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
April 21, 2008
this pill completely changed me and i wouldnt recommend taking it.
March 24, 2008
Pros:
No babies, cleared skin at first, more regular periods
Cons:
Depression, weight gain, spotting, tender breasts, seemed to stop helping my acne, reduced sex drive
Other than mild mood swings, this pill seemed to work wonderfully at first. It started to clear my acne right away. I've always had irregular periods and this really helped to regulate them. After about 4 months I started spotting in between periods. I've always been pretty skinny and had a healthy sex drive, but after 3 months I started gaining weight (about 8lbs) and had a reduced sex drive. I've been taking the pill for about 7 months now and I've started experiencing bad depression where I'm crying nightly, can't get out of bed, and having mood swings. My breats are tender and it doesn't seem to be helping my acne anymore.
March 8, 2008
Pros:
not pregnant
Cons:
a had just got rid of my mild acne i started talking ortho try cyl lo and i got the worst pimples ever like two days to seven days later
dont take this it makes some people break out and i was going crazy crying at everything and its so unlike me bla
February 20, 2008
Pros:
not sure yet.
Cons:
nausea, vomiting, stomach pains
ok my first day really sucked. My doctor told me to take two pills for my first time. i took them at 10:30pm with food. went to sleep at 12:00 still felt ok. around 3:30am i woke up and felt like vomiting. the pit of my stomach hurt and was turning. I ate bread and drank water, it helped alittle, but i didnt feel better until it was out of my system. I used the bathroom like 3 hours later. Then i finally fell asleep. It was the worse feeling ever.Im thinking of changing the time to afternoon. and i only taking one pill. im not giving up yet. wish me luck!
February 7, 2008
Pros:
Not pregnant.
Cons:
DEPRESSION, MOODINESS, WEIGHT GAIN, FATIGUE, HEADACHES, WORSE ACNE
Ortho Tri Cyclen is not worth it. I stayed on it for the minimum "trial period" of 3 months to see if it would help decrease my acne. Lo and behold, my acne got worse...and I became a moody, depressed fat person, even though I exercise 6 days/week, which is supposed to make you not fat and release endorphins! It was awful and not worth 1 second for me.
January 15, 2008
Pros:
NONE
Cons:
IT MADE ME BREAK OUT SO BAD AROUND THE 3RD MOUNTH. WORKED WELL AT FIRST BUT THEN GAVE ME REALLY BAD CYSTIC ACNE ON MY CHECKS. THEY LEFT REALLY BAD RED SCARS.
I WOULDNT RECCOMENT THIS PRODUCT. I SWITCHED TO ORTHO TRICYCTLEN FROM MY OTHER BIRTH CONTROL ORTHO NOVUMM. THAT A A HUGE MISTAKE. I HAD NEVER REALLY HAD THAT BAD OF ACNE OR SCARS. BUT AFTER TAKING THIS I BROKE OUT SO BAD, LIKE NEVER BEFORE. AFTER GETTING OFF THIS BIRTH CONTROL MY SKIN CLEARED UP AGAIN. BUT IT TOOK AROUND 2 MONTHS. NOW I AM LEFT WITH HORRIBLE ACNE SCARS.
January 11, 2008
Pros:
not pregnant. regular period. lost alittle weight
Cons:
went crazy with emtions. did not help my acne
i would not reccommend this pill.
January 2, 2008
Pros:
no babies,lighter periods, no cramps
Cons:
didn't help acne AT ALL, moodiness, bloating, weight gain
I started taking OTC Lo to help my acne.... and it did NOT work.... the only thing it did is make my period lighter. I gained 15 lbs in my first couple months of using it and my breast did not change at all.
January 2, 2008
Pros:
regular periods, bigger chestial region :)
Cons:
broke out like crazy then evened out a little but overall acne is worse off.
wouldn't recommend it unless it is necessary as a contraceptive-- not for acne. it is pricey as well so free clinics would also be the only way to go
December 27, 2007
Pros:
not pregnant... regular period
Cons:
acne and nausea
uggg... i never really had bad acne, but after i started this i broke out really bad around my chin and lower face... it sucks.. i have also had nausea at random times..
i was on it once before, and i got the acne, but no nausesa... if this doesnt clear up (ive only been on it a lil over a month) im def goin to see about changing
Cons:
sore breast, mood swings, depression, acne, upset stomach, reduced sex drive, body pains, weight gain!!!