Treating Hormonal A...
 
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Treating Hormonal Acne Naturally

 
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(@elejj)

Posted : 03/13/2009 12:09 pm

I do not know what to do ... the only thing that helped my skin was Yasmin(BCP) I stopped one year ago to try natural supplements and everthing, everything I tried gave me more acne.

I've tried:

-zinc

-Dim

-Flaxseed

-O3

 

And all are antiandrogens! What I have to do?? I'm lost and thinking to come back to BCP.

PD.: Sorry for my english!

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(@pennypickle)

Posted : 03/23/2009 3:16 pm

I wanted to give an update on my crusade to cure acne the natural way. My skin is looking MUCH better than when I first posted in January. Currently, I'm not on any prescription medication or birth control. I think that most prescription medications, birth control pills, and antibiotics are poisoning our bodies!

 

I started using Vitex (chaste berry) in a 80mg dose and it has done wonders for balancing my hormonal acne. I had not had a period in 6 months and within 30 days of taking Vitex, my period was back...and I did not break out before it started. I think Vitex is my new $6 miracle-in-a-bottle. Hopefully it will regulate my cycle to occur monthly.

 

In the morning I take:

 

Probiotic (for mild lactose intolerance)

Fish oil supplement

80 mg Vitex

 

In the evening I take:

 

Multi-vitamin (called Naturally Clear)

Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc Supplement

 

I use Alpha Hydrox products and they have done wonders for my oily, sensitive skin. It also helps curb the early wrinkles around the eyes and mouth (I'm 28 years old).

 

I also avoid gluten, dairy, and sugar. Lots of water - NO SODA! I believe that my avoidance of dairy has helped my skin clear the most. I cheated one night and ate queso. By the next morning I had small, white pimples appear on my chin.

 

I also walk 30 minutes (sometimes an hour) 3 times a week and I believe it has helped my skin clear.

 

I hope this info helps someone out there...CHEERS!

 

 

 

 

 

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(@ecofashionista)

Posted : 04/15/2009 9:27 pm

All clear!!!

 

I am happy to report that I have been 99% acne free for the last three weeks. Unfortunately, this has not been due to the natural regimen though. While I'm disappointed I couldn't treat my acne in a completely natural way, I am so happy when I feel and see how much healthier my skin is.

 

In mid-March I started using some of my old products that I had given up on and now my skin is impressively clear. I hate to say it but I think some of the herbal products I was using were making my skin even worse. I stopped taking herbal supplements and stopped using ACV topically and the results have been great.

 

I now use 2x day:

Phisoderm acne face wash (pH balanced)

Clearasil pads (with salicylic acid)

Walgreens brand scar gel (it's like Mederma, I love this stuff)

Cetaphil lotion with jojoba oil mixed in or Neutrogena AHA/SPF15 lotion with jojoba

 

I still choose tea tree oil as a spot treatment instead of 2.5% B.P. for the occasional zit (maybe one per week) because it is much less harsh. And I am still drinking a small shot of apple cider vinegar with water almost everyday and taking the following vitamins:

 

Fish Oil

Vitamin C

Vitamin B

Women's Multi

Zinc

 

I am happy to hear that some people have had luck with Vitex/Chaste Tree Berry but I think that was the biggest contributor to my acne NOT improving. After a few couple of months on it I felt the same bad side effects that I had when I was on birth control. A soon as I stopped taking it I felt better and my skin started to look better. I haven't had one major breakout since I stopped taking Vitex and the Dermal Health Blend.

 

Anyway, I don't know if it is anything I am doing or not doing with my skin, but I think my body is finally back in its balance and that's the important thing. I am back to having one zit at a time, if any, which hasn't been the case since last October. I feel confident that my skin will be free of red marks within a year. I'm going to try adding the recommended flax seed to my diet to see how that helps my skin tone. The Mederma gel is definitely helping.

 

To cover the red marks (while they take their sweet time fading) I am using Tarte Clean Slate primer (eco-friendly brand) under my Clinique foundation and it really helps my makeup go on nicely and it feels velvety smooth. For the few areas that need extra help I use Maybelline's Mineral Concealer. I also invested in a really nice foundation brush from Benefit and the difference is incredible. I would recommend all four of those products to anyone that needs good coverage.

