This is in reply to anonymous, cleveland. I know that if you don't have insurance and want the actual name brand ortho tri-cyclen it can be expensive if you don't have insurance. it's definitely over $50 a month (not sure what the exact number is) which is expensive to me. what i had to do is take a clone drug called tri-nessa which only costs $10 a month. it's made by the same ppl. as ortho tri-cyclen and has the exact makeup that ortho has but it is w/o the trademark name to lower the price. i don't know why they do that but that would be my suggestion for you. i don't know about yas

I would like to know, because I am seeing a gynocologist real soon, if I get prescribed BC, it doesn't have to be covered by insurance, does it? Actually, my insurance refuses to cover it. But I would like to know what the average cost for BC, especially Ortho Tri-cyclen, Yas,Yazmin because I am willing to pay for this myself.

I think that OrthoTriCyclen works okay to clear up acne, but if you truly have hormonal acne caused by high testosterone levels, you will need to do more than just take a BCP. I started OrthoTriCyclen as well as taking Sprinolactone which blocks the androgens (testosterone) that cause acne! It works so well! Ask your dermo for it...and best of luck!

I breakout before my period. This is the only thing that has worked (ortho-tri-cyclen reg.) It might help only if you have pre-menstural acne. If not, don't bother.

I have been on the ortho tri-cyclen since I was 17, I am 22 now. I have tried switching from the nuva ring birth control which gave me incredible cramps when it Wasn't the time of month, and the ortho tri-cyclen lo... which made me spot constantly between periods. Both times I went back, however I never noticed a change in my skin, I have always had oily T-Zone (forehead, nose- and cheek) acne! I recently purchased the 2 system clear skin regimen- of cleanser & B.P- gel. I have been using this product for about a month, only slight changes. As I research more it says about 3 months- I am still hanging in their, Waiting. Well, see... As far as a cheaper effective Birth Control. I go to my local Planned parent hood- and get it for $16/ month. I would recommend a regular birth control- no- low dosages though. And just read the articles on Benzoil Peroxide- And how to wash your face correctly. I would recommend the cleanser Its soft and I love it. I often find myself smiling as I wash my face if it doesn't sound corny enough! I have the small painful acne- its really silky gentle on my sore skin! Dont forget to Drink plenty of water to dilute the Oil in the first place.GOOD LUCK!!!!

I was on OTC Lo for about 9 months or so now and Im just switching to YAZ. I quit Orth because it all of a sudden threw my period off track I started my period a week and half earlier than I was suppose to. Talk to my Doc and he decided to put me on YAZ, I dont have bad acne just moderate depending on what I eat. So I was wondering if YAZ will make my acne even worse?
TIP: My acne use to be horrible till I stopped drinking Sodas, anything with alot of acid and sugar I slowed down on and I just drink water,milk and OJ and let me tell you it has helped. But like most women I want flawless skin.

So please let me know if you have any idea on rather YAZ may or may not interfere with my acne!
Thanks

After looking to this site for advice, I thought I would put my two cents in. I am now on my third pack of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo (after being off of it for eight months...no insurance, etc.) I started taking them again for b.c. and for moderate acne. OTC Lo had worked before for my acne, and I had very few side effects, so I decided to go with it again. The first two months my acne got worse (cystic type) and I was tempted to stop taking OTC Lo. But...my instincts told me skin was getting better and to wait a little longer. I did, and a month later my skin is great. I realized there were many other factors involved in my skin, including my cleansing regime, acne meds, weather, etc. I actually think the reason my skin got worse before getting better is because I started using benz. peroxide and the pimples were my skin "clearing out." My point is to urge people to trust their instincts, give the pills time to work, and look at all the factors in their problem with acne. I almost stopped taking OTC Lo because I read of so many women having problems with it and would have given up the best bc pill I have ever found (for me.) For ten years I took a bc pill that caused many problems for me, including depression. It makes me sad to think that other women out there are needlessly, and unknowingly, suffering all because of the wrong bc pill. Hang in there...

It is my 5th week on OTC. The Ist 2 weeks were ok. Then I suddendly started getting 1 or 2 hormonal acne during the 3rd week. The 4th week during the green pills were horrible. I had 20-25 pimples all over my chin & jaw line. The first 2 days of period were extremely heavy. Terrible mood swings, crying all the time. I never used to be like this before. My testosterone level is high so the doc said it will help my acne. But my acne is getting worst than ever. I just completed my 5th week & I have huge painful acne on my chin allready. Did anyone have similar reaction during the first 2 cycle which later went away. My doc wants me to be on OTC for 4-5 months before changing the bill. What should I do? Please e-mail me at [email address removed] if anyone had similar experience. And yes, I had flawless skin until I was 22 - 23 yrs & now I am 25. Please repond back your input will be very helpful...

Hi Laura,

I'm on Cilest as my doctor had actually done some research on it and found it was less hormonally damaging than third-generation contraceptives e.g. Yasmin (i can't remember the exact reason why, this was a while ago) and it has definitely helped. I haven't come off it yet since am too scared to (i have been on it now for 3 years- but it's useful for my boyfriend and I anyway). I would 100% recommend it as I have received no adverse side effects either! And, on the NHS, if you say you're using it as a contraceptive, rather than to clear up your skin, you get it free of charge! :)

hi, i was on the contraceptive pill yasmin for moe than 2 years, i have always suffered with acne since i was 15 (now nearly 20) but when i first went on yasmin i found it cleared up my skin awersomely...and continued to do so for about 18 months, but then i started to get breakouts round about last november again...it was really depressing me as i previously thought i finially found a remedy for my acne...but then i found my skin was getting really oily etc...and i tried everything to stop it...so i decided to come off yasmin as i thought thats what was mkaing my skin so oily. I decided to take antibiotics for ace as i previously did when i was 15 which clered up my acne better than yasmin....but they didnt work at all and just made my acne even worse...so i decided to go back to the doc's to see what they say about me going back on yasmin..they said yeah go ahead... so i waited for my period then started taking it about 3 weeks ago, and my acne has got even worse...ive had my period for 3 weeks too, i dot remember this happening before when i started taking yasmin...so im thinking about starting ortho tri-cyclen to clear up my acne... but from all your comments it doesnt sound like it is a very good acne clearing drug!! if anyone could recommend me on a pill that clears hormonal acne i would be delighted, im really upset at the mo looking back at photos of last summer when my skin was flawless, and that wasnt that long ago!! please help me if anyone can!! thaks for looking xxx