"i&#039;ve been on alesse for about 3 years including the time i decided to have mirena put in (then promptly removed a month later) and tried the patch for about a month. neither mirena or the evra patch, despite how easy they are to use, compared to alesse. i also tried triceclyn lo for about 6 months, but my doctor switched me to alesse after i complained of stomach cramps and constant bloating, which alesse seemed to fix. the pros: no weight gain, no facial acne, no weird side effects like unwanted hair growth, no pregnancies and a period that is fairly short, light and always on time. the cons: acne on my back, mood swings and depression, low sex drive, and quite painful menstrual cramps. overall, i like it and would recommend."