maximum of 3 days. Also any mood swings I encountered may have been due to the Loestrin but again I was under abnormal stress because of beginning college

I am 20 years old and get my birth control through my university health center (it's only 15 bucks a month). Im not having sex now and have not in QUITE some time as my boyfriend and I broke up almost a year ago. I have been on birth control for three years now and NEVER had any problems. Since i get my meds through the school they give me what they can get in. I had been prescribed solia when i first started taking it and it was perfect. I had shorter periods, NO cramping, barely any weight gain if any at all and it even helped with mood swings during my period. This past month, the center got in Loestrin 24 and that's what they gave me. I am VERY pissed about it. I started taking it and within days could tell a difference. I would cry for no reason and the slightest things upset me. I was cramping all the time. I missed my birth control ONE day and made up for it the next day, BUT i also got my period. That was two weeks ago. I have not missed another pill and i STILL have my period! I am cramping irritable and just a downright bitch, and that is NOWHERE near my normal self. Im the type of person to let most things roll of my back in time and just go with the flow. Im glad I got on here and found out im not the only one having problems.

I am 27 and I started birth control at age 21. I always had an irregular period with terrible cramping. I also had a very high sex drive.

The first pill I tried was Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo and I stopped taking it after 2 months because I felt depressed and I totally lost my sex drive. I always had perfectly clear skin and about a week after I discontinued this pill I broke out on my face and my back. I had a rash on my forehead. I also noticed a few dark hairs on my chin.

The next birth control I tried was the NuvaRing. This also made me depressed and moody.

I have now been on Loestrin 24 Fe for more than 2 years and this is the one that has worked best for me. The first few months I had my period and spotting. The first year on Loestrin I got my period once every 3 months and the period maybe lasted a couple of days and was very light. I must have taken more than 5 pregnancy tests. I asked my doctor about it and he told me that there was nothing to worry about not having periods. The second year my periods got even further apart. I went 5 months without a period then almost a whole month having a period (very light and a lot of cramping).

Besides having my period coming and going as it pleases, I feel great. My sex drive is still alive and I haven't experienced any mood swings. I do still break out on my face, usually around the end of my pack. I have not had a problem with breaking out on my back with this pill. I have gained a little weight, but after I hit 25 my metabolism really slowed down, so I cannot completely blame weight gain on the pills. I believe you have to work twice as hard to maintain a healthy weight when you get older.

With that said, I wish everyone the best on their BC journey!

I'm 24 and was switched from Yaz to Loestrin. My doctor indicated that this medication was around for awhile and would be similar enough to Yaz while being different enough to stop my spotting. Within the first few weeks, I noticed myself becoming dazzed and disoriented - like in the middle of the mall, I would forget where I was or what I was doing there, though only for a split second, and I forgot to take basic turns while driving to a familiar place and this NEVER happens. I also noticed immediate 5-10 lb weight gain, though I was eating healthier and exercising the same. And somehow I just did not want to be social at all (which is not like me). All of this freaked me out so I quickly got off.

I've been on Losetrin 24 Fe for about a month and a week.
I've noticed some irritability, nausea, shortness of breath, bloating, and increase in acne. I had sex with my boyfriend after taking the pill for a little over two weeks, he didn't ejaculate inside of me, but I missed my period when it was supposed to come, and instead I just had about two days of really light spotting. I feel bloated constantly and get a little nauseous after eating. I've also had a serious lack of energy. No weight gain, or anything else. Bu the missed period thing freaks me out, and the ache just stresses me out more.

I think no one should post within the first 3 months of starting the pill... it's not a miracle drug or magic. Your body has to adjust to the hormones and you're not going to find a pill that doesn't cause side effects within the first 3 months. I am about to start my 4th pack and I am curious to know if anyone else has experienced heavy weight gain that they can NOT lose =/

Hi Everyone! I was the most terrified to take this. Once I started, I felt that my life was upside down. I would my sister weeping at 3am, swearing that I couldn't take it anymore- the depression, the cramps, the aches. I was either sad or angry all the time. I couldn't trust myself! I felt like my body was turning on me. I started reading this board and decided that if my side effects lasted longer than a month and I stayed as miserable as they were for the first 2 weeks, then I would quit. Well, now I'm on the 3rd week of the 2nd pack and I'm ok! A few days ago, I did have some light- REALLY light-spotting. When I first saw it, I thought I was going to have my period for a whole month, like I did when I started. But its already gone! When I started the brown pills last time, (technically when my "real" period was supposed to start) I had some cramping and fatigue, but nothing like what I had been feeling before I started. Sometimes, I still question my mood. My dreams are strange and vivid too. And I have had a little weight gain, but can't tell if its just me or the pills yet. Next week is when my 2nd period on the Pill is supposed to start. I'm anticipating it lasting only 4 days, and not being too heavy or painful. But, these could be pipe dreams.
I guess my advice would be to try to stick it out for the whole 3 months. I think my body's not quite as angry with me anymore, and I'm not quite as angry with everyone else! So, hopefully, it will stay this way...I'll keep you posted!

