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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4
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3
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2
16%
1
12.1%

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January 17, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

Lighter periods, no out break of spots at all, increase in bust size

Cons:

None so far

First time using a pill for BC other method used was the depot jab which caused a slight weight gain of around 5lbs.I have had no side effects as of yet.
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January 6, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

very light acne, no bloating, no cramps, very light period

Cons:

felt lazier, increased appetite, moodier during period

Great birth control. Affects everyone differently, worked great on me and I will keep using it. Never was depressed, stressed or gained weight due to Yazmin. Avoid Yaz and off-brand prescriptions that claim to be the same thing. Did that when I couldn't get Yazmin for three months, bad idea.
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December 20, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

Knowing when my period is going to come, being able to skip my period when I have something on (i.e. holidays)

Cons:

Spotting after period, increased acne, expensive

For the first few weeks my skin cleared up, and then it flared up and hasn't gone down! It's been 3 months, and the types of pimples I get are different (I used to get just white heads, now my face is covered in tiny bumps, and I get blind pimples ALL THE TIME!!) The doctor recommended Yasmin to help with acne, but it's a MILLION times worse!!! I never even had it bad before, but now...
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December 3, 2008

Pros:

cured my PMS for about a year, no cramps at all, very light period, and they went from 5 days down to sometimes only 2, cleared my acne almost completely and i lost weight on it, and it helped with my depression greatly

Cons:

DESTROYED SEX DRIVE, body began to become immune to the pill and after about 15 months i had horrible cramps and heavy flow period again, plus my depression came back and overall i just felt very.. "blah"

if your looking for birth control give it a try, i've used the depo shot, another pill (dont remember the name, came in a green pill box) and ortho and this was my favorite.. completely cleared my skin, lost some weight, regulated my period for the first time in my life which was fantastic to know exactly which day i'd start my cycle, got rid of my back pain and cramps which were so bad i'd be stuck in a bath all day.. but after about a year and a half my body adjusted and i got back all my problems, not to mention NO SEX DRIVE AT ALL, literally made me cringe to think of being touched, not just sex related, hugs from friends or anything.. but everyone's body is different, and this is good stuff, i dont take it anymore though ONLY because of the sex drive, if i had that while on it i'd still be on it.. so try it, i had two years of a good experience
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December 2, 2008
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

none

Cons:

This made my face break out even more than before. Gave me bad mood swings the first week, Gained more weight in only a week.

Dont use it unless it is your last resort before accutane. I started it and it made my face breakout and literally swell with infection. I started to get cystic acne until I quit. Ever since ive been battling this acne that has not gotten any better ever since I started the darn birth control. The biggest mistake that I ever made. Im never doing YAZ or any birth control again.
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November 24, 2008

Pros:

Prevents pregnancy, clear skin & breasts got bigger. Free with health care plan.

Cons:

Bloating & gas.

My spotting only lasted for 2 days during the first month that I was on the pill. During the 1st month however, it caused extreme bloating! My stomach actually looked like I was 3 months pregnant and when I weighed myself, it said that I had gained 8 lbs! This has since gone away now that I am starting my third month on the pill and I haven't had any other side effects, but the major bloating, weight gain and gas was horrible for the first month! It was all worth it though because I don't have to worry about getting pregnant, my skin is clear and my breasts have become slightly bigger. :)
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November 24, 2008

Pros:

prevents pregnancy obviously :)

Cons:

doesn't do anything for my acne, and made me gain weight...

Its a birth control pill. It prevents pregnancy...that's the bottom line. This is not a 'miracle' pill. It will not magically erase your acne or make it better...I found I got really sensitive skin while on the pill and I gained at least 20 pounds in the first month...ugh
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November 20, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

it cleared up my skin. i have skipped quite a few pills here and there every month and i am still not pregnant.

Cons:

i get cramps and heavy periods and it's really expensive

if you don't want to get pregnant than it's for you but other than that it kinda sucks
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November 18, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

you wont get pregnant and it is cheap but not worth the many side-effects

Cons:

horrible cramps, depression, severe acne, dissiness, blurry vision, forgetfulness, nausea, trouble sleeping, weight gain, increased appetite, sore breasts, longer and heavier period and i get it at weird times

Ocella sucks!!! no words to explain. I feel horrible always sad and in pain. i don't find joy in anything. My acne was finally starting to get better and i was about to go on acutane. but when you go on acutane you have to be on a birth control. so this is where my problems began. now i have trouble sleeping and i wake up a million ties during the night. i am always tired and hungry. not to mention the HORRIBLE cramps I get that make me feel like i'm going to die. I also and always nauseous and depressed. There is no up-side to this medication. It made my bad acne even worse and I see no advantage in taking this except you wont get pregnant.
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November 6, 2008

Pros:

i haven't got pregnant

Cons:

Been throwing up for days, period started about 3 days after i started the pill and has not stopped yet (very low flow but there).

I don't think its worth the low price to feel horrible all the time, headaches, non stop bleeding, nausiated for days, still waiting for overall outcome, but its not looking good.
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