Oral Contraceptive
Efficacy
63%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Improvement significantly increases after 24 weeks.
Oral Contraceptive
Acne.org’s Real World Take
All oral contraceptives appear to clear the skin about the same amount. Some people report cessation of acne symptoms and others see partial relief. However, messing with hormones is messing with hormones and it’s best to proceed with caution. But if you’re looking to take the birth control pill anyway, one of the benefits is clearer skin.
Oral Contraceptive
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Drospirenone (Yasmin®, Yaz®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
December 1, 2010
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
Caused emotional changes such as: Increase in 'neediness' and decrease in competitive nature and sex drive.
First I have to describe the type of person I am (I've stopped taking it) and was before Yaz. I'm a tomboy, a very competitive distance runner, and a competitive student. At first (first 3 months), I liked Yaz. I was beginning to see a change in my very heavy period, my acne cleared, and hey, a extra bra size to boost the confidence--always a plus (ok well for those of the light-chested variety). I rarely noticed any emotional changes initially. I was home. Life was good. I had a new doting bf who I texted and talked to ALL THE TIME. And I never took notice of how much we talked. What I did start to notice was how I didn't have the urge to go for a 5 mile run in the morning like I used to nor did I care what grade I made in college as intently as I had before. That semester went relatively well. Sure, I got Bs instead of As and I dropped from running 7 + miles to 6, to 5, 4, and so on..but everything was still ok, I kept taking Yaz during the summer...Then I went to Ireland for study abroad...two of my four months from being away from my family and bf was HELL. I was depressed--didn't want to do ANYTHING (much less run or schoolwork), I was an emotional- homesick wreck. I've always (without YAZ) been a VERY independent person and girlfriend--ALWAYS wanted to travel the world and get out of my town and now that I'm off this poison, I still do! Last 2 months have been great. Ireland is AMAZING and I'm still talking to the bf and family, but not 24/7--it's made both our lives easier. I'm running again (back at 3 miles) and doing better in school. I mean I don't blame my WHOLE emotional struggles on Yaz--sure I was bound to feel homesick but I swear being on this drug made me not be able to let things go and that's who I AM...I currently looking for another birth control pill and hoping for better results.
October 30, 2010
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
To be honest, I actually cannot think of any.
Cons:
I was prescribed Yaz to combat my moderately severe acne and my severe menstrual cramps. I was told that this pill "had the least amount of side effects". For one, my acne did not clear up nor did my cramps subside. If anything, they got worst. I was about a week off finishing my first 3-month prescription of this pill when I developed a blood clot in my groin which resulted in a pulmonary embolism, putting me in hospital for 10 days. I was only 17, too.
This pill was the only conclusion doctors could come to of the reason behind my blood clots - i've flown overseas and have had major surgery with no complications whatsoever. I go on the pill for 3 months, and bam. I'm not trying to deter people, as apparently what happened to me only occurs in 1 in every 10000 people, but it has forever prohibited me from using any hormonal contraception again and pregnancy could be a very serious issue. Based on all of this, I wouldn't particularly recommend this contraceptive. After what it put me through, I wouldn't wish that pain (or scare) upon anyone.
September 11, 2010
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
-Does help prevent acne from getting worse (if your acne is at least partly hormonal)
Cons:
-Does not clear acne
-Increased risk of DVTs, PEs, and stroke (this bc pill causes a significant risk of blood clots people!)
I was put on Yaz a little over a year ago to help with my acne and did notice a slight improvement over the year (nothing to jump up and down about). However, I recently decided the heath risks and expense of the prescription were not worth the small benefits so I stopped. I broke out BAD! Worse than before I was put on the pill for sure. Its been 2 months since stopping now and its only getting worse. I wish I would have never gone on it to begin with.
August 14, 2010
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Regulated my cycles & much less painful periods, didn't get pregnant, no change in appetite no weight gain. Made my skin a lot less oily.
Cons:
Really messed with my emotions! I felt depressed while taking this pill, which I have never experienced before. I decided to try Yaz because of it's skin clearning benefits for my mild acne. Instead, my skin broke out terribly for the 3 months that I took it & I had to quit.