after reading all of these posts it has made me feel ten times better. I have also had almost every symptom listed. I started taking this pill four months ago for the first time and for almost the entire first month I had spotting then when it was time for me to get my period it never came at all, although I did have cramping throughout. I have never been a very emotional person and since being on this pill I have cried almost every day and has had almost no patience for anything. Recently I have started having terrible nausea if I drink any alcohol at all. I have also had bloating and upper abdominal pain. My boyfriend has noticed a complete change in my personality since I have been on this pill. Although he is completely supportive and knows that it is just all the hormones I have realized that it is not worth feeling like this and I am going to have to change pills. I am constantly paranoid that I am pregnant because I never get my period and if I do it is so light I forget I even have it. If anyone has switched and has any recommendations for a better method please let me know.

I am 22 years old and this is my first experience on birth control. My doctor suggested Loestrin and I love it! I was really nervous to start on this pill because the complaints a lot of women have posted on here, but I figured I would give it a try myself. I used to suffer from awful, heavy periods with severe pain and now that doesn't happen at all! Now, periods are VERY light and short- only around three days! I maintain very healthy eating habits and go to the gym every day, so I was really nervous about the side effect of weight gain/ bloating but I haven't experienced either side effect! I also have a close friend who is on Loestrin too and she has no problems either. So if you are questioning whether you should try this, go for it! I'm glad I did! :)

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 have read a lot of these posts 7 its kinda freaked me out b/c im currently taking loestrin & i jus finished my 1st pack. i have light to heavy spotting everyday. i know most females wil began 2 spot 1st when they are taking a birth control that can decrease your period. i also feel moody & sort of depressed but i feel other things in my life are causing that. my cramps aren't as ad as when im not on bc. my breast are tender to but no acne, acne has never been a problem for me, thank god!lol. ut the only think that really bothers me is the constant spotting! i was on the shot, depo-provera for 2 yrs. straight. u get the shot once every 3 months. i spotted at first for like a month & then it began 2 decrease & my period stopped all together but still had increase breast size, extreme weight gain, cramps(not unbearable ones), & the worst migraines. these are jus typical side effects of birth control. i liked the depo shot cuz i didn't have a period or had 2 remember 2 take a pill everyday but the side effects are probably not worth that bargain. the any birth control especially the shot that stops your period & you take it for years straight can make you sterile i have a cousin who had a few miscarriages b/c of it b/c the shot might not ware of from a month to a year causing sterility. the shot also can cause bone density. im just so fed up w/ irth control b/c they all have a bad side effect. i hope they can invent something w/ way less side effects because the negative out ways the positives with most if not all birth controls but i guess im gonna try loestrin for a while before i give up on it.

I'm 21 and have been on Loestrin 24 for about 4 months now. I have been pretty lucky as far as my periods are concerned. I get my period the second day of the brown pill around 10 AM and it lasts for two or three days (very light bleeding). I haven't had any cramping (which was one of my main focuses for finding a pill) and I haven't had any really horrible mood swings like I had when I was on Microgestin (my boyfriend is pretty happy about that!). But my main concern on checking these boards is that in the past one or two months I've gained ten pounds! I haven't changed my diet in any way, I've been eating like I normally do. Ive even actually tried to start eating better, and using weight watchers to count my points but I haven't seen any weight loss whatsoever. I've also been having really bad headaches almost every day, but this may be because I need to have my eyes checked. I love the pill, except for this stupid weight, and I'm scared that I'll keep gaining :/ Anyone else have any weight gain from this pill?

I am 21 years old and I have been on Loestrin 24 since June 2nd. I'm about half-way through my second pack. I used to take Kariva which had a lot of negative side effects (headaches, weight gain, couldn't wear contacts, longer periods). Fortunately, I haven't had many of the bad side effects with Loestrin 24 that most women have been describing. My first period on Loestrin 24 came a little late but when it eventually came it was quite light and only lasted about 3 days. I also haven't experienced ANY spotting which is good. I have been a little nauseous and I threw up once which I can only assume was from the pill. I've had some trouble sleeping and some weird dreams but I usually do anyway so its not too bothersome. My only major issue is acne. It seems like in the last couple weeks it has gotten a lot worse, even worse than when I wasn't on any type of pill. I noticed a lot of women saying that their acne got worse. I was just wondering if it will eventually get better? I may have to talk to my doctor because it’s getting bad (I notice at least 1 new pimple a day). I've always struggled with acne so if it continues to get worse I'm totally going to stop taking this pill. Any suggestions or feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I have been taking Loestrin 24 for almost a year and a half now. At first the pill seemed like a godsend because it offered me shorter periods and more time in between period. However, I have recently become sexually active with my boyfriend and the pill seems to have turned on me completely. In May, I experienced an alarmingly light period with barely any bleeding and almost non-existent cramps. I attributed it to stress at first, but took a home pregnancy test just to be certain. Thankfully, the test came back negative so I put it out of my mine for awhile.

