Oral Contraceptives
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Oral contraceptives, otherwise known as birth control pills, are also approved to treat acne. They work by regulating male hormones in the female...

Oral contraceptives, otherwise known as birth control pills, are also approved to treat acne. They work by regulating male hormones in the female body. Less male hormones normally lead to less acne. 

Oral contraceptives contain an estrogen component (ethinyl estradiol) that is combined with progestin hormones, such as drospirenone (Yasmin® or Yaz®), norgestimate (Ortho Tri-Cyclen®) or norethindrone (Estrostep®). 

Oral contraceptives are taken once a day with a meal. Make sure to take the pill at the same time every day.

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5
22.3%
4
33.2%
3
21.1%
2
14%
1
9.5%

Used Oral Contraceptives? Rate It:

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August 20, 2011

Pros:

Pregnancy prevention
Lighter period

Cons:

Tender breasts first month
Food cravings

Started this after getting a free sample from planned parenthood (I wasn't sure which bc method I wanted). At the end of my first pack my breasts started hurting like crazy. And I started craving sweets, which I don't normally eat very often. However. It worked great at lightening my period. I'm always regular but my 3rd day id stop bleeding, then start again with a vengeance. This stuff helped me stop doing that. I haven't seen any weight loss or gain, but I work out lightly 3 times a week so that may help. I read that some womens boobs grew. I'm a 34B and am still waiting for that! Maybe after the 3rd pack?? Lol
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January 11, 2011

Pros:

Clearing skin

Cons:

Not sure yet

I have been on ortho for a week. My skin was the worst it had been in my entire life. I've tried everything, antibiotics, prescription strength creams... The acne I had was mainly around my mouth and cheeks which is normally hormonal. The ortho has cleared me up. I feel so confident now. (I get it at Planned Parenthood by my University)
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August 23, 2010

Pros:

-Reduced acne significantly
-Did not get pregnant
-Breast increased by half a cup
- Reduce severity of cramps during periods
-Shorter periods

Cons:

-Mood swings
-Anxiety (when going from green pills to white pills)
-Fatigue
-Nausea

The pills made me feel uneasy when I was first started taking them. I was anxious, fatigued, and nauseated. It wasn't until the second pack that my body became used to the pills. It really does take a couple months for your body to adjust to the hormones. As for my acne, nothing else has helped my acne as much as the birth control has. I have tried numerous products to help with my acne with no great results, so I turned to birth control. This is probably the best decision I have made since I get so many compliments about my clear skin now. Although I still get one or two pimples during the time of the month. My old acne has disappeared and the irritation and redness that i once had on my cheeks have significantly subsided. Anyone suffering from acne should definitely give this a try! It's also free at planned parenthood.
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May 3, 2010

Pros:

cleared up acne, regulated periods, reduced pms symptoms...

Cons:

I was on it for 5 years and the effectiveness of the prescription has been slowly wearing off over the past 6 months, my solution was to switch medications.

it was great for several years until my body adapted to it. i would say its worth your time to try it out!
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June 4, 2012

Pros:

No acne
No initial break out (at least for me)
No spotting
Breasts feel fuller

Cons:

Increase in appetite

I LOVE THIS BIRTH CONTROL! I'm 21 years old and never had acne until about a year ago. It got so bad that I didn't want anyone to see me. I got big, red, cystic like acne all over my cheeks and jaw line. I tried so many different birth control pills, which actually isn't good for your body, and nothing worked. The first week after I started Ortho Try-Cyclen my face was so much clearer. I have noticed an increase in my appetite, so far that seems to be the only flaw to it. My insurance doesn't cover most name brand meds so I do have to pay $35.00 every month, but its so worth it. If you have severe acne like I HAD then I recommend you try it because its AWESOME! :)
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December 14, 2010

Pros:

not pregnant so far..that i know of..
regulated period
light period

Cons:

cramps before during and after period
mood swings
hunger
weight gain
decreased sex drive
nausea/vomitting
migraines
sore boobs
have a few pimples now
always tired.

ive never had pimples so this was def. NOT the reason to get b.c. got it so i wouldnt get pregnant again since my husband and i dont want more kids...its definetaly helping with that since i never want to have sex anymore!! if i didnt have to be on birthcontrol i would be! im constantly cramping, tired, crabby..
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June 29, 2010

Pros:

Smooth, nice skin

Cons:

weight gain, moodiness, lack of sex drive

For starters, this drug ROCKS for my skin and that's the only positive. I maybe get a white head once in a blue moon. But, I've been on this pill for 4 years and have noticed some significant changes. My sex drive, for the most part, has steadily decreased to the point that I do not even want to be touched by my husband. I've gained a solid 20lbs that won't come off on a 1500 cal diet and daily exercise. I lastly feel like I'm the worlds biggest psycho when it comes to mood changes. Overall, 4 years later I feel completely different from the person who married my husband. I don't recommend this pill to anyone.
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December 5, 2009

Pros:

Not pregnant! That speaks for something. My boobs got a bit firmer, which I did like. Less hair growth on legs. Free from Planned Parenthood in CA

Cons:

My period just didn't stop! I got EXTREMELY crazy, and depressed and exhausted, and I am normally an extremely happy, rational, hyper person! Acne got a bit worse, if that can be credited to the medication, but it didn't get any better at all.

I've stopped taking it and my mood is already better after only two days! Wow! I'm definitely switching!
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December 24, 2013
Worst Initial Breakout EVER! Best skin after 6 months.

Pros:

Improves tone, texture, and firmness of skin.
Clears skin
Easy to take

Cons:

Worst IB EVER!

I switched to OTC after Yaz stopped working as well. I experienced the WORST initial break out of my life in the first two months. I never thought my skin could get that bad, but it did! I even took pictures of the acne to chart how bad it was. Slowly over 6 months I started to clear up and, now, I have probably the best skin I have had in a year. Everything is clear, save one or two small spots a month. I'll take those small spots over the cystic acne I had even before the OTC. I still have a lot of red marks left over from the initial breakout, which are clearing slowly. One good thing, the tone and texture of my skin has improved greatly. So has the firmness. I never thought I would have skin this bad, but I do and the OTC has helped. UPDATE: I am still on this BC and my acne is pretty much non-existent now. I have the best skin of my adulthood. This stuff is great!
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April 16, 2013

Pros:

Clear skin within two packs, brighter complexion, no more deep and painful cystic acne breakouts, larger breasts, and no pregnancy. AWESOME.

Cons:

I did get a little bit of an initial breakout from the first pack. I started on the generic on my first pac (Trinessa), then switched to the brand for my second pack and didn't experience any new breakouts outside of a few stray PMS zits. Not sure if the generic had anything to do with it. Brand name OTC is also a little more expensive at $30/month under my insurance. Slight weight gain from an appetite increase but nothing noticeable.

Works like a charm. I was suffering from sudden, horrible cystic breakouts and none of the topicals and antibiotics I was taking helped. My derm put me on OTC and within two months my skin was clearer. I still get some minor PMS breakouts but nothing serious. I just wanted to throw a positive review out there since I've heard so many mixed things about birth control for acne...I'm assuming it's because people don't really ever leave positive reviews. 2 thumbs up!!
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