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(@runnergirl14)

Posted : 04/19/2009 12:01 am

im happy to hear your all clear (ecofashionista)

im thinking about taking

vitamin A

multivitamin (b complex and C)

and zinc.

i hope this works for me.

im also taking pills for my hypothyroidism which i have

no clue if its going to help ( its suppose to help regulate

hormones).

wish me luck! :)

 

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(@ecofashionista)

Posted : 04/20/2009 12:16 pm

im happy to hear your all clear (ecofashionista)

im thinking about taking

vitamin A

multivitamin (b complex and C)

and zinc.

i hope this works for me.

im also taking pills for my hypothyroidism which i have

no clue if its going to help ( its suppose to help regulate

hormones).

wish me luck! :)

 

I am taking vitamin's B, C and Zinc and I think they are great in terms of my overall health. Once I start running out of each one, I'll probably see the effects (if any) of the individual vitamins on my skin.

 

Make sure to eat something before you take the zinc!

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(@ecofashionista)

Posted : 05/14/2009 2:17 pm

I've swapped out one thing from my routine. Rather than using the harsh Clearasil pads (I ran out, and didn't like them that much anyway), I started using an S.A. gel. I started with Juice Beauty serum free sample from sephora and LOVED it. I am currently using Murad's gel because I had some leftover from when I used the whole system. It is almost gone so I'm going to get the Juice Beauty brand. It's just very gentle, organic and feels good for my skin rather than like medicine.

 

I also got a new tube of the walgreens brand scar gel and it is working a million times better than the old tube I had (it was like, 5 years old...so no surprise there).

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(@mellieh)

Posted : 05/20/2009 7:45 pm

This is great information, and encouraging. I am struggling with my skin, and have had problems off & on since puberty, but especially since going off BCP about 5 years ago (I'm 35). I have tried everything and have been on spiro for about 18 mos. now, but am not happy with it.

 

I am taking notes on your successes and will visit my health store asap! My diet is the opposite for what you're recommending, too! :( I will check back soon.

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(@sushi)

Posted : 05/28/2009 9:06 pm

sounds like people just need to mix and match vitamins/supplements until they find the combination that works for them. my acne is similar, and although it's not severe, it's almost *always* cysts, making the problem very hard to ignore.

 

i went off yasmin in april 2008, and took vitex (chasteberry, agnus castus) in the liquid form for like 8 months, with no difference in my skin or my hormones (cycle still hasn't regulated). i'm going abroad very soon, too, which complicates finding remedies and such. sigh. i hope people keep updating this!

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(@ecofashionista)

Posted : 06/01/2009 1:02 pm

sounds like people just need to mix and match vitamins/supplements until they find the combination that works for them. my acne is similar, and although it's not severe, it's almost *always* cysts, making the problem very hard to ignore.

 

i went off yasmin in april 2008, and took vitex (chasteberry, agnus castus) in the liquid form for like 8 months, with no difference in my skin or my hormones (cycle still hasn't regulated). i'm going abroad very soon, too, which complicates finding remedies and such. sigh. i hope people keep updating this!

 

I really did not like vitex. I was hoping to find a great remedy in that but I think it made my skin worse and prolonged my big breakout. My hormones finally seemed to be back "in whack" after six months but I think it would have taken less time if I had not taken the chaste berry herbal supplement. Just two weeks after stopping vitex my skin cleared up. Coincidence? I doubt it.

 

If it has been a year since you stopped birth control, your hormones should be pretty much at their natural level (my doctor cousin told me it could take 6-12 months). For me, back to normal means a few big cysts every once in a while (pre- and post-period). I have found that getting some sun on my face before my period keeps them from getting really bad. Not a lot of sun, but spending a little extra time outside (with SPF, of course) helps me.

