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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March 16, 2009

Pros:

no babies, cheap!

Cons:

moodiness!

i have been on ortho tri cyclen 3 months now. before i went on bc i had light acne, but like everyone i wanted no acne... my breakouts were usually about a week before my period so i expected bc to clear everything up... nope. it has had absolutely no effect on anything. i honestly had better results of clearing my acne when i was just being really careful about what i was eating and drinking, water is the key! but yea i haven't been careful about my eating habits these last couple months, so perhaps i'll just have to take up drinking ridiculous amounts of water again. and on top of not meeting my expectations on acne control, it has turned me into a cry baby! before birth control i had impeccable control over my emotions, but now.... no way. i cry at the drop of a hat, and it is incredibly annoying. i've cried more in the last 3 months than i have in the last 3 years combined, absolutely unnecessarily too.
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March 4, 2009

Pros:

Clears up skin a bit

Cons:

Nausea

I have been on this pill for 5 years and I still get nauseas sometimes. I take the pill at night before bed and I dont get sick. This definitely keeps my skin at bay but does not completely clear up my skin- I am actually going to start to take Sironolactone with BC and hopefully that will clear up my skin
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February 26, 2009

Pros:

Affordable and easy to use.

Cons:

Nighty nausea, weight gain, frequent mood swings. I threw up a lot the first month I was taking the pill, but continued to feel nausea everyday, more so when taking the white pills. No affect on my acne.

If it works for you or you can tolerate the side effects, great. If not, try something else.
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February 21, 2009

Pros:

There was really no topical cream that would help my skin. I started taking ortho and it at first made me break out, but I think that was part of the process of clearing my skin. My skin is a lottt better now, and I dont break out nearly as much.

Cons:

None--no weight gain, no mood changes, no nausea at all

There are no negative side effects, and it truly did help my skin when nothing else would.
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February 17, 2009

Pros:

Clearer Skin, Increased Sex Drive, NO Pregnancy!

Cons:

Extreme Moodiness, Bloating, Weight Gain, Very long period during first month (13 days)...

During the first month of using this pill (having never been on BC pills before) I immediately noticed a change in my appetite and mood swings. I was having cravings for the oddest things and would go from being my normal happy self to ready to murder within seconds. I had my period (ranging from spotting to very heavy) for about 13 days. I am working on my second month on the pill and have noticed that my appetite fluctiations have decreased, and maybe a slight decrease in mood swings but not enough of a decrease to keep me and my relationship happy. Speaking of relationship, I have noticed an increase in sex drive (even though I am moody and bloated half the time!) Bottom (bottom) line: my skin has cleared up (with the help of RX acne wash), sex drive is up, moodiness and weight gain are there... but are decreasing steadily.
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February 17, 2009

Pros:

Predictable periods, except I didn't have one last month, acne clear, less irritable, protects from pregnancy.

Cons:

tender breasts a lot, missed period, weight gain, too many hormones, tiredness, severe nausea first month on it

Its good overall. Just don't know if its normal to just skip a period on it, took all the placebo pills and nothing. But does help with everything else :]
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February 16, 2009

Pros:

boobs grew...and after a year on it still growing a little :), cleared acne, has still done its job of preventing preg., predictable periods...although one time not to long ago it came early and threw me off but they are short periods

Cons:

i had a little weight gain ( a couple pounds), irritability, emotional

overall, great. just have to watch out for the irritability. i get 3 packs for 20 bucks so its worth it
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February 13, 2009

Pros:

prevents pregnancy, clears acne, boobs grow, periods are predictable, and no cramps and mood swings when PMSing and on period

Cons:

causes some weight gain

the only real downfall is a little weight gain (like 3-5 pounds) and this can be prevented if you actually pay attention to what you eat. it made me overall happier with all the pros. i have taken another kind of birth control pill, but i like ortho tri-cyclen better.
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February 10, 2009

Pros:

glowing smooth skin all over until my period, controlled hunger, prevents pregnancy, larger breasts, my hair was shinier and grew faster, eyelashes became thicker and longer, happier mentally, a feeling of mental balance. No nausea.

Cons:

breakouts during period, low sex drive during adjustment months, feelings of depression during adjustment months, up and down emotionally when forgetting to take the pill a few days in a row, breakthru bleeding during adjustment months.

Good pill. It's my first time on the pill overall and I really like it. I feel more womanly and happier with myself. My skin gets a little break out-ish when I stop taking the hormone pills and begin the placebo pills, but it has to be from the dramatic drop in hormones that messes around with my skin causing it to break out. Remember to take it on time or you'll get break through bleeding after missing it 2 days in a row. My period is sometimes delayed and I won't get my period into sometimes my 4th day on my placebo pills.
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February 4, 2009

Pros:

get my period on time,prevents babies, very small to take, bigger boobs, makes men happy when your own it, short period,

Cons:

weight gain big time,very emotional when i forget to take,hevey flow on first day,taken it the same time every day, bad cramps on first day

i have been on it for 3 years and i have gained weight and has been very emotional to every body i have been around but it has saved me from getting prego and it always gives me my period for the month overall it not bad it gives me what my period and no baby.
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