The following month I yet again experience a period that was barely the equivalent of spotting. Alarmed, I went to see my gyno. She told me that barely to no bleeding is completely normal with Loestrin 24, which is something that she failed to tell me of before I began it.

Tonight is my second night of iron pills in my pack and I have yet to bleed at all. On top of that, this entire month I have been experiencing night sweats, headaches, abnormal weight gain, and extreme irritability towards my loved ones. I can barely even stand to talk to my boyfriend on the phone regardless of the fact that I know I love him very much.

Should I stop taking them? Is there any suggestions for better pills?

I am so glad I found this site. I'm 42 and the doc put me on these stupid pills because of ovarian cysts. The first few days were fine but by day 4 I had awful stomach and lower back pains and by day 9 I had leg pain. I have had awful insomnia which I NEVER had before. One other thing that I thought was odd I woke up in the middle of the night soaking wet, like I had peed myself but it wasn't urine. I thought I was really sick and then out of curiosity I googled these pills and was shocked at what I found. I will stop taking them tomorrow, it's not worth it. The body and joint aches are awful not to mention the bloating. I look like I'm 5 months pregnant. I wish I had seen this site at the first sign of my symptoms because I would have stopped right away. I was really starting to think I was going crazy.

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 started taking loestrin in nov 08 i was on my period all of Dec 08 and parts of jan Then i stopped and my periods started regularly and i started bak on it and as soon as i get off my period i go right bak on it and my periods last 7 days not 3!! and its making me extremely emotional and on top of it all i don't get sleep at night but in the day time it makes me extremely drowsy this pill is a piece of shit anyone know anything better??

I'm still in my first month of Loestrin 24 and I've only noticed a few side effects. My main concern is the pain during sex. I wondered if I had some sort of infection or if I was allergic to the lubricant from condoms, also the spotting. Which is quite embarrassing and bothersome! But I have not experienced any weight gain, which I was very worried about. My skin is clearing up and I hope it continues to do so. Overall, if it keeps me not pregnant, I'll deal with whatever.

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 this week the third pack of Loestrin24fe and NOW I am happy with it. I took it after nuvaring which I did not tolerate anymore at all. I took it after the birth of my daughter and the first time was good, I then had 6 month with no bc at all and went back on nuvaring. I had to stop after 3 month, I could not take the side effects anymore (terrible acne -worse than no bc, much worse, fatigue, etc).

The first month was pretty bad but better than nuvaring, so I sticked to it. My gyno told me it would take 3 month to see the effects of the pill on my acne and I could have spotting.
Here is the long list of side effects I had the first month (random order): bloating, mood swings, body aches, extreme fatigue, nighmares, weight gain (8 pounds at least) which I never had in the past with my previous bc, sensitive breast (gained a size as well, I don't really need it though), tummy irritation, nausea, painful sex and itch/pain (like I'm going to have a vaginal infection but I don't. I've had this on my other bc pill when I was younger) and finally the spotting (20-22 days on 28!! but no period that first month).

As soon as I started the second pack the spotting disappeared totally, my skin started to look a lot better (no more nasty painful spots). I had a 2 days period (I used to have a 5-7 days period), almost no cramps during my period, breast tenderness decreased, no more mood swings etc...
What is still here though: WEIGHT (I'm navigating between 8 pounds and 6 pounds weight gain since I started loestrin24fe), fatigue (less than first month), itch/pain like vaginal infection (even if the feeling of it is much less than the first month).
I like the 2 days period and no painful acne anymore. That is a real benefit for me after months of pain and treatments which brought no result. I think it might continue to get better month after month. As my gyno told me, I have to be patient to see the full result of the pill.

All in all, I'm more and more happy with this pill.

I am 42 years old and started taking Loestrin in January to regulate my irregular period and I suffer from ovarian cysts as well. The first 2 months my body ached like I had the flu. I could not stand for my knees to touch each other as I slept, so I had to sleep with a pillow between my legs. My knees ached like I was about 70 years old with arthritis. I had lost 5 lbs by the time I got to the 3rd row of my 1st packet. My normal period only lasted 3-4 days anyway, so that did not change at all. However, last month, my period came 1 week early starting out with "spotting" or "breakthrough bleeding" for 3 days and what I assumed was my "period" last for 7 days and back to "spotting" for 3 days after that. I thought it would never end!!! I was about to go the ER and have them administer the shot that stops your period! On top of that, I suffered with severe lower back, knees, and lower part of my stomach pains that were almost unbearable. I also have experienced severe headaches (may be migraines) since I have started taking Loestrin. And sex, oh forget about it!! Sex has been painful to the point where I have to stop and lay in the fetal position for about 20 minutes before I can get myself together. What is that all about!!? My daughter who is 17 started at the same time I did with Yaz to help with dysmenorrhea and acne, and she's been fine!! (Except for a little weight gain!!) What is it about this pill that does this to our bodies? I said I would give it 1 more month (June) and see what happens. If my body and period go haywire this month, I will discontinue Loestrin and deal with the irregular periods!