 

I don't know where you are going abroad but a different climate might even help your skin! I had problems when I first went to Argentina but after a couple of weeks (and intense moisturizing) my skin was actually great there. If you are attached to any products, bring them with you--better safe than sorry. Vitamins can be annoying to get in foreign countries too. For example, in Spain I could get STRONG cold medicine with no prescription but I needed one for a calcium supplement.

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(@ecofashionista)

Posted : 06/01/2009 1:16 pm

This is great information, and encouraging. I am struggling with my skin, and have had problems off & on since puberty, but especially since going off BCP about 5 years ago (I'm 35). I have tried everything and have been on spiro for about 18 mos. now, but am not happy with it.

 

I am taking notes on your successes and will visit my health store asap! My diet is the opposite for what you're recommending, too! :( I will check back soon.

 

I am so glad this can be encouraging to you!

 

I struggled a lot with this and am finally seeing my skin start to look like it did a year ago. I think the biggest thing for me was to get off all of the hormonally charged medications/herbal supplements. I just let my body get back to it's own natural balance, which does include a few zits per month unfortunately. I take vitamins to help metabolize excess hormones, but spiro and vitex and birth control mess with that stuff too much for my body to handle. It took about 6 months, so I did have to be patient and it did suck. It's worth it though, knowing that I won't have to go through such a crazy hormonal change again...at least until I get pregnant, I guess. :)

 

I highly recommend the zinc (good for breakouts), vitamin c (good for healing), vitamin b complex (good for mood, metabolizing hormones, energy) and fish oil. They have so many benefits aside from helping the skin.

 

I also still can't believe how well the salicylic acid serum and the scar gel work too. I never thought I'd see my red marks fade this fast.

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(@alternativista)

Posted : 06/01/2009 5:46 pm

I struggled a lot with this and am finally seeing my skin start to look like it did a year ago. I think the biggest thing for me was to get off all of the hormonally charged medications/herbal supplements. I just let my body get back to it's own natural balance, which does include a few zits per month unfortunately.

 

Yeah. Doing things that directly mess with your hormones can make things worse. I've seen a lot of posts from a lot of people who've gotten worse from saw palmetto, DIM, vitex, even flax seed because of the phytoestrogens. It's difficult to know what the imbalance really is. If it was easy, doctors wouldn't prescribe BCPs by trial and error. Much better to help your body balance itself.

 

Glad you continue to improve.

 

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(@sushi)

Posted : 06/07/2009 3:33 pm

I really did not like vitex. I was hoping to find a great remedy in that but I think it made my skin worse and prolonged my big breakout. My hormones finally seemed to be back "in whack" after six months but I think it would have taken less time if I had not taken the chaste berry herbal supplement. Just two weeks after stopping vitex my skin cleared up. Coincidence? I doubt it.

 

If it has been a year since you stopped birth control, your hormones should be pretty much at their natural level (my doctor cousin told me it could take 6-12 months). For me, back to normal means a few big cysts every once in a while (pre- and post-period). I have found that getting some sun on my face before my period keeps them from getting really bad. Not a lot of sun, but spending a little extra time outside (with SPF, of course) helps me.

 

I don't know where you are going abroad but a different climate might even help your skin! I had problems when I first went to Argentina but after a couple of weeks (and intense moisturizing) my skin was actually great there. If you are attached to any products, bring them with you--better safe than sorry. Vitamins can be annoying to get in foreign countries too. For example, in Spain I could get STRONG cold medicine with no prescription but I needed one for a calcium supplement.

 

i haven't taken any supplements for 6-7 months now, and my skin has only gotten steadily worse. it would be so much better if i only had to deal with a few zits per month. since this is pretty much my hormones at their natural level, i'm actually pretty convinced i have PCOS, indicating a sort of fundamental female hormonal problem. (4 of the main symptoms apply to me.)

 

i'm bringing my skincare products with me when i go abroad, although they're no miracle cure i think the situation would be much worse without them.

 

i have no choice but to try and attack this internally as well as topically, so right now i'm using paula's choice BHA 2% liquid and blemish fighting solution (which is a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream) as my main acne fighters.

