Oral Contraceptives
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Side Effects

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
19.7%
4
30.4%
3
21.8%
2
16%
1
12.1%

Used Oral Contraceptives? Rate It:

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November 25, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

Didn't really notice any significant advantages to using this pill.

Cons:

Started having my period every two weeks... got tired of it and decided to quit. When I quit I started having panic attacks which still flare up from time to time. I think this medication threw my hormones waaaaay off.

I wouldn't recommend it. I know that if your desperate to try anything it sounds like a good medication to take, but try something else, possibly antibiotics or some other alternative. I really don't think the side effects are worth the risk. I wish I would have listened to the bad reviews and never taken it. I hope the new medication I'm going to take (a dioretic that controls hormones) will balance me back out.
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October 30, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

helps acne a lot, shorter periods, bigger boobs.

Cons:

weight gain, highly priced, caused me excessive stretch marks.

I've been on Yaz for almost a year. I will say that at first it will seem like it is going to make your acne worse, but it actually has helped my break outs so much. I never really break out anymore...even when I'm on my period! I really have to say that Yaz has changed my skin for the better. On the downside I gained a lot of weight within the first few months using it, I developed a tremendous amount of stretchmarks on my hips, and outer thigh area, which is something that I never had before the pill. I wish I would have watched my weight and been more active so I wouldn't have these disgusting stretch marks now. When I started taking Yaz I was only 130, I wasn't fat and I had a nice body. I went up to 145 in a matter of 5 months. Works great for skin, but will cause weight gain. If you plan on trying it out I suggest working out and watching what you eat or you might end up like me embarassed to be in a bikini. :(
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October 21, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

I assume it prevents pregnancy. I'm not even sexually active, but I'm taking it to qualify for Accutane.

Cons:

Three weeks into it, I'm getting painful leg cramps, cold sweats, fatigue and a weird tingling sensation all over. Yaz is also expensive, because there's no generic.

Too many side effects. My gyno says almost all birth control pills can help acne, simply because they regulate hormones. I believe Yaz is more dangerous than other pills, so I'm switching to Tri-Nessa (generic Ortho Tri-cyclen) asap.
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October 20, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

acne has cleared up a little...?, no period?

Cons:

yeast infection, loss of sex drive, severe acne during the first month, depression, no period, crying/angry

Not worth the depression, NO SEX DRIVE, acne flare ups week before going off the pill, boobs are still small like usual, now scared of the recalls, periods were very light to none before taking pill, and still no period, not pregnant though.
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October 7, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

Regulates my period

Cons:

Loss of Appetite (I was on Diane 35 before and it didnt have this con)
I usually have clear skin without a mild outbreak before my period but when i started taking Yasmin these real hard pimples popped up

I'm switching back to Diane 35. I'm underweight so I'm not for the loss of appetite i'm experiencing and the pimples are horrible- they just popped up and they were really hard and though i'm not one for poppin bump, i had to squeeze the stuff out it because the skin around the bump would be too stiff; after the stuff, that were really hard may i note, came out it was like there were tiny holes in my face where they were. I would only recommend you use this product if you desire to lose weight (but hey our bodies are different- so that result is not totally guaranteed)
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October 7, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

my boobs grew a bit

Cons:

ive been getting a bit of acne

ive been on yaz for about 2 weeks, so far my boobs grew a little bit, the first week around my period i was EXTREMELY moody, i would cry for no reason. this week ive been getting some acne, and ive never had skin problems, but i just started to brake out on my chest, face and back of my neck. supposedly it goes away after 3 weeks, so we'll see..
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September 18, 2009

Pros:

Birth control

Cons:

Break outs worse at first but still worse than before ever on the pill. I have to wash my face with heavy duty cleanser! Extremely tender breasts once a month then it goes away.

Worth it overall
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September 13, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

Cleared Skin, Regular periods

Cons:

Bad Cramps

I am about to start my second month of Yaz. The first 2 weeks my face broke out ALOT. Like worse then ever. But the 3rd week it cleared up and my face looked great and is still looking good. But I'm not taking Yaz because of that. I'm an Athlete and when I started doing a sport from 3 days a week to 5-6 days a week, I got my period 2-3 times a month 6 days a week with horrible cramps. So the Guynatologist made me take birth control. The other birth control Which was loestrin 24 broke my face out worse then it had ever been so I switched. My periods are regular still and I am having clear skin! It has worked great for me so far.
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September 7, 2009

Pros:

its excellent birth control for that purpose only

Cons:

EVERYTHING. Craziest mood swings, crying for no reason, depression, breast pain

DONT USE IT
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September 4, 2009

Pros:

cleared my face, prevented pregnancy

Cons:

MOODY

The only thing i can complain about this pill is its effect on my moods. I cry over nothing and get very angry easily like I am constantly pmsing. If you forget to take a pill and have to double up it made me very sick, I'd be throwing up all morning.
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