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3.6 Overall Rating

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Most voted positive review

31 People found this comment helpful

Every birth control pill is different. Seriously. I have been on 3 different types of birth control pills and all three gave me different reactions. Everyone reacts differently to each different pill. I have researched horror stories on every pill that I've ever been on, and each time it's the same, "OH IT'S POISON!". Blah, blah, blah. This was really frustrating for me, as a woman, to try t...

Most voted negative review

10 People found this comment helpful

This drug is horrible, i advise ANYONE to steer clear of this Birth Control, it has given me DISFIGURING acne on my shoulders, chest, back and face. I was extremely depressed on the pill. I just wanted to die from the acne. I contimplated suicide. Im off of the drug now, but obviously im left with the horrible acne, which i now think is getting worse from having to adjust back to my regular hormon...

Shared reviews and ratings

Aubree | 19-24 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
1/15/2024
Condition: Birth Control
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Honestly after all the horrible reviews and things i heard i was terrified of going on this brand. It’s my first time taking any kind of birth control btw. I would say even with all the negative stuff, give it a try, you can always get off of it if it’s not right for you. i experienced pretty bad nausea the first few days as well as extreme headaches, after that i was fine. i’m completely fine now, a few headaches after the off week when i get back on but there’s manageable with advil. I had spotting the first month on it right before my period but never happened again. So overall this birth control has worked for me and i feel totally fine and the same as i did before. I recommend giving it a week or so to adjust because the first week is roughy. Read More Read Less

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terribledrug | 13-18 | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
10/29/2023
Condition: Painful Periods
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have nothing but bad things to say about this drug. It caused acne, depression, weight gain, nausea, migraines, the list goes on. Did I mention I got off of it in 2018 and I’m still having some of these symptoms? (It’s almost 2024). If you want to risk the pain I’ve endured, go for it, but I highly suggest going with a different brand.

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Anonymous | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
9/2/2023
Condition: Painful Periods
Overall rating 1.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I've never felt so awful in my life. I had crippling mood swings and cried for hours daily. I've had terrible headaches and have had extremely bad cramps in my legs and feet. I didn't even feel like myself anymore. I couldn't recommend this terrible nedication to my worst enemy.

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Savannah | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
6/11/2023
Condition: Birth Control
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Two things i love about this pill, my boobs are bigger and it gives me peace of mind regarding protection. Gained weight on it but that was to be expected. Took me a while to except that but i have to realise im in my 30s now and I'm.not a teenager size anymore anyway lol I'm focusing more on the positive because I feel we don't see as many ; my skin is clear, my periods are regulated, way less painful (I used to pass out from cramps) and its really easy and convenient to use!

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Anonymous | 19-24 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
2/23/2023
Condition: Birth Control
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

gave me the worst migraines i’ve ever had in my life, felt like my head was about to explode

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Somebody | 13-18 | Other | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
1/1/2023
Condition: Painful Periods
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I'm 14 and I've been on it a little over a year, I use it to regulate hormones, I cannot speak on the effectiveness of preventing pregnancy but it has shown mostly good results in making me capable of functioning on my period, it used to be cramps nausea and dizziness to the point I couldn't get off the floor and now I believe I have a pretty easy time with it, I haven't noticed too many mood issues other than the usual puberty type things and they've been less since starting, I just see a lot of negative reviews because you only come here and comment when it's an issue, so I'm just leaving this here for some contrastRead More Read Less

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freckle95 | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
12/1/2022
Condition: Birth Control
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I used Alesse for about 5 months before switching. The only side effect I had was breakthrough bleeding that would start halfway through my pill pack and wouldn't stop until I started my next month. Which is why my doctor recommended I switch to a pill with more estrogen. I'm now trying Freya (Marvelon).

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Amanda | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
9/18/2022
Condition: Birth Control
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Well it worked as birth control but made me extremely depressed. I never felt suicidal until I was on this pill.

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Anonymous | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
8/6/2022
Condition: Birth Control
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

My experience on this pill was HORRIBLE. I was depressed, constantly bloated, so fatigued I could barely make it through the day, sleeping very long hours and still tired. I had bad headaches like never before and a tingling in my right cheek and pain behind my right eye- ps. I’ve left the pill and the tingling and depression from the pill still has not gone and I’m afraid it may take a while. I read some horrible reviews online and thought I would give it a try anyway because every ones experience is their own but honestly mine was awful! And similar to ones I had read. Also all I would do is cry it made me really emotional and dull I felt as if I had a grey cloud over my head I couldn’t think clearly and I am normally so full of life and loving however this made me extremely moody and introverted I just wanted to stay in and stay in bed all day it was horrible I had to go off it and the side effects are still with me. Read More Read Less