I have a question. I'm 27 years old an just switched to Lestrin from Yaz. Had no problem with weight on Yaz. Been on Loestrin for about 2 weeks and have gained about 10 pounds. Anyone else have this issue?

I started taking Loestrin 24 Fe two weeks ago today. I first accredited the bad period symptoms to just that, bad period symptoms, but after reading this, I realize it was the pill. I was paranoid and stressed out and cried three times, and for someone who's generally laid back and cries maybe twice a year, this was a little concerning. But, I'm willing to stay optimistic and chalk it up as being the first week on the pill to blame and not evidence of anything that will continue.
Yesterday, I had light spotting, but I assumed it was resultant from some rough sex my partner and I had had. Today when I wiped, there was a significant amount of dark blood and I've got cramps like I'm on my period. It's only been two weeks since my last one! I'm kinda freaked out and plan to call my doctor tomorrow morning to find out what's going on, but I'm assuming it's just an effect of the extra hormones that's got me jacked up. It's a little weird, though, since it resembles blood spotting I get halfway to late in my period week rather than the first day, because it's so dark.
Aside from the spotting, I've had a day where I had a horrible headache, but it was no worse or better than severe allergy migraines I've had in the past (it's fun being a severe allergy sufferer *snort, reassert glasses*.) I broke out along my jawline when I first started, but it was only slightly worse than what I normally get during my period. I haven't been bloated, but I do find that I have the munchies more often, so I'm working to control that to avoid weight gain. I have been a little moody and somewhat paranoid lately, but I think it's a combination of family stresses, finals, and basic worries that come with being in a new relationship.
It was mentioned earlier that the last four pills have iron in them, and it is important that you talk to your doctor or do a little diet research to determine whether or not it's even necessary because taking too much iron can be bad for you. They are there because during and around their periods, women generally are iron deficient, but if you are getting plenty of iron in your diet (especially if you take vitamins) you really don't need this extra dosage. That is, after all, what the Fe in the name is for, by the way. ;)
So, aside from seemingly having started a whole new period two weeks after my last one and having some mild mood swings and a single day of headaches, it hasn't been so bad. I had worse symptoms after taking ortho tri cyclen for three months. No pill is ever going to be completely symptom-free, so we must all keep that in mind.
I'll post when I find out more about this strange spotting deal.

I've posted on here earlier but now I decided to stop taking Loestrin 24fe since I felt I hadn't been taking them correctly last month and could be pregnant. (Not taking them at correct times & doubling up in week 1)

I hadn't found much on the net where other women weren't sure if their symptoms were because they went off birth control or really where pregnant with this particular pill (lots of info on other pills though) I believe now since I took them at different times I caused an hormonal imbalance before I even stopped the pill. So I'll be the guinea pig in case other women are feeling like me.

Symptoms when I took them incorrectly were excessive saliva, sore/shooting pain in breast, back pain, cramping, bloating, headaches, HEAVY fatigue, appetite changes, heavy white or clear discharge, dry hair & skin, and VERY emotional. (like a month of PMS, very b!tchy lol ) Then I had a sweet smelling clear discharge which made me think pregnancy or UTI. (Diabetes not a factor, I know for sure) It was the day before expected period (placebo pill) and a couple times more when I discontinued them.
NOTE: when I took them perfectly in Jan, I had NO period. Confusing but I had no sex so I knew it was my impeccable consistency with taking the pill.
I had one brown spot on Fri. (never happened) and a patch of pink/reddish blood on Sat. (similar to what I am used to on this pill) I stopped taking them on the last placebo pills. (not that it would have harmed the pregnancy if I was with child, but I just wanted to know! I wouldn't mind the "surprise") That Sunday began a headache that I can only try to describe... It was a "burning headache" I looked this up and it's not really well known. My face felt like it was hot with a burning/tingling sensation & pressure! I could've sworn I had a fever but the lovely nurse said my temp was normal and I needed to go to ER ( I think she thought I was crazy?) Any who it was around my face and neck and sometimes a migraine or sinus headache would jump in. Since I thought I was preggo I didn't want to take meds that I had (no Tylenol at that moment) All I had was Midol. I felt so bad I gave in and took it. It relieved my symptoms immediately. The "burning headache" came when I woke up everyday for about 4 days. Then lesser headaches and I bought Tylenol for them. Long story short because of the imbalance (I charted these symptoms) I had intense back pain, SORE nipples, yeast infection, frequent urination (due to yeast infection, it kind of lessened up once I treated it) actually I believe I have a systematic yeast infection because it was on my tongue (going to DR to diagnose this, it causes A LOT of symptoms I've always had) night sweats, heart palpitations, oily face, still emotional, indigestion, dizzy, vivid dreams (crazy symptom I know but hormonal imbalance can do anything to the female body) Idk which could be mainly cause of imbalance... just saying this is not my "norm" (hence the further thought that I was preggo)

