"my doctor placed me on ortho tri-cyclen lo back in march. however, my insurance didn&#039;t cover it and i was given the generic brand (same dosage). i&#039;ve been taking the pills for about 5 months and i&#039;m satisfied overall. i am sexually active, but i usually use a condom as well. the pills have made my period very predictable, and i know that i will get my period the same day i take the 3rd green pill. the pills have also made my breasts a bit larger and more tender. my first period on the pill, i had horrific cramps, way worse than any i had ever experienced. since then, my cramping has slowly subsided and gets less painful every month. my flow is actually heavier than it was when i was off the pill. tylenol works better than ibuprofen for me."