Alesse questions about side effects? - Birth Control Message Board

amberw22 · 08-28-2005, 11:03 PM

After battling acne for most of my life, It finally cleared up when my doc switched me to Loestrin (Microgestin) 1/20. The problem is that it killed my libido and my ability or orgasim. My doc just swiched me to Alesse b/c it has more male horomones but warned me that I will probably break out again. I've read a lot of people on this site say that they broke out on Alesse but I am wondering if anyone liked it (specifically in the skin and sex dept.). I don't know if it's even worth giving it a try. I just know that having no sex drive is putting a serious damper on being a newlywed. I know that every women reacts to BC differently, but I'm trying ot see if there is a trend here.

emmegirl85 · 08-28-2005, 11:54 PM

I'm one of those that totally hated Alesse, got off of it after a week, ya I know that there's the whole idea of staying on it for a few months but it was taking over my life. I got back on Nuvaring this month and it was clearing up my skin in the last week I had it in, and then I'm on my off week now, and I'm broken out, buut I think the hormones will be more sustained in a few months, it totally cleared up my skin when I was on it before and no problem with sex drive. Good luck.

babygirl2005_21 · 08-29-2005, 09:12 AM

Well my experience with Alesse was good and bad. I was on it for about 3 years and had totally flawless skin but I had no sex drive and I gained about 25 lbs. over that time (went from a size 6 to a size 12). It wasn't a sudden weight gain though like some women think that you take it for a week or two and suddenly you have gained 10 lbs. It is gradual. But I did work out and diet and nothing would move the weight it was like cement. Now I am on Yasmin and my skin is clear and no weight gain(back to my old size yay!) but no sex drive either.

glowxbabyxglow · 08-30-2005, 06:28 PM

i've been on alesse for almost 3 months now and i haven't really had any noticeable side effects at all.

which i guess is good. i haven't broken out at all and i haven't gained any wait...my sex drive is apparently still raging haha so that's good...my breasts have gotten bigger though, but i'm not complaining. i have however noticed myself being hungrier a lot more...maybe it's just that my eating habits are changing a little, i don't really know. i also seem to be really moody about the little stuff lately...again i don't know if that's alesse or just the stress in my life right now. has anyone else had these side effects?

in any case, i guess it really just depends on the person and their own personal reaction to alesse. hope everything works out for you though.