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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December 24, 2008

Pros:

my skin is really clearing up & was considerably cheap

Cons:

major mood swings, but considering the skin it gave me, its priceless

it depends what your body is like to see if your acne is going to clear up, i had mild to moderate acne and it worked terrifically, but it is always different from person to person. Its worth a shot though. :]
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December 3, 2008

Pros:

No mood swings, light periods

Cons:

Heart pulpitations

My heart races once in a while and this is the only pill I am taking. Did anyone have problems like I do?
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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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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 23, 2008

Pros:

Clear skin

Cons:

frequent headaches, severe moodiness, decreased sex drive.

I really liked this pill the first 2 months but after that I experienced daily headaches and when I reached the last week of the pack I would experience migraines and felt severly moody. Ive been off this pill for two months now and my headaches and moodiness have dissappeared but now my skin has become very oily. I miss my clear unshiny skin but not having headaches is worth it.
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November 12, 2008

Pros:

the obvious, not getting pregnant, no nausea, slightly lighter period, no bloating or weight gain, stayed the same.

Cons:

possibility of some acne, possible cause of moodswings, a little more PMS

I don't quite know how to feel about this pill. I'm 21, I have been on it for two months now. I started oral contreceptives two years ago with Yasmin the first year, which gave me very clear skin but severe moodiness. My gyno switched me to reg. ortho tri cyclen a year after that and I felt pretty normal on that pill and had moderately clear skin, but then my periods suddenly got a little heavier over time. A little over a year later I am now on Ortho Low, and right before I switched over i had started getting acne randomly around my chin and jaw. It cleared up a little, and now its back...worse than Ive ever had. I dont know if its from the pill, I hope not. I hate switching things I'm putting into my body around so much. It has been almost two and a half months. Is this normal? I read that it can do that but is supposed to clear up after the first month. But now Im going on two and a half months. Also I feel like i cry over stupid things more. Don't know how I feel about this pill.
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November 6, 2008

Pros:

No pregnancy, lighter periods.

Cons:

Bad acne at first, bad nausea everyday, and depression sometimes.

I just started taking it so i think the acne will clear up in time. Also the nausea should go away after the first month, hopefully. Depression has lived with me before the pill so i doubt thats the whole reason..
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November 5, 2008

Pros:

No babies, larger breasts, regular periods, cheap, no uncomfortable side effects, skin is clear

Cons:

CRAMPS!!!!

if I clean my skin regularly, I never or rarely break out it works rly well and I don't have any nausea or emotional problems i would have liked to have clearer skin... so I don't recommend it for people with severe/moderate acne
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November 5, 2008

Pros:

It prevents pregnancy

Cons:

I am breaking out all over my shoulders neck and face. I am on the verge of vomiting. I have leg pain chest pain and headaches. I want to yell at everyone! Or sit in my room and cry. Screw this. Will i get sick if i just stop taking it?

That is the bottom line!
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November 1, 2008

Pros:

I didnt really have any problems with it not really any side affects and its affordable. Boobs got a little bigger.

Cons:

Did not help with my skin it actually made it WORSE!! Depression.

My face never broke out like it has now after i started taking this bc and it stresses me out a lot. I mean i like it other wise because i have no side affects. i had a few cramps but nothing horrible and shorter lighter periods !!
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