I've bought preg test (neg), UTI test (neg), yeast infection meds but I will go to the DR to get checked out. (I'm currently not able to go) My period is due in a week (I'm a very regular person, when i came off Jolessa, generic Seasonale, I had 3 months of 28 day cycles until I started Loestrin for 7 months) Hopefully this will be the same. Don't know which BC I'll try next but Loestrin isn't that bad if you take it correctly! (I did have nausea EVERY month whether I took it correctly or not... read previous post) I take prenatal vitamins now (Idk I think I read somewhere any vitamin/mineral helps with withdrawal symptoms? Nonetheless they're good for you) I believe I might have already ovulated (cramping, CM changes) so to the women who want to know how soon they might return to "norm" cycle, low dose BC might not be so bad if you want to jump back into cycles? (Still waiting on period so don't quote me. Or as with some you can do one w/o the other. ie, period, but not ovulate. vice versa.)

Sorry so long but I hope this helps anyone who was frantically searching the net for answers! I will update once this is over...

Wow... After reading some of these posts, I don't know what to do. I recently asked my gyno to prescribe bcp. I'm a regular irregular but it drives me crazy when I think it is coming and ends up being late. I've tried Ortho-Tri Cyclen and Ortho Evra (which I loved! Despite the weight gain, I didn't have to remember to take a pill every day) I've been off birth control for about 6 years now and my gyno said that due to the high risk of blood clots with Ortho Evra he didn't recommend it. He handed me a few samples of Loestrin 24fe but after reading almost all of your posts... I don't know what to think, especially because I've been experiencing almost all the same symptoms as most of without being on birth control. From the random headaches, weight gain, breast tenderness, severe cramping (like someone stabbing my lower abdomen), random spotting and even hairloss (the top of my head is clearly visible. It's so bad that I lose at least 5 strands just by running my fingers through my hair.) Part of me wants to try it out but I'm VERY scared that it will only worsen my symptoms... Help!Btw, nightmares? Really? Is that really a side effect? That's pretty nerve racking. Last thing anyone needs is to be afraid of going to bed after a long day of work...

After being on YAZ for about 7 months and realizing how it was harmin my mind and body, my doctor told me to stop taking it immediately, even though it was mid-cycle. he put me on Loestrin24fe because "there has been a much higher success rate with a lower dose of estrogen" NOT IN MY CASE!

i started taking it on a Tuesday, it is now the following Monday and i have already experienced:
harsh aches and pains throughout my body, unbelievable mood swings from cryin until my eyes hurt for NO reason to sitting and talking calmly within 5 minutes of each other, once again a complete lack of sex drive which i *just* recovered from with YAZ, not being able to eat yet having extreme weight gain??? my stomach is completely round when i have had a 6pack for my entire adult life and my jeans will not get past my thighs anymore, my skin and hair are oily and i have broken out worse than i did when i was a teenager ...

and the BEST one yet! Severe Panic Attacks during the night to the point where i am terrified to sleep because of waking up hysterical and actually "feeling" my dreams. i woke up from a nap yesterday crying uncontrollably because i was convinced i snapped my spine/neck because i dream it, felt it snap and HEARD it snap in my dream. it is all too real and i am on lack of sleep AND not eating for a few days.

Needless to say, i have stopped taking the pill as of last night. i am hoping to get back to normal in about a week because i clearly cannot function like this. I missed a gorgeous Easter day yesterday because i was having a low grade panic attack ALL day and couldn't eat or even talk to anyone.

i am not going to let another bc pill ruin my life this year. its not worth it but i must ask, where do i go from here? i am concerned about getting an IUD because my body seems to have every side effect possible with any type of birth control but i think the IUD is my only option besides complete abstinence.

This is my 3rd week on my first pack. I did not want to take bc, but had to since my insurance co would not cover mirena. I have noticed some indigestion and have gained 7 lbs in these 3 weeks. My appetite has changed, but I am working on trying to ignore the cravings. I am not sure if I want to stick it out for another few months or not. I can't afford to go out and buy new pants with my weight gain. Other than that I have not noticed any other side effects. I am anxious to see how this first period is going to be though.

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 so happy to have found these message boards...I thought that I was going crazy until I found out that other people have had similar experiences.

My doctor recently prescribed Loestrin 24fe after I noticed some depression and moodiness symptoms I experienced while taking Yaz.

Two weeks after starting, I experienced this sudden anxiety feeling that would not go away.I have never had any anxiety problems. Knowing that the moodiness was connected to the Yaz last time, I read the info that came with the Loestrin...Sure enough nervousness is listed as a possible side effect of birth control pills.