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M | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
6/27/2022
Condition: Birth Control
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Honestly, I feel like a lot of people don't grasp that it's not just this particular birth control that causes adverse mental health effects and weight gain, and a bunch of other not-so-great side effects. It's just birth control in general. I had a horrible time with a hormonal IUD so I removed it and my doc gave me this cause it's low in estrogen. Honestly, it's doing exactly what I expect. I am generally as good as one can get when they are on birth control. Everyone needs different amounts of hormones and I just happen to like the lower dose. Figure out what's best for you before deciding that this one birth control, in particular, is the worst thing to ever exist. It works great for me. I still get cramps and headaches around my period as I always have, I still have a bit of stress/hormonal acne, and yeah I'm bigger than I was when I was 16 and starting birth control for the first time but all of that is okay. Keep consulting a medical professional and figure out your own needs/wants for contraceptive methods. Maybe birth control just isn't working for you if you feel like it ruined your life. Stop taking it and find other methods. Same as any other medication that is tailored to the user - try a different type, different dose, different method that works for you. Read More Read Less

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Anna | 13-18 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
6/23/2022
Condition: Painful Periods
Overall rating 2.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Although I had no period and therefore no side effects from a period, the pill was awful. My mental health was ruined and I gained sooo much weight. I am getting an IUD soon so hopefully that works. I also heard from some people that the Lolo pill or mini pills are better for weight gain and mental health.

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Rachel | 19-24 | Female | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
6/15/2022
Condition: Absence of Menstrual Periods
Overall rating 2.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I experienced horrendous depression, weight loss, I would breakout in hives, zero libito, regular headaches, nausea, painful acne, made my PCOS flare ups even worse and more frequent then they were previous to getting on the pill, and the start of a blood clot in one of my legs. This pill almost killed me. I was one it for about 6 months, and it has taken me over a year for my body to recover from the synthetic hormones they use for “the pill”. My doctor wrote me a prescription with minimal consultation. I would suggest getting into a in-depth convo with your doctor, about all possible out comes, even if it’s “rare” or “highly uncommon”. I learned that the hard way after trusting my doctor, and having to read the fine print of side effects written in the little pamphlet in the box. Please do your own homework on side effects, effectiveness on a birth control your interested in taking, even get a second doctors opinion to play it safe to what will work with your body.Read More Read Less

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Tania | 35-44 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
6/2/2022
Condition: Birth Control
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have tried taking this pill three times already. Every time I take it my mood changes drastically. I get very depressed, and sad and anxious. This is my Last month as I will be getting an IUD. Please stay away from this pill, the psychological side effects are very bad.

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Bee | 19-24 | Female | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
5/20/2022
Condition: Other
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I was on another birth control that had the hormone percentage go up every week and it ruined my mood. My doctor prescribed this one for me and it fixed my moods. I get some cramping during the ovulation week but besides that, every thing else has been good.

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Anonymous | 35-44 | Female | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
5/16/2022
Condition: Birth Control
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I was on Alesse for 10 years and it ruined my life. I attempted suicide multiple times while on Alesse and thought I was a chronically depressed person. Then I moved and wasn’t able to renew my prescription then everything changed. After getting off Alesse I became a completely different person no longer depressed or unmotivated. I suddenly had a zest for life and was able to get a promotion at work and leave my terrible relationship. The doctor that originally prescribed me Alesse didn’t tell me about the psychological side effects and I had no idea that all that suffering was caused by birth control. I am so grateful that I wasn’t able to fulfill my prescription that day. I’ve been using condoms and tracking my periods ever since and haven’t had any difficulties preventing pregnancy. Read More Read Less

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Anonymous | 19-24 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
3/19/2022
Condition: Abnormal Bleeding from the Uterus
Overall rating 2.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Worked well for about 4 years then began to have breakthrough bleeding and constant spotting for several months. No diagnosis could be made other than ineffective birth control as I underwent several months of testing for endometriosis and found nothing.

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CJ | 13-18 | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years |
3/12/2022
Condition: Birth Control
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Never had any problems with Alysena 28 for the past two years now. Felt some mood changes at first but that is normal I believe. Never had a serious pregnancy scare.

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Mac | 13-18 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
11/29/2021
Condition: Painful Periods
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Yea it made my cramps a bit less painful but its not worth it it made me go crazy i was so depressed and my personality completely changed i was unrecognizable and so so sad

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Anon | 19-24 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
10/13/2021
Condition: Birth Control
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

i was on Alesse for a full year and it was wonderful. it cleared my acne, i didn't have any side effects, however after a bout a year my PMS got so bad i would get horrible leg cramps that kept me up at night, severely ill with nausea, it made my anxiety disorder 100x worse and overall super depressed. coming off Alesse i had serious clarity. I'm not trying Marvala and hoping to see better results. But Alesse ruined my life to say the least.

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Anonymous | 13-18 | Other | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
7/7/2021
Condition: Abnormally Long or Heavy Periods
Overall rating 2.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

This birth control is horrible. I do NOT recommend it. It made me extremely depressed and suicidal. I was on it for many months and it didn't help my long heavy periods whatsoever.

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