Spotting On Loestrin Vs. Lo Loestrin (Top voted first)

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Hi, all- So the general rule of thumb I've always known is the lower the dose, the higher the chance of spotting/breakthrough bleeding. However, my doctor advised me that LO loestrin might actually lessen the change of intermenstrual bleeding because at a certain point, the dose gets so low that the lining of the uterus doesn't build up sufficiently for any bleeding to occur at all. My question: has anyone had experience with taking both Loestrin and Lo Loestrin? Did you experience, more, less, or the same amount of spotting/breakthrough bleeding between periods? I totally trust my doctor, yet I'm somehow reluctant to try lest it get even worse... Thanks! M

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56

I have been on Lo loestrin fe for a little over a year now. I have been on loestrin fe also. Loestrin fe was good I had normal periods. Now that I'm on lo loestrin fe I haven't had one period. I take the active pills every three months. The doc said that's okay to do! They reccamend it! Of course I randomly have period symptoms and some spotting but I just double up for a day or two and I'm good to go! Overall I can't complain to much about lo lo!

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51

I am on my 5th month on Lo Loestrin and have been bleeding about 75% of the time. I get my period about 2 weeks before I'm supposed to, according to the pills, have a few clear days, and then again I'm bleeding when I'm actually supposed to be. The time when I'm not supposed to be is more like a dark discharge, but it's constant. Up to at least 10 days, if not more. Then my period feels like a period. I've also experienced sever mood swings, but I'm also highly stressed because I jsut opened a business so I don't know if I can blame that on the pill. However, it's been 5 months and I've spent a very long time bleeding. If it doesn't stop next month, I'm going to have to change my pill, AGAIN. (I first started taking Lo Loestrin because I was breaking through my Tri Cyclen Lo generic.)

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1

My 15 yr old daughter had heavy bleeding and started bc to stop . She continued with heavy break through bleeding for 20 more days then it stopped. Now for two months great! Very little periods and no side effects. Hang in there with Lo Loestrin Fe. Body needs to clean out first.

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57

I'm switching to loestrin from lo loestrin. I have been in lo loestin for 3 months and I haven't had a period at all. I had mood swings the first 2 months. I have felt a few cramps during the active week but no bleeding. Just curious if anyone is taking the loestrin and how it is.

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6

I switched from Loestrin 24 fe to Lo loestrin fe. I took loestrin for about a year & only noticed break through when I fist started. I`ve been on lo loestrin for about a month and at first it was spottingfor the first 2-3 weeks. Now, It`s pretty normal.

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9

Back to report that my 13 year old finished 1 pack of the
Lo Loestrin Fe which was extremely bad in terms of the constant bleeding and severe cramping (which is why she was prescribed the pill in the first place). She has since been put on Loestrin for the higher dose of progesterone and so far, she has had minimal breakthrough bleeding with significantly less cramps!
She has just started a 2nd pack of Loestrin and for the first time since the Lo Loestrin saga, she is not bleeding!
I'm so glad that the Loestrin is working better for her and cannot wait to see even better results as her body gets used to it - better results meaning fewer mentrual days and less cramping!

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13

I went on here to find out the same thing. I have been on Lo Loestrin since March and only got my period the first month! I have taken preg tests since and all negative. Makes me nervous though and was wondering if it was normal. I haven't had any irregular mood swings on this pill, but have gained a little weight. Thinking of switching. Any suggestions??

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37

Hi:
I am on my third month of lo loestrin. My dr. had originally put me on loestrin fe for very heavy, very irregular periods (I am 39 years old, started when I was 11). I have always been very regular with severe cramps, vomiting, fainting, and diarrhea during periods, sometimes requiring hospitalization. In the last 5 years or so the cramps have eased up considerably (I still needed advil every month for about a day), but they got very irregular and I started feeling pregnant every month (I am not even sexually active!). Also super heavy flow, changing super plus tampons every couple of hours! I was on loestrein fe for two months and it was wonderful. But I work for a religious organization, and my ins does not cover bc. So my dr switched me to lo loestrin so he could give me samples. Three months into it and I have a moderate period in the middle of cycle, mild cramping, and passing really weird dark clots. ??? Emotionally I've been up and down (but that has been a constant problem with me, bc or no bc). Should I keep on with this pill?? It's kind of a pain spotting and spotting, and I'd like to think it will stop eventually.

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12

I've been on lo loestrin fe a month and a half now. I have had the opposite- I haven't had any spotting, and I also haven't had my period! I don't know if it is because my periods were light to begin with, but my ob gyn said that I might never get a period with lo loestrin fe, and that not having a period was a really common side effect! I have also not had any side effects- no moodiness, nausea, etc. Has anyone else had the no period thing from lo loestrin fe though? It's just really weird!

