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
October 3, 2011
Cons:
Weight gain
Bloating
Recurring yeast infections
One of the better BCPs I've tried in terms of side-effects. The major ones for me were 5-8 lbs. weight gain, feeling bloated, and awful recurring yeast infections. BUT, my skin was crystal clear after a few months of being on Ortho Tri-Cyclen and I experienced no mood swings or other serious side effects. It is also inexpensive if you have health insurance. If it weren't for the yeast infections, I'd probably still be on this pill. Of course, one's reaction to hormonal birth control is highly individual, so I can neither recommend nor not recommend. You just have to try it and see for yourself.
September 29, 2011
Pros:
Pregnancy prevention
Larger breasts
Predictable periods
Affordable/ Inexpensive
Cons:
No sex drive
Tender/ sore breasts
Extreme nausea
Severe Headaches
Depression/ crazy mood swings
Bloated stomach
No change to acne
I have been on these pills for exactly 1 month now and it has been absolutely terrible for me AND my spouse. Planned Parenthood first put me on Seasonique (which was amazing compared to this.) But, my sister suggested Ortho Tri-Cyclen since I wasn't comfortable with Seasonique only allowing me to have my period once every 4 months.. OTC has just been the worst decision ever. Within 1-2 hours of taking it.. CONSTANT Nausea, headaches, etc. Not to mention a couple days after taking it I began feeling very depressed... and let me tell you, my husband makes me a happy woman but dang.. these pills are ridiculous. My sex drive has completely diminished.. it just doesn't exist anymore. Everyone is different, I would suggest at least trying it, but if at ANY point you begin to feel severe symptoms such as myself, please stop taking them and switch brands. The main reason I chose this brand was because of my acne.. which hasn't changed a bit.
September 28, 2011
Pros:
None
Cons:
Uncontrollable appetite
Anxious and depressed feeling
Breast soreness
Bleeding
Cramps
Overall, I've felt like I've had bad PMS every day since starting this pill. My emotions are all over the place - one minute I'm fine, the next I'm crying and barely want to leave the house. My skin hasn't cleared at all, and in fact, might even be worse than before. My breasts are painful and I had a few days of intense cramps. I think the worst has been my appetite, though - hunger and bad cravings even after eating a meal.
September 27, 2011
Pros:
Larger Boobs
Less facial hair
Helped with thinning hair
Cons:
Worsened Acne (cystic acne)
Lower sex drive
Depression/Anxiety
I went on BC solely to see if it would help my cystic acne. This is my 4th week on this BC and so far I've felt like I've been PMSing all month. Since the first week my face broke out like never before. I had about 4 huge cysts on my face, without a head, so I've just been dealing with it trying really hard not to pick at them. I also started breaking out on my jawline and cheeks, places where I usually don't break out. I really hope this is just an "initial breakout" and that my body is adjusting to this BC (this is my first time taking BC). This past Sunday I started the white sugar pill and I don't feel depressed or anxious. Also, this is the first week where a new cyst hasn't popped up. I guess that's good news. We'll see and I'll keep you all updated.
September 26, 2011
Pros:
Minimal side effects first 6 months
Very little to no acne
No excessive bloating first 6 months
No weight gain first 6 months
Cons:
Month 7 started feeling really bloated and had sore breasts
Extremely hungry a lot of times
Feeling very sleepy for past 3 months
Water retention
EVERY PILL HAS SIDE EFFECTS AND THEY ALL ONLY WORK FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AT LEAST FOR ME EVERYONE'S DIFFERENT. I RECOMMEND SWITCHING PILLS EVERY 6 MONTHS TO ANYONE THAT GIVES YOU THE LEAST SIDE EFFECTS THAT'LL KEEP YOU BALANCED
September 25, 2011
Pros:
Not Pregnant
Cons:
Worst acne breakouts of my life
Constantly Nauseous
Very Emotional
Depressed
No sex drive
I gave this pill a 4 month run and the end result is that this pill is horrible! I've gone from the happiest, most outgoing person, to really sad and depressed. I finished a pack yesterday and will NEVER go on this pill again. I constantly felt sick, and the thought of alcohol was intolerable. My face went from a pimple every now and then to severely broken out and my sex drive was non-existent. DO NOT take this pill!!
September 22, 2011
Pros:
Cleared up acne
Lighter periods
Predictable periods
Not pregnant!
Cons:
First month is pretty rough
The first month I had pimple breakouts, nausea, and severe headaches, but the second month was much better, and now in my fourth month using it, I don't have any bad side effects. My periods used to be very heavy and completely unpredictable, but now I (obviously) know when they start and I can even use Lite tampons on most days. My face completely cleared up also.
September 21, 2011
Pros:
Pregnancy prevention, acne control
Cons:
Headaches, mood swings, irritability, breast tenderness, weight gain
HATE IT!
Got a new prescription today!
It worked for 3 months then it all went down hill from there. Terrible cramps and heavy bleeding did not stop, I have horrible headaches between the last hormone pill and the placebos and then again when starting the hormones at the end of my cycle. Ive gained weight and cannot get it off with diet and exercises. This is the worst pill I've ever been on.
September 19, 2011
Pros:
lighter periods
pregnancy prevention
larger breasts
inexpensive
Cons:
a little weight gain
possible moodiness?
I barely noticed any side effects for this birth control. I don't remember feeling any extreme pain or discomfort, and it's a reliable form of protection. Some friends that are girls as well as my boyfriend noticed a change in my breast size, and there was a small change in my weight, but there have been no side effects that have made me want to consider coming off this prescription. I don't have any acne to begin with, so i can't say if it helps clear that up or not, however it didn't give me any either. Overall, it has been working for me and i will consider to use it. Hope this helped! :)
September 8, 2011
Pros:
No decrease in sex drive :)
Cons:
-Stomach aches
-Horrible nausea lasting the entire day
-Got new pimples every single day I've been on it
-Water retention
-Crazy food cravings
-Extreme fatigue
-Breast soreness
-Worse cramps than before
-Heavier period
As you can see by my list of cons, this pill definitely didn't work for me lol. First of all, I went on accutane over two years ago and ever since my skin has been great. A couple pimples here and there, or once in a while I'd experience clogged pores on my forehead and around my nose, but my skin care routine takes care of it within a week at most. My forehead and nose area are my "problem areas" if you could even call them that, but OTC just bombed my face with under-the-skin, painful pimples around my chin and my mouth like no other. I broke out in areas of my face where I never had before, even previously to my accutane treatment.
And don't even get me started on the sickness this pill caused me. It was beyond your typical morning sickness. It lasted the entire day if I did not take pills for nausea and an upset stomach. And even when I did, I still felt uneasy for the remainder of the day, especially for the first two weeks.
I felt bloated all the time, no matter what I ate or do. My diet hasnt changed, and I know full well of the types of foods which cause my stomach to be bloated all day long.
My cramps are also worse than they were before, and I even had cramps while I was spotting! Now, my period is even heavier than it used to be, and it's also longer.
Bottom line is, I know some people have been benefiting from OTC as it works with their bodies in a way it does not with mine. Although it has definitely not worked for me, perhaps it will work for you. Although I know sticking with a medication for three months is recommended, the amount of cons definitely outweighs any reason I have to stay on OTC for another two months. I hope it works for others though! Good luck =)
Pros:
Clear skin
Birth control