10 days into the new pack, I decided I just could not take them anymore so I stopped. I just wasn't myself and it was quite frightening. I completely lost my appetite and could barely eat a thing. I lost over 5 pounds in a week, which is totally not like me. I was constantly jittery and had this nervous feeling in my stomach. I was nervous about everything, with no reason to be.

It's been about 5 days and I am finally feeling like myself again. This has been the worst experience, as many other people experienced doctors' offices with nurses who try to tell you must have a problem, it's probably not the pill, and you should go see a therapist, which only makes you feel 10X worse and crazier. The moodiness and depression I felt while on Yaz was bad, but this was so much worse.

In addition to the anxiety, I also experienced terrible headaches on both Loestrin and Yaz.

I know that each pill affects each person differently, but if you are feeling any unusual anxiety, nervousness, or depression, stop taking this pill immediately.

42wmoses-
I know what you are going through. It is so frustrating to be on a birth control pill that causes annoying physical and emotional side effects. I would say to take a month off the birth control and see if anything changes. Try not to alter your eating or exercising habits too much because that will change the results that you can notice.
If you decide to stay on Loestrin 24, I'd suggest to keep a diary for a few months. Mark down symptoms on specific days etc. to later observe any possible trends that might be related to hormone levels based on the point in time of your cycle.
Also, Nuvaring is very new and new drugs should always be used with extreme caution. What I'm trying to say is, the full range of side effects (especially the long-term ones) have not been studied yet. It is impossible to know what it may cause down the line. Personally, I don't like the idea of a foreign object sitting inside of my vagina for three weeks out of each month.
I know only one person who uses Nuvaring and she has not had any issues with it. I guess it is just important not to forget that it is in there and must be removed on a specific date. Below I have inserted the COMMON risks/side effects associated with using Nuvaring (from the Nuvaring website):

The common side effects reported by NuvaRing® users are:

Vaginal infections and irritation
Vaginal secretion
Headache
Weight gain
Nausea

I am prone to urinary tract infections and vaginal infections so this is something I would never use. If you do not have a history of those types of things, maybe it would be something worth trying. Personally, I just feel as though putting something like that inside of your vagina for three weeks continuously while being sexually active can introduce a great deal of infectious bacteria into that area.

I hope that my opinion was at least somewhat helpful. If you are still unsure of what steps to take with birth control...I would suggest making an appointment to sit down with your gynecologist to discuss all of your options. They usually have a strong grasp on what is the best for each individual patient based on history, age, current health etc. etc. because of experience with many other patients on the same medications and the imense amount of research that physicians obtain on a regular basis.

Good luck!

I am 22 years old have been taking birth control for five years now and have used three different brands. The first one that I was on was too low of a dose and after six months my body became used to it and my periods became irregular. After that, I took Yaz for a while and loved it but once I switched insurance companies, it was $60 a pack. I then went on to Loestrin 24. I have been taking it for a little over a year now. I have not noticed weight gain or an increased appetite but have had many other problems with it. There have been months where I miss my period entirely and then have a very heavy period or two separate periods in the next month. As well, I think it has made my skin worse and my PMS a great deal more noticeable.
I often have unbearable cramping for two days prior to and on the first day of my period. Sometimes I have a "period" that lasts about 6 hours and is not more than just brown spotting on the Saturday before I am to start a new pack.
Currently, I have missed my period the last two months and have had to continuously purchase and take pregnancy tests to be sure that I am not pregnant. My breasts/nipples are swollen and extremely sensitive and painful. I will be purchasing a pregnancy test today because I am unsure of what is going on.
Suggestions for women looking to go on birth control: try other brands of the pill prior to Loestrin 24. Yes, it does give "shorter and lighter" periods...but often causes missed periods. I know that we all hate those days during the month where we feel like absolute crap and do not want to leave the house because of our periods...but (at least for me, a 22 year old student) I would much rather have that monthly reminder than to spend more money on pregnancy tests each month than I do on my birth control.

I am on my third pack and I was late on the first period, i have been having two periods per pack, my breast hurt all month long now and I have eye twitches and weight gain. I eat all the time.
The other night I woke up with severe abdominal cramps...What should I do? Any suggestions!?/

I HAVE BEEN ON LOESTRIN FE 24 FOR 2 YEARS NOW AND HAVE THE SAME ISSUES BUT A LOT OF HAIR LOSS, ALL BLOOD WORK HAS CAME BACK NORMAL AND THE ONLY THING I CAN LINK TO THIS HAIR LOSS PROBLEM IS THIS PILL. AFTER REVIEWING MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES OF HAIR LOSS, NO LIBIDO, BLOAT, WEIGHT GAIN. I'VE COME TO REALIZE I NEED TO BE OFF OF THIS PILL.
I HAD A FULL HEAD OF HAIR AND NOW PRIOR TWO YEARS AGO AND NOW I HAVE THIN HAIR THAT FALLS OUT AND WILL NOT GROW.

