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 Norgestimate (Ortho Tri-Cyclen®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
December 5, 2009
Cons:
Irritable, sleepy, breast tenderness, breakouts along jawline and chin - hoping this will clear up as i've only been on Ortho Tri Cyclen for a month
I recently switched from Yasmine to Ortho Tri Cyclen. My Gyno told me that Ortho is the only birth control pill that is FDA approved to clear up acne. Yasmine was good but it made me break out like CRAZY! Im hoping that with time Ortho will help my skin. They say it takes up to 3 months for your body to get used to the pill. Fingers crossed...
November 20, 2009
Pros:
it works very well in regulating periods and clearing up acne no side effects
Cons:
makes breasts a little sore but it also makes them bigger too soo thats not really a con
this is my favorite birth control i have ever bin on because it has no side affects and works very well in regulating periods if they are irregular.
November 16, 2009
Pros:
Effective contraception
Cons:
More acne, Nauseous, Cramps, Longer period
Doesn't make you pregnant
November 11, 2009
Pros:
Increased breast size, helped clear acne, milder cramps
Cons:
Hair loss the first month I was on it, mood swings
I would recommend it but make sure it is not the generic version of ortho tri-cyclen, that stuff was horrible!
November 9, 2009
Pros:
Cleared acne, and free through planned parenthood or just $5/month through Cal State University system.
Cons:
very low libido
low dose hormonal contraception is known to lower testosterone levels, and that's how they get rid of acne. Nothing ever got rid of my acne. After a few months of being on the pill my acne lessened and healed. Unfortunately, testosterone is also responsible for libido. Although it rid me of acne, it also rid me of my sex life. So I went off the pill, and sure enough a few months later I was broken out again. Since I figure my acne is purely hormonal, I'm trying special diets in an effort to prevent the acne from within.
November 8, 2009
Pros:
regulate periods, possibly clearing of face, comfort having unprotected sex with my bf
Cons:
tender breast, possible breast increase (they were already huge), possible bloat
I was just introduced Natural Family Planning and i beleive that its a wonderful thing. No side affects at all. Its a great recommendation :)
November 5, 2009
Pros:
Cleared up my acne significantly. Also regulated and diminished the effects of my period.
Cons:
Mild to moderate nausea during first week of each pack.
I have had acne for nearly 10 years and this is the ONLY thing that has made people actually notice a decrease in my acne. I've actually had friends say things like, "Wow, you're skin has really cleared up!" after 3 weeks on this pill without changing anything else about my skin care routine (except that I also cut back on smoking, which helped a lot as well!) I still get a few zits when I'm actually on my period, but for the whole week before and during my period I used to get acne so bad all over my face that it was actually painful. This made such a difference! But, it won't work for everyone.. some people's acne is not caused by hormones, so birth control will have no effect. If you tend to get more breakouts around your period, I definitely recommend trying this.
November 5, 2009
Pros:
Very light periods with no cramps,no noticable weight gain drastically improved acne condition, bigger breasts.
Cons:
very, very emotional for the first 3 or 4 months. possible loss of muscle tone.
I'm 18 years old and have been using tri-cyclen since I was 14 and havent thought of switching. It works great for me, i hardly noticed my period and it improved my acne for years. I'm not sure how it has affected my weight or muscle because I've been on it for so long.
works great for acne!
October 28, 2009
Pros:
Less acne, bigger boobs, no spotting, extremely horny (which is not a bad thing to me...), free from Planned Parenthood in CA.
Cons:
Can't skip period, super tired and emotional during beginning of pack, boobs slightly sore, I'm a bit bloated most of the time
I don't have any drastic side affects, it's doing more good than bad, and it's birth control, which I need.
October 16, 2009
Pros:
No more babies, knowing when I'm going to start my period, No more spotting for a week before, boobs got bigger..
Cons:
Did not clear my acne up. I've been using it for 1-1/2 months so I'm hoping it will help. The first month I was super tired, and my boobs hurt like crazy. That went away after the first pack.
I'm still using it because I need a form of Birth control. But it did not help my acne at all :( Boo
Pros:
Not pregnant