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15

My bleeding has continued to be irregular on this pill, essentially bleeding when I shouldn't and NOT bleeding when I'm supposed to. Go figure. Because the spotting ceased when I was supposed to have my normal period, my doctor did a pregnancy test just to be sure, all the while assuring me that it was quite normal to experience amenorrhea (lack of periods) on this pill. The literature that comes with the pill states the same. In conclusion, no need to worry too much about missed periods if take your pills on time and pregnancy tests come back negative, but if you would find it reassuring to have a monthly period and/or you are experiencing other bothersome side effects, you should talk to your doctor about other options. Good luck finding the right fit!

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30

Normal periods as they would be without birth control while taking loestrin. On lo loestrin spotting with the first month, second month was light and very short, 3 days, and on the third month I had no period or bleeding at all. Hope that helps!

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32

I read this thread because I was worried about the same issues. I went to the gyn for the first time in August and he gave me a prescription for Lo Loestrin Fe. I have been taking it for about six months now. I have no side effects at all except for amenorrhea (no period). I had my period on the first pack exactly when I was supposed to. The second pack, it didn't come at all. The third pack, I had it randomly. I have not had my period at all for the past three packs. I am about to begin my seventh pack and I was very concerned since I have not had my period in months. I read the fine print on the back of the prescription and looked it up on a bunch of websites online. There is not much information about amenorrhea while on the pill, which freaked me out even more. I feel better about it now that I have read all these posts though. I'm glad to know that this is a common side effect. I was debating whether or not I should make an appointment with the doctor but I probably won't now after reading these posts. I don't mind not having a period, I just didn't want something to be wrong with me. I like this pill since I haven't had any other symptoms and would like to stay on it.

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35

I am currently on Lo Loestrin Fe and I want to delay my period (in anticipation of going on a religious pilgrimage). My doctor started me on the pills 2 months early so that my body can adjust to them and I experienced spotting during the 2nd week of my first pack for 8 days and then everything seemed normal. However, when it came to the end of the pack, my doctor instructed my to take the white pills and skip only the brown pills and on the second day of the white pill (before starting on a new pack), I had light bleeding. When I travel for the pilgrimage in a month, I want to make sure NO bleeding happens whatsoever - does this mean that for the next pack, I should skip all the 4 white AND brown pills and start a new pack. Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

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43

I actually have never used Loestrin but I have been on Lo Loestrin for several months and I have spotted between every one of my periods so far. Im getting to a point where Im going to ask my doctor for a different prescription because the spotting is so annoying its almost like Im ALWAYS on a light flow period. I can't speak for anyone else but Im done with lo Loestrin

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7

Original poster here - thanks so much for sharing all your thoughts and experiences! I finally got the nerve to try Lo Loestrin after a lousy experience with Loestrin (mood swings, depression, spotting.) I started on Day 1, which cut my period way short and lightened it substantially, which I welcome. I haven't had any spotting at all in the week or so since. This is great, but from experience, it is often later in my cycle or in the second month that the spotting/mood issues begin, so I will update again if I experience any side effects. Fingers crossed as always that this might finally be "the one." Otherwise, it's IUD time for me.
Best,
M

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10

Thanks for the update, Anita! That's really good news. Hope it continues to improve for her.

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19

Thanks M and everyone else for your contributions. I've been on Lo Loestrin for 4 months now and haven't had any bleeding. I still get other symptoms of a period when finishing the brown tablets such as bloating, PMT, fatigue, etc. But no bleeding. I was starting to become concerned however from reading everyone's posts it seems to be a common side effect for this pill. I had a normal period every month while taking my old pill. I only changed because I moved to the US earlier this year and cannot buy my old pill anymore.

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21

I was originally on LoEstrin about a year and a half ago and I really loved it. I had NO side effects. My periods were extremely regular (I starting taking for birth control but also because I had very very irregular periods). I had to go off the pills for a few months because of a health insurance issue, so I asked my doc about LoLoEstrin. He gave me trial packs and a prescription. I started late April and I HATE these pills. I have breakthrough bleeding randomly during some months and then some months I missed my period all together. I have nausea, which thankfully went down, weight gain, and ridiculous fatigue. I don't know if it's just me but the lower dose is not always better.

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40

I'm experiencing the exact same thing.

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46

i started taking Lo Loestrin fe 3 weeks ago. i started lightly to moderatly bleeding 3 days ago. i have felt bloated and crampy the is whole last week... like im on my period. my mood has been on the more angry side as well. i am usually a very constant happy/ laid back person, so i can def tell when something isnt right. i took yasmin for years and i never had a bleeding problem, but it did take me a few months for my mood to adjust.... im giving it a few more days of this bleeding before i call the doctor.

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