I started loestrin in august and i had noticed a slight weight gain, but nothing big. Lately I had been feeling a little off, and though I've had sex there was still pull out so I took a test regardless and it came out negative. Would this pill cause a false negative or would you say that I'm worrying over nothing and my body just isn't good with this pill?

I am a 29 year old female, who DOES NOT SMOKE!!!. I've taken birth control pills the majority of my adult life. However I took Loestrin 24 Fe a little less than a year...I was recently hospitalized for having DVT(Deep Vein Thrombosis) and Pulmonary Emboli....The doctors said the cause may be the birth control pills. Be careful with taking this oral contraceptive because DVT and Pulmonary Emboli is a serious side effect that can easily be overlooked by your doctor. For months I complained about swelling in the ankles and pains in my thighs. Until one day, my whole leg was swollen and was very painful while walking...I admitted myself into the ER the night before Valentines day!...I was then diagnosed with DVT and Pulmonary Emboli!!! The Doctors have taken me off birth control and now I'm taking blood thinners.

I started on Loestrin 24 in October of 2007. I had some weight gain due to an increased appetite, but after the four month waiting period and a little exercise, the weight was gone. I actually noticed that after a while, it curbed my appetite. In October of 2008, I decided to give Yaz a try. That was a mistake. I was an emotional wreck, constantly hungry and bloated, and my periods were much heavier than on loestrin. So after 4 months on Yaz I switched back to loestrin, been taking it for a week, and I'm happy. Women just have to keep in mind that everyone's bodies react differently to different BC, so give it the 4 month trial run and if you're not happy switch off it. Most of the time there is some kind of BC that will be perfect for you.

This is my 5th month on Loestrin24 Fe and I am going to stop taking it after this month. I have always been a happy, healthy, normal person and ever since being on this pill I have had breakthrough bleeding 3 out of 4 weeks of the month, HORRIBLE anxiety, mood swings, weight gain, and nausea. I have never ever had any of these problems before with any other birth control. My doctor said to wait through the initial 3 months where the side effects are the worst and that they would pass, but it I don't see that happening. They have not decreased and I don't have the drive to continue through these awful side effects. I do not recommend this pill to anyone.

I just started my second pack of Loestrin 24 Fe two days ago. I have not had any nausea, weight gain, unusual acne, loss of libido, or crazy mood swings. I have, however, had non-stop breakthrough bleeding. In the past month, there has only been one day where I was not bleeding. I take it at the same time every morning and have not missed a day. I'm really trying to be patient and give it a couple more months...but it has gotten very annoying. I got on the pill because I recently decided to become sexually active. Having my period 24/7, though, has kept me from actually wanting to start. I was on Ortho (the original) back in high school for regularity, and it made me gain 15 pounds and have intense mood swings. Beyond the btb, I love the lack of weird side effects....has anybody made it past the first 3 months to find more regularity with no side effects?

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 have been on every birth control imaginable since I was 12 years old (extremely heavy periods/ hospitalized 3 times for cramps...excellent way to view womanhood!) Every single birth control I've been on I've had side effects such as: severe mood swings (crying over nothing, starting arguments for little things, weight gain/loss (which I don’t mind), headaches, nausea, anxiety....etc. After telling my OBGYN about my symptoms I was having while on Seasonal, she tried to diagnose me with bipolar disorder...long story. One of the worst symptoms I've ever had out of all of these was the loss of sex drive. I did not become sexually active until I was 18 (I'm 20 now), my boyfriend of a year now constantly reminds me of my lack of sex drive. I was on the ring (been on it for a year) when we first started dating, I slowly started losing my sex drive (nothing serious, more foreplay) and I started having weird mood swings. We fought a little not really noticing my fun outgoing spirit slowly decreasing. I spoke to my doctor who suggested yaz…bad idea. I gained so much weight and I started getting acne! So I switched to loestrin which I started taking in November last year. At first I liked it, I didn’t have a period until last month, which only lasted a day (no blood just the brown discharge). I don’t mind not having a period, while I was on the seasonal I didn’t have a period which is fine. I do mind the severe mood swings I have acquired; I’ll have a good day but if one thing happens that in the least bit upsets me I’ll go into full aggression…which isn’t good because I work with people on a daily basis. I had a full week of depression. I did not want to converse with anybody I just stayed in my room after getting off work and cried. I started getting acne on my face and my back. I’ve gained almost 15 pounds (I’m 5’4”; I’m not too thrilled about being short and chunky). The worst is my relationship is on the rocks. My boyfriend tries to understand what’s going on, but it’s hard for him. I used to be incredibly “active” with him, now if we ever have sex and I get distracted by a dust particle I lose all interest and dry up. I tried talking to my OBGYN but she insisted it wasn’t birth control. I asked her if the IUD would be a good option, but she won’t give it to me because I haven’t had kids yet… so at this point I’m thinking about changing doctors and stop taking birth control all together… I’d rather not take anything and use other methods of birth control than suffer like I have been.

