Oral Contraceptives
Results
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...

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.

 [more]
3.4
1199
Read All About Oral Contraceptives
Compare To Other Treatments
5
22.3%
4
33.2%
3
21.1%
2
14%
1
9.5%

Used Oral Contraceptives? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
June 9, 2009

Pros:

Didnt get pregnant

Cons:

HUGE decrease in sex drive, irritability, mood swings, depression, break through bleeding

I stopped taking Ortho lo 2 weeks ago and i already notice a huge change. I feel like i am back to my normal self. While on the pill i actually thought that i might be bi polar.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 16, 2009

Pros:

Regulated my period, prevented pregnancy

Cons:

Made my acne a lot worse, mood swings

Ortho tri cyclen and Plan B are definitely the worse thing i've ever done to my skin. I had beautiful clear skin before but started breaking out after taking Plan B (like a week after Plan B which is why i didn't realize it was due to plan B until a long time afterwards). I then went on Ortho tri cyclen since i needed birth control and also because i was hoping it would clear the acne i got from Plan B. Right after the 1st week, it broke me out almost daily. I had like 1 or 2 new pimples a day compared to before where i would have none and my skin was very clear. I was very patient, thinking it was the initial breakout phase so i stayed on it for 4 months. After four months, i gave up on it and my skin immediately stopped breakign out as much. I still break out a lot (compared to before OTC) but no where as often when i was on the pill. I'm pretty pissed b/c i went from having beautiful clear skin to now having breakouts still in addition to old acne scars and rough skin.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 16, 2009

Pros:

Awesome for acne,no prego,decrease in appetite!

Cons:

nausea

It stopped acne dead in its tracks...it really works!
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 6, 2009

Pros:

Been on it for 11 years with no side effects.

Cons:

Longer you are on it, the more problems you start to have (spotting, etc)

It worked - no pregnancy!
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
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.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
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. :]
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
December 3, 2008

Pros:

no babies, lighter periods

Cons:

huge mood swings, cramps, fatigue

Until I started taking birth control I was a very emotionally stable person. My largest problem is this. I experience emotional breakdowns once or twice a month, when I cry normally I can't seem to stop. I also seem to get upset over nothing. My passion for everything that used to be important to me has vanished. I'm very tired, all the time, and experience nausea because of it.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
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.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 25, 2008

Pros:

Loss of weight, less appetite, not as moody, light periods(3 days), bigger breasts, :-D My anemia levels are now not as high, and the best part: MY ACNE IS GONE!

Cons:

A little anxiety, some mood swings on the last 7 pills, can have PMS symptoms with the exceptions of cramps at that time. Achy breasts at the very beginning of taking this pill.

I would reccommend this pill to any woman. Its very effective in what its supposed to do. Of course with every pill you will have some sympotoms, nothing is perfect. I was on Lo-Ovral before and had massive menstrual headaches and was ALWAYS dizzy and nauseated. With Ortho Lo, I feel much much better compared to Lo Ovral.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 25, 2008

Pros:

Stress-free. No cramps. Lost weight.

Cons:

Broke out where I never did before.

I'm not having any major side-effects, except for breaking out? I'm breaking out around my jawline, and I got like 2 huge cysts on my cheeks...Well, hopefully that goes away, but overall I think its a good pill. I think I'm only breaking out because my body is adjusting to the hormones.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 21 22 23 24 25 … 81
Next

Relevant Article(s):

Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website