Anyone take EstroStep?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2005
Anyone take EstroStep?
6
Mon, 09-04-2006 - 11:29pm
My doctor just put me on EstroStep. I wanted to be on BC for my acne. I have never been on BC and should start it next Sunday. I was wondering if anyone here had been on EstroStep and how they liked it. Did you have any side effects?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-16-2005
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 1:28am
I was on Estrostep FE for two years. My side effects were: MAJOR hair loss, weight gain, shorter periods, and depression. The hair loss started right away. I used to have very thick hair, so the thinning wasn't noticable for a long time. After I went off of it, the shedding slowed way down. While on it, I gained 15 lbs in the first five months. It doesn't seem like much, but i was overweight to begin with before taking it. I had been exercising (mostly cardio) four or five days a week. I might have been eating a tiny bit more, not sure. However, all that exercise should have offset that. The weight gain was fat, not muscle. I went from a size 12 to a 16. I think this pill must have really slowed my metabolism. After the five months, the weight finally came off. As for the depression, it was every month, a week before my period, like clockwork. That didn't happen before going on this pill, so I know that's what it was from. This happened every month for just about the entire time I was on it, and ceased immediately upon stopping it. In my opinion, this is a nasty pill. But, I'm very sensitive to side effects (even the rare ones). However, I really think that there are much better pills out there than this one. Also, I would think that a monophasic pill, with the same level of hormones all month (such as Ovcon-35), would be a better pill for the skin than a triphasic one where the hormone levels change throughout the month. Sorry so long, but I just wanted to give you some information that the doctors don't often tell you.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2006
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 1:25pm

My sister takes EstroStep (has been for almost 9 months) and has had no problems with it. She is very active and hasn't put on weight... although I think in the beginning her appetite increased a lot. But that was temporary. She says she doesn't think it's really changed her at all. Her skin is very clear, although she didn't have terrible acne before. Overall, she thinks it's a great pill. I've never been on it, but I've been on others that I reacted badly to, and now I am on one that works great (so far). Plenty of pills work out really well for some women, and awfully for others. And all pills come with these possible side effects, so it is good to be aware of them. Ultimately I think it comes down to the individual's body-chemistry and how it reacts. I would definitely encourage you to try it, and just be aware of the changes you go through. If your body doesn't like it, then stop and try another pill.

On EstroStep's website, they do say that it may improve acne -- although a lot of birth control pills make that claim. Again, it's a specific reaction: some people get worse acne on the pill. Just like some people end up gaining weight, while others lose weight, and others don't have any change. As far as triphasic vs. monophasic pills go, I don't know if that particularly makes a difference. Ortho Tri-Cyclen is the only pill that has been "clinically proven" to treat acne (but that simply means they spent the money to do a trial, plenty of pills can serve this purpose) -- and that is a triphasic pill. Also, I think the estrogen in the pill tends to counteract the androgynous effects of progestin (such as acne). This is a triphasic pill with increasing estrogen, which may prove beneficial. It also has a progestin (norethrindrone acetate) with a reasonably low potency. This is mostly just conjecture on what I've read about birth control, but I think it's worth trying this pill out. It might work out great for you.

Good Luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2006
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 3:28pm

I just wanted to add: the triphasic vs. monophasic issue might not have much to do with acne (I really don't know though), but if you are concerned with mood swings, typically the first suggestion is to try a monophasic pill.

Since you have the prescription from your doctor for this pill, and you didn't mention any prior issues with hormonal birth control or depression, I still say to try it, though (plenty of people do absolutely fine on triphasic pills). I just wanted to be as clear as I could...

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2006
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 4:30pm
Estrostep was awful for me! i put on weight-only a few pounds, but i don't have room for a few extra pounds on top of the several extra i already had. It did not help my cramps at all-though nothing has. But the absolute worst was the mood swings. I came so close to really losing friends during the 6 months i was on it. If i wasn't miserable and depressed, I was very mean, angry and cranky. I didn't even want to be around myself. For my mental health I had to stop.
I know it is different for different people, but I wanted to shoare my experience.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 6:29pm
Hey there...i'm on estrostep too and i know that most pills do not work if you're over 150lbs..and i am overweight and on the pill....the past 3 or 4 days i've woken up nauseous...was sick saturday night (stomach acid..acid reflux kinda) ...and had a honkin for steak last night...i eat steak once in a very blue moon...been kinda tired too...bf and i had sex on the 8th,11th and 15th day of my cycle...think it's possible i'm PG?
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 6:32pm
ooo forgot to mention that last month i missed alot on the last week..ws taking 2 pills a day for like a week...happend the first week of this month too...still nauseous and today is day 17 of my cycle...any help?