Last yr i was on yaz. after 4 months i started having bizarre and unlikely side effects because of an allergic reaction from yaz. I went off the pill for a few months and now im taking loestrin 24. I've been on it for 5months now. I have experienced spotting but that has decreased with time as i've been on it. I am now realizing that i might be gaining weight from this pill. I've been going to the gym almost everyday and have lost no weight, instead i've gained. last yr i never went to the gym and weighted less. This makes me think its the pill thats causing the weight gain but i'm not sure if this is true since i've been on it for 5 months and am just now noticing my weight.

I have been on Loestrin 24 Fe for 2 years and it is the best BC for me! I am a newlywed and our sex life is great! Previously I had tried OrthoTriCyclen Lo and Yaz. Both did not work for me at all!!!! I felt awful with both, especially Yaz. On Loestrin 24 Fe I might have a very short period or sometimes I do not even have a period at all and it is amazing! My doctor said that is okay and normal. I love Loestrin! It has saved me a whole lot of pain that I used to go through once a month. I had the worst cramps and bleeding in the world. I would have to go to bed I was so sick and take tons of alieve and ibuprofen. Now I take nothing but my multivitamin in the mornings! I feel great. Actually I just went to Disney World and my period was due, but I felt great and didn't even have a period!!!!!!!!!!!! INCREDIBLE! Life has changed for the better. I hope you all can give it a try. I will forever be thanking my OBGYN!

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.

I have been on Loestrin for about 6+ months now. I have a lot of the same symptoms as everyone else. The only thing that is different is that I'm not feeling psycho anymore...because I had my doctor put me on another medication to help with that. The name of it is Lexapro. It is AMAZING! I could tell a huge difference within the first week. I have never felt so rational, level headed, and normal before in my life. My husband loves it! We used to fight all the time. Now, it's only once in a blue moon. Lexapro works wonders, hand in hand with loestrin. As far as the extreme fatigue, weight gain, acne, etc. that I have, I don't know what to do. I haven't had a period in 3 months.

i have been taking Loestrin for about 12months after swapping and changing due to un wanted side effects from others. At first it was ok besides a weight gain and a few spots, but over the last few months i have started experiencing chest pain, sometimes light headedness and anxiety attacks and i also have been getting frequent yeast infections! all of which ive never experienced before, i didn't even consider that the contraceptive could have been the route but its the only regular medication that i take. i have now stopped taking it and hope that it won't take long for me to get back to normal!

hey, this is my first time taking the pill ever!!!! i was on theshot almost 2 yrs ago after i had my daughter for about 2 yrs that was cool no weight gain nothing:) but then my doc told me she had 2 take me off because the hormone makes u lose bone mass(yikes!!!) so 2 yrs later i back at it with loestrin so far so good. my period is ramdon i spot here and there no acne thank goodness. i always had depressing moments i don't if i'm having more or this is jus regular ol me crying, lol, but anyway i sorta like it im stick it out until i can't take it anymore. i think it may just b how ur body reacts to certain types of bc, bcuz i kno that my best friend had major issues with her body when it comes to bc but me 4 the most part i'm cool so i goona stick 2 it until then!!! peace

well i have been on this medication for about four months and i did not start having problems until a month ago. I had my period on the right days but i started having a period every week. My mood changed, my sex drive just went away. I just don't know what to do because all of the other bc's i have tried just made me sick. what should i do?

I have been on this pill for about 3 months now and I absolutely love it. Have had no mood problems, a VERY light period lasting about 2 days each month and no weight gain. My face is actually looking better where as I had acne before and no issues with sex drive either. Maybe it's not just the pill itself but it depends on your body as well, and what you're more susceptible to. Just a thought.

OH BOY... ok so i have been on Loestrin 24fe for a little over a year. haha. for the first 6 months.. everything was fabulous!! no mood swings.. no bloating .. weight LOSS... no acne.. it was the happy pill! also.. i had absolutely NO periods at all!! no spotting.. bleeding.. cramps. nothing! it was great. then.. just recently.. in the past 4-5 months.. i have been tired all of the time! it seems like no amount of sleep will satisfy!! i could sleep all day and still be tired! sex drive has definitely taken a nose dive.. and the bad part about that is my bf and i have a long distance relationship.. we only see each other every few months!! so when i am w/ him.. what do you think i wanna do?! but the sex drive just isn't there! recently.. i have started to have random spotty periods even on the white pills. and that makes me crazy paranoid that i am pregnant or something else is wrong.. even though i have taken my pill by alarm daily! mood swings.. OH man.. depression up and down. one day i seem fine and motivated to live.. the next.. i hate my life.. i am confused and all i want to do is lay alone in bed and eat chocolate. it sucks. i was so weird out and thought i was all alone in this.. but in reading this website.. i am so glad that i am NOT the only one in HELL with this whole birth control pill crap!