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%

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May 31, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

I have probs with adult acne on my chin/cheeks, and nothing I have tried...skin medicine or other pills..does a thing, yet Yasmin makes my skin perfect. I also lose weight on this pill.

Cons:

Nausea in the morning, total loss of sex drive, and worst of all, intense, uncontrllable anger and depression out of nowehere.

I took this pill a couple years ago for about a year. Long enough to clear up my skn and stop the vicious cycle of breakouts. Because of this, any scarring started to clear up, and even the entire next year I was off of it, my skin remained calm. Only after a BIG mistake...a spray on tan, did my acne flare up again horrible. a year and a half later, after nothing else working, I am back on Yasmn. One week into it, skin is the best ts been n a couple years again. If it only wasnt for the moods!
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May 19, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

helped with acne some

Cons:

made me an emotional wreck, rage, anger, deep depressionn, leg cramps, black bruises, darkens facial skin pigment. oily skin increase major. panic attacks and heart palpatations.

I have been healthy my whole life until this pill, i would never reccomend it to anyone, acne is even better than this bcp. it made me have an irregular heart beat that would not stop,fast pulse . panic attacks out of no where for no reason,depression and anger episodes. which all stopped after this pill. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THRU MORE EMOTIONS IN MY LIFE. WILL NEVER TAKE AGAIN. give it a try if you want to play sycho rulette. desogen and mircette are way better and cleared my skin very well without all the side effects.
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May 17, 2007

Pros:

Breast growth.

Cons:

Weight gain,cramps, its made me break out more only there small and i dont get large ones anymore.

If you want to have larger breasts go for it. But my face has not improved its gotten worse and if my face does not improve by this month (currently on second month) I am going to stop taking them. Plus i went from a size 0-1 to sizes FROM 3-5. i am 15 years of age and i am in highschool.
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April 29, 2007

Pros:

No pros yet! I dont't think Ive been on it long enough.

Cons:

Weight gain, but it went away after the first month. Really depressed and bad break outs in the first week/row of the pills.

Ive been taking OTC lo for one month and a week now. I'm on it for moderate acne but it made my acne worse. I break out in the first week of the pack but supposedly it can take about 3 months before it starts working...gets worse before it gets better i guess!? I'm going to stick with it and after 3 months if my acne is still worse then I am going on accutane!
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April 9, 2007

Pros:

cleared my skin while i was using it

Cons:

no sex drive, depression, and HORRIBLE AFTERMAT

THE AFTERMATH OF YASMIN 28 IS MAKING ME SEVERLY DEPRESSED I NEVER USED TO BREAK OUT UNTIL I STOPPED TAKING BIRTH CONTROL. NOW I CANT GET MY SKIN TO CLEAR UP I HATE THE THOUGHT OF HAVING SOMETHING UNNATTURAL IN MY BODY.
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February 15, 2008

Pros:

Great skin! no pregnancy, short periods

Cons:

moodiness, migraines, low sex drive

I love that OTC helped my skin, I was on the lo dose version and never had a single pimple. The migraines were unbearable, the first day of my period and the last day, I would barely leave the house. I didn't realize it was due to the pill until reading the other reviews. I also just stopped taking it and my skin is AWFUL. I am hoping it gets better after things regulate. After reading some other peoples reviews I am hopeful that this terrible acne is just temporary. I was on OTC regular dose for about 3 years, then switched to Lo after a few month break. I had breakouts inbetween but about 2 weeks after starting the pill again, no more breakouts. I am trying to figure out if the migraines and low sex drive are worth the good skin? I almost think it is. Confidence or feel better? I feel bad leaving the house with this skin.
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March 19, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

No babies, didn't gain weight, no headaches, got rid of menstral cramps

Cons:

I find myself a little more depressed than I was before

It took almost 6 months for my skin to show an improvement, and the first 2 months it actually got worse. My skin isn't flawless now (with just the birth control), but when combined with my RX from the determitologist, it's the best it's been in a long time.
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March 12, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

Not pregnant

Cons:

Heavier and longer periods, extreme mood swings with an inability to control my anger. I just explode when I'm mad and cry hysterically when I'm upset or depressed. It's horrible... I just got off after 2 years of craziness.

Severe modd swings should be listed as common side effects because it can affect your life.
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March 5, 2007

Pros:

I haven't experienced any kind of side effects.

Cons:

Hasn't done anything for my acne and hasn't helped to lighten or shorten my period and I still have cramps.

**ORTHOTRICYCLEN LO** Because of the low hormones, you don't get many side effects. It's perfect for preventing pregnancy, but if you're trying to clear up acne or improve your period, I'd use regular OTC.
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March 4, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

Menstrual Period lasted 3 days and always on time, helped control hormonal acne, didn't gain weight, breasts increased one cup size.

Cons:

Made me very grouchy, tired and depressed. Was not covered by insurance. Did not clear all of acne.

Yasmin helped with my hormonal acne. But when I stopped taking it, within 5/6 months' time, all my acne came back plus I was breaking out on my chest and back. It is a distressing post-Yasmin side-effect. Also-- the depression was just as debilitating to deal with. Currently dealing with great resurgence of acne thanks to Yasmin.
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