 

i also ordered estrotone (no hormones, despite what the name sounds like), and i will keep people updated. it's technically for menopause, but i've heard it does good things for overall hormonal balance and that's definitely what i need.

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(@tatiglass)

Posted : 10/28/2009 3:22 pm

Your story sounds very similar to mine. I have been suffering from acne since I was a teenager (I'm now 32) and in the last few years it has worsened. I link the worsening to trying, unsuccessfully, to go off birth control in 2004. I went back on birth control and then tried all the routine treatments derms recommend--antibiotics, differin, etc. Though going back on bc helped and at times my face cleared, nothing worked as well as I wanted it to and when my skin was bad, it was really bad. Mostly, I was experiencing large, painful cystic acne--both on my face and my back. Last month I became completely fed up with prescription meds and tried the natural route. After just a few weeks, I am seeing amazing results. My skin has never looked better! I can't say the exact cause of the improvements, but here's what I'm doing:

 

*No gluten

*No sugar (I eat lots of fruit and cheat some with raw honey though)

*Only goat and sheep dairy products (I do cheat some with this and have cow based products on occasion)

*No coffee

*Lots of green tea

*Probiotics

*Fish oil

*Ground flax seed (I really think this has helped with all the red marks and with the incredible tone and texture my skin now has. I see no one has mentioned trying flax and I would highly recommend including it in your diet. I've read that consuming the ground seeds is most effective which is why I chose that form over the oil and capsules. Some people don't like the taste, but I do. I put 2 tablespoons in my orange juice every morning.)

 

I am really happy with this new regimen and the results I'm seeing. I'm planning to go off birth control in the next 6 months and am crossing my fingers. Last time I tried, the results were disastrous, but I feel like I'm now more knowledgeable about my skin and am hoping for the best. Good luck with your skin.

 

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(@tatiglass)

Posted : 10/28/2009 3:33 pm

So good to hear Vitex (chasteberry) is working for you! I went off BC two years ago and had the WORST acne of my life so i immediately went back on. I am now trying to go off again hopefully with better results since i understand that it's hormonal this time, and possibly avoidable. I already started taking Vitex so it gets into my system before i go off in january. no side effects yet. I already take Zinc, B complex, vitamin D and oils am also thinking about taking Maca root, wild yam, black cohosh etc for balancing but not sure i should overload- maybe just let chasteberry do its job.

 

my skin is completely clear and has been since i've been back on BC so i'm terrified to say the least. things could be worse, but i think we're all on here bc we know how bad acne can be. i also use jojoba oil as lotion and no heavy makeup.

 

How much chastberry should i be taking? right now i'm only two weeks in and i take 60 drops twice a day of the extract. any info will help!

 

 

I am taking chaste berry extract right now. I am 95% clear in comparison to four weeks ago. Because I'm taking it in conjunction with sooo many other things, I'm not sure if that is the solution...but I can tell you its the only thing I'm currently taking for hormone balance.

 

Other than that...I am taking....

Vitamin A

Vitamin E

Capsule form of chlorophyll

Vitamin B Complex (which contains vitamin C

Apple cider vinegar (2 tsps a day, also applying it topically, works like a charm) -I hold this most accountable for my clarity. Balanced my PH externally and internally like no other.

Zinc (I hear its extremely effective in preventing skin issues, and there are great reviews, so I'm trying to create a buffer just in case I fall back)

COq10

Fish Oil Omega 3 (Really recommend this for even skin tone and moisture balance)

 

They are all pure, natural, free of colors/gluten/common allergens etc. There are so many other benefits to the vitamins as well, aside from skin. Overall, I most recommend all the things you mentioned in your post. But your definitely on the right path!!!! I cured allll of my issues completely NATURALLY with this similar regime. I forgot to say that my diet is completely free of gluten. I limit myself from dairy, sugar and red meats. I am going to add turmeric capsules and honey/turmeric mask to my topical regime as well. The whole process is so good for your insides too (not just outside). And we all know that to make your insides better most always helps you on the outside, one way or another ;). GOOD LUCK!