I took Yaz for the recommended three months, but I didn't see any improvement in my skin, it appeared to get much worse over time, and it was not worth the crazy emotions it was putting me through. However, I know a lot of women have luck with this pill and it did a good enough job of regulating my periods, so I would still recommend trying it.
May 1, 2010
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
prevents getting pregnant
more regular period
helps acne
Cons:
severe period pains
heavy periods
bigger boobs (was 32g before went on it already so didn't want them to get bigger)
severe depression
nausea
thrush
this pill is very helpful if you want to clear up skin, i've suffered from acne on my back for years now and after taking this pill it has finally begun to clear it up and its nice to have regular periods for a change! but i've had many bad side-effects to this pill as seen above! the nausea has cleared up after the first month! but the depression is consistent and i have really heavy periods with really bad pains now! and i've started to get thrush which never happened before this! i'm not saying this pill caused all of these but they have only started since i've been on it!
i hope this information has been helpful....it does clear up skin for some people but may also cause uncomfortable side effects!
April 21, 2010
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Regular periods and words as a birth control method
Cons:
huge pimples, extreme exhaustion, very sore breasts and digestion problems.
I'v only been on this pill for two weeks and it started with a really bad headache, immediate and HUGE cyst like pimples on my chin and jaw line, and extreme exhaustion. I can't say that the tiredness is from the pill, however, I sleep 3 hours in the middle of the day even after a good night of sleep. So I think it must be. I am a very active person normally, and now I have trouble getting myself out of bed and getting to the gym in the morning. I am going to switch next week because this just isn't fun. And because of the sore breasts.... I was on it before for about 2 months, and it did the same thing. So I think it's safe to say that it's not right for me, and might not be right for you.
April 11, 2010
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
lost 5 lbs!
helped skin, A LITTLE.
Cons:
had my period for 21 days straight.
makes me depressed feeling.
expensive.
not that great working for acne or controlling your period.
I can't wait to get off this pill.
March 12, 2010
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
The pimples have cleared up along my jawline, really helped clear up my back acne, smaller appetite sometimes
Cons:
As soon as I started on yasmin I got nearly the worst break out I've had since I first started getting acne.
I got lots of pimples on my cheeks and few on my forehead (where I both hardly usually get them), between my eye brows and chin!. I am 3 pills away from finishing my first month and I'm going to carry on with my prescription in hope that my skin will clear. Can someone please tell me if you usually have one big break out when starting and then it get betters?. I paid $76.00 for 3 months supply
February 15, 2010
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Birth control (the obvious), bigger boobs by atleast a cup size, lighter less painful periods, cute little turqoise packaging :)
Cons:
Worsened acne, caused breakouts along my lipline which continued well after the pill was discontinued, also it is very expensive
I'm not really one to write reviews but I figure I might as well, just in case someone else has or will experience a similar side effect. Overall, I liked Yaz as a birth control, but in my case while taking it I suddenly began getting these little pimples along my lipline. It was extremely unattractive and very frustrating as of course no one wants bumps on or near their mouth. You might be thinking, maybe it was cold sores? But it was not, I know what cold sores look/feel like, I get about 2 a year sadly, and these bumps were completely different. They were like literal pimples that I'd get elsewhere on my face yet were occurring directly on my lip line. I had NEVER dealt with this before, and to make matters worse I was breaking out in these little pimples just as often as the acne elsewhere on my face (moderate acne). I couldn't stand it but I didn't know what to do! Eventually I stopped taking Yaz but the bumps still didn't stop. Eventually I came to the conclusion that the only thing to deal w/ the bumps and get them to go away in addition to my other acne was to go on accutane, which I'm now on and the bumps have stopped. I only made the Yaz lip bump connection when I did a google search on it and saw that other people had experienced similar lip bumps, up until then I had no idea what it was and was constantly cutting out foods thinking I had developed an allergy to something I was eating. Anyway, I'm sorry this is SO long but I just felt I should share my experience in case anyone else has dealt with something similar.
January 20, 2010
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
didn't notice much difference in my skin
Cons:
caused anxiety
Anxiety problems were much better when i went off it. Don't think it made much difference in my face, although might of helped with body acne.
Pros:
Increased a bra size
Had lighter periods
Acne cleared
I didn't get pregnant (but I always use condoms too)