Oral Contraceptives
Hormonal Therapy
Reviews
3.3
2743 Reviews
Oral Contraceptives
Hormonal Therapy
Efficacy
63%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Note: Improvement significantly increases after 24 weeks.
Oral Contraceptives
Hormonal Therapy
Side Effects
High
Oral Contraceptives
Hormonal Therapy
Acne.org’s Real World Take
Any brand of oral contraceptive appears to clear the skin about the same amount, regardless of whether it is officially approved for acne treatment. Some people report complete clearing of acne symptoms and others see partial relief. However, artificially controlling your hormones is a serious decision, so it’s best to proceed with caution.
Oral Contraceptives
Hormonal Therapy
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.
Read All About Oral Contraceptives
Compare To Other Treatments
5
19.7%
4
30.4%
3
21.8%
2
16%
1
12%

Used Oral Contraceptives? Rate It:

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December 13, 2006
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
as a contraception method, it works well... i am baby free! and my skin is smooth and clear, I have no mood swings nor nausea, all normal except that my appetite has increased, i had never eaten so much before! like every half hour id look for something to munch and dramatically i gained 7 kg in 3 months since i started using Yasmin but my doctor switched me to the lowest dose called Loette.. i dont want to end up like a big fattyboomba! otherwise Yasmin is really good and effective on your skin and birth control.
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November 30, 2006

Pros:

I'm not too sure yet but it seems to be clearing up my acne

Cons:

Don't know yet

I was on Yaz for about 3 months and by the third day I broke out. It was so disheartening because I have always had clear skin. Now I have switched to OTC. I have been on it for about 5 days and it seems like my skin is slowly looking better. Hopefully it will completely clear my skin up soon.
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November 30, 2006
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

The great thing about Yasmin was that I lost weight immediately, my acne cleared up dramatically, and I had short periods.

Cons:

The bad things, I was so extremely moody, anxious and would cry over EVERYTHING. Once I realized that I switched to Yaz, the lower dose. I've been on it for only 5 days and so far so good... but we'll see how well my body reacts after the first month

Bottom line... do what you want. You know your body better than anyone elses. Give it a go, I think because I am moodier than most women naturally it probably had something to do with that. Other than that, I actually really liked Yasmin... I just could NOT stand the extreme moods.
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November 28, 2006
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

lighter periods, cleared up skin, lost weight, prevents pregnancy, got rid of horrible cramps and really heavy periods each month, regulated cycle

Cons:

None

Yasmin has worked great for me!! I had horrible cramps and really heavy flow each month! i couldn't leave the house for 8 days!! Now i only have my period for 3-4 days and i can barely even tell that i have it!! My skin also cleared up instantly! i didn't have any side effects except nausea for the first couple days when my body was getting used to the pill. I would highly recommend it!
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October 23, 2006
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

nothing...

Cons:

it made me break out worse. Ortho-Tricycline low was better

use ortho-tricycline
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March 2, 2013
I started this November 2011 and up until the end of December 2012 it had done great for my acne. My skin was the clearest it had been in years and I was getting a ton of compliments. Around New Years my face started to break out and now I have all this acne on my face again. Yes, I would usually get cystic zits on my face around my period, but this is that plus some. I'm still on it and using the topical Epiduo (As i have been the whole time). I made a doctors appointment to see what's wrong.
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August 14, 2012

Cons:

Also it gave me intense hunger pains (no wonder weight gain is an issue on this pill) My apetite increased greatly! It also pretty much killed my sex drive because I was always so irritated with my husband I didnt want to have sex with him!!!!

HORMONAL MESS!
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March 8, 2012

Pros:

No acne
Breasts grew!
decrease in oily hair

Cons:

Risk of blood clot
slight weight gain
long periods

I had terrible acne before taking ortho tri cyclin low. i was covered in it. had severe cystic acne all over my back. this has been a miracle drug for my acne. within a week it was almost all gone. although this helped me, i wish i could go off it. there is a risk of blood clots. also, i tried to stop taking it for 3 days and just 3 days without it made me have insanely greasy hair (which i never had before....) and a bunch of acne. tbh, id try this medicine if nothing else has worked. its worth a try... but be aware of the risks.
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August 31, 2011
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

Good as birth control
lighter periods
no cramps
no crazy mood swings

Cons:

weight gain
water retention
bloating
tiredness
constipation
break outs

This pill is good as birth control. I've been taking it on and off about 6 months every time, but I feel I can't take it longer than that. I have lighter periods and get almost no cramps. The good thing is no mood swings, except the day before my period when I feel I hate everything around me...but it goes away the next day. Although I like the fact that it doesn't cause any mood swings, it does increase my appetite and I gain about 6-10 pounds. When I stop it the weight goes away. I also feel bloated and heavy all the time and often constipated. Tiredness - I have to nap at least 2 times a day, which is not great for me because I have a busy schedule, but I just can't stay awake past 10:00 pm on this pill. It does cause me to retain more water and my legs were really blown up. I was breaking out around my cheeks and jaw line, but it does go away as does the initial nauseous feeling. Overall, I like the lack of mood swings, but will be switching to something else as the tiredness and bloating really do bother me.
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August 24, 2011

Pros:

no loss of sex drive
no change in mood
no weight gain

Cons:

The only con that I can think of, is not being able to lubricate on the 2nd set of pills(the light blue ones).

I love this birth control. Im 20 years old, and I got it for free at my college clinic.
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The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

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