 

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(@ecofashionista)

Posted : 11/30/2009 5:41 pm

My skin was behaving so well this summer (a little sun helps...with SPF!) but after summer ended, my acne really flared up badly. I live in Minnesota and it gets very dry in the fall/winter.

 

I finally gave up and started taking spironolactone. I'm so disappointed that I had to give up on my more natural regimen, but this little pill is really helping me. I'm actually more disappointed that I didn't start taking it last year when it was first prescribed but it did sound scary at the time.

 

I have been taking it for about three months and am seeing good results so far. My skin and hair are much less oily. I'm very clear for 3 weeks during the month and then I break out the week before my period. Because my last breakout was very bad at that time of the month, my doctor is increasing my dose to 100 mg/day from 50 mg/day starting today.

 

I haven't felt any of the weird side effects that some people report, so I think my body is tolerating it well because it is bringing things back into balance. I do think my boobs might have grown a little, but that's not the worst thing in the world. The main thing I worry about is going off of it when I want to get pregnant. I would want to be off of spiro for at least 6-12 months before trying to have a baby because it can cause birth defects and I'm sure I'll have to deal with acne again then.

 

I'm still using the Juice Beauty Blemish Serum, walgreens brand scar gel and Neutrogena AHA lotion with jojoba oil. I also ordered the Neutrogena Acne Mark Fading Peel, which is discontinued but I found it on amazon. I'm hoping I will see some results with the hyperpigmentation and it's much cheaper than going in for a peel.

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(@elise1010)

Posted : 12/05/2009 10:05 pm

Your story sounds very similar to mine. I have been suffering from acne since I was a teenager (I'm now 32) and in the last few years it has worsened. I link the worsening to trying, unsuccessfully, to go off birth control in 2004. I went back on birth control and then tried all the routine treatments derms recommend--antibiotics, differin, etc. Though going back on bc helped and at times my face cleared, nothing worked as well as I wanted it to and when my skin was bad, it was really bad. Mostly, I was experiencing large, painful cystic acne--both on my face and my back. Last month I became completely fed up with prescription meds and tried the natural route. After just a few weeks, I am seeing amazing results. My skin has never looked better! I can't say the exact cause of the improvements, but here's what I'm doing:

 

*No gluten

*No sugar (I eat lots of fruit and cheat some with raw honey though)

*Only goat and sheep dairy products (I do cheat some with this and have cow based products on occasion)

*No coffee

*Lots of green tea

*Probiotics

*Fish oil

*Ground flax seed (I really think this has helped with all the red marks and with the incredible tone and texture my skin now has. I see no one has mentioned trying flax and I would highly recommend including it in your diet. I've read that consuming the ground seeds is most effective which is why I chose that form over the oil and capsules. Some people don't like the taste, but I do. I put 2 tablespoons in my orange juice every morning.)

 

I am really happy with this new regimen and the results I'm seeing. I'm planning to go off birth control in the next 6 months and am crossing my fingers. Last time I tried, the results were disastrous, but I feel like I'm now more knowledgeable about my skin and am hoping for the best. Good luck with your skin.

 

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(@aion)

Posted : 01/23/2010 11:43 pm

You're a smart person.

 

It isn't just hormones, MILK is PASTEURISED, meaning its heated to kill bacteria and in the process kills GOOD bacteria needed to digest milk PROPERLY, Dairy is linked to so many illnesses/allergies.

 

Including the fact that hormones are added to it to last longer on shelves, etc.

 

You are wrong. Hormones are given to the cows to make them produce more milk, not to make it last longer. And for most people, the bacteria to digest milk are already present in your digestive tract, though you CAN become lactose intolerant if you stop dairy intake for an extended period of time. I would actually encourage women especially not to give up dairy entirely- organic skim milk should not contain hormones which will trigger breakouts. Organic milk means the cows cannot be given extra hormones, AND the hormones are in the milk fat (as per a study done by Harvard med) and obviously skim milk has had the fat removed. Osteoporosis is a really bad thing, and milk is one of the easiest ways to get the calcium you need in a way your body can absorb.

