I have been taking ortho tri cyclen for 4 years now.
Some of my friends have been on it, or are on it, and our response to it has been very variable. It really is a personal thing how one reacts to a particular birth control pill’s type of hormones and dosages of them.
Personally, I am very happy with it. Took rid of the little acne I had, made my periods light and painless, has worked wonderfully as birth control, didn’t make me gain any weight at all, except for some little weight in my breasts (but I am happy with that side effect). I haven’t experienced mood swings from it, nor any negative effect. The first weeks it made me a little nauseous, though, and I had some spotting for the first three months.
All and all, I am happy with it.