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(@dannie)

Posted : 02/16/2010 10:06 pm

hi there

 

 

SO im 30 and been on BC since i was 17..i stopped it in 2004 and broke out so bad my face swelled..i went back on and on low dosage of accutane..been on many creams..

i started to eat better, workout., drink water..green tea..and suppliments

 

so now im thinking of getting off the pill and im acne free..never seen my face so clear so i am scared..also since i used to get MAJOR period cramps to where id cry..so im worried...

 

if i take B 100'S, VIT A., VIT B6, OMEGA 3, PROBIOTICS, PRIMROSEE...

 

can that already take into the transition face and may help avoid the acne?

 

i think id probably start ZINC, B5, BURDOCK, AND I HEAR BLACK COHASH AND DON QUAI, WILD YAM IS GOOD but ive never herd of it...

 

also what is VITEX??? SHOULD I START TAKING THIS BEFORE I GET OFF THE PILL???

 

IM SCARED OF MY CRAMPS TOO

 

 

THANKS ALOT GUYS

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(@aussieblonde)

Posted : 02/25/2010 4:22 am

Hi all,

We're all going thru similar stuff. I am 1.5 weeks into a 3 week stint of no dairy, gluten and minimal sugar intake. So far I must say I have noticed zero improvement which is kind of disappointing but I will stick it out to the end. Also using a few supplements.

The only thing that ever cleared my acne was the pill (Diane) but had to come off it so we could get pregnant. Have now had bub and am breastfeeding, have found that during the breastfeeding my skin has been almost the worst it's ever been (hence going to see the naturopath who put me onto this diet).

Am waiting on the result of my bloodtest which will show my hormone levels and whether I might have that PCOS thing.

I found Differen and other similar gels to be useless and severley dry my skin out. I can't seem to use the BP as my skin reacts to it now (never used to which is odd). :rolleyes:

Will let you know how it all goes!

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(@dannie)

Posted : 02/25/2010 8:46 am

im really scared to get off..i hope the hormonal suppliments i bought will help

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(@mamma_mia)

Posted : 06/14/2010 2:36 am

Its been several months since youve been on this regimen, Im curious to know if it ever did clear up eventually?

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(@pickledpears)

Posted : 07/13/2010 7:37 am

hey, I am new here and was not going to join till I found this discussion.

I have never had an acne problem but then I was on the pill from 16-24 and on coming off of it a few months ago my skin has got steadily worse.

At first I hoped it would go away on its own but 3-4 months later it has just got worse!!

So I have decided to try a regime as I am applying for jobs in a few months (final year, final semester uni, stress levels not helping!!)

 

So far I have decided to drink apple cider vinegar diluted in water, and apply it to my face topically, some mornings and most night times

I have vitamin B, C, Zinc, salmon omega 3 in the cupboard + many many more, which i have brought over time but tend not to take as they make me feel sick.

so I may take some of those.

and I am going to buy in two days a chaste tree / vitex mix, hopefully that will work!

 

I will let you know how it goes.

suggestions and recommendations much appreciated!

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(@dannie)

Posted : 07/13/2010 7:48 am

im sorry to hear your face got worse,,

 

so far im lucky nothing bad has happened...ive been off since march

 

this month for the first time my period didnt come yet..i was due last thurs...and every month is always on time...even off the pill...

 

has this happened to anyone??? im questioning if its the pill or pregnancy

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(@pickledpears)

Posted : 07/13/2010 7:57 am

oh you are so lucky!

 

I came off in Febuary had a period in March then missed it in April, had it in May, but nothing now in June or July!

And it has been since then the last 3 months that my face has really broken out.

 

It could be the pill as for some people it can take 6-9 months (although I have witnessed it going on longer) but then some people can start ovulating again from day dot!

 

I think it might be an idea that you do a pregnancy test, just to be on the safe side!

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(@dannie)

Posted : 07/13/2010 9:11 am

oh im sorry hun

 

well i think the suppliments i took r working...i think i posted what i was doing,

 

but how can i have a normal period for 4 months straight and then nothing this month???

 

hmmmm

 

im bloated and crampy for 2 weeks..like its coming..but it never came..

never had that

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