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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May 14, 2009

Pros:

cleared up most of my facial acne and acne on my back

Cons:

must take the pill everyday at the same time with my hectic schedule

it might be difficult at time to remember to take the pill everyday at the same time, but it's worth it. i have been taking ortho-tri-cyclen for about three years now and it has truly helped clear up most of my acne. i have had moderate acne since junior high and now i am in college so i understand how everyone who suffer from acne feels. i think ortho-tri-cyclen is a great option and it's worth giving it a try. word of advice: go to a planned parenthood nearest to you and receive the pill for free. :)
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May 5, 2009

Pros:

Prevents pregnancy, increased breast size

Cons:

Breakthrough bleeding, breast tenderness, initial acne breakout

Im finishing up on my first month so the effects ive had could just be due to my body getting used to the pill (Ortho Tri CYclen LO). I started breaking out pretty badly along my jawline (and on my back-very odd for me) at first but the breakouts have stopped and now seem to be going down. Hopefully by next month ill be clearing up. What bothered me was the breakthough bleeding. I get my period for a day or two then it stops. This has been going on all month and is so annoying. My boobs have gotten bigger! YEY! Not as tender as they were two weeks ago. Overall I think I need to just give it more time. My past experience on BC has been great- totally cleared up my skin so Im trying to get back to that point again. I'll post again in a couple months.
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May 1, 2009

Pros:

bigger boobs, regular lighter period,havent gotten pregnant and helped me gain weight!

Cons:

none that i know of

I love this birth control, I've told all of my friends to get on it, the only thing i didnt like about it was spotting in the very beginning. I've never gotten any acne, I've never had it.Overall I love it and I love not being a mommy. :)
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April 14, 2009

Pros:

Didn't get pregnant, cleared up acne for the first 6 months

Cons:

5 lb weight gain in the beggining, severe acne breakout after 6 months of being on the pill. Painful, heavy periods.

I liked it at first but my acne went from one or two a month to 10-15. Too expensive for negative results.
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March 31, 2009

Pros:

Acne, good contraceptive, predictable periods, and tolerable cramps - mine used to be BRUTAL. I'd be in a sweat in bed with a fever, throwing up for an hour or 2.

Cons:

Headaches, and slight nausea.

I've been using tricyclen for almost 2 months now with little to no side effects! I am very pleased with it so far. I used to be on alesse but tricyclen is definitly better!
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March 24, 2009

Pros:

Predicatable periods, no ovulation (no discharge), less emotional issues, breasts grew one whole cup size

Cons:

Water retention= weight gain...like 3-5 pounds, acne got worse, breast tenderness

I started taking this as my first birth control pill ever. It helps with predicting my periods of course, but I took it for acne which got worse...but is starting to get better...I think my body just needs to get used to it. I'm WAY less emotional than I was before. I gained about 5 pounds but I honestly don't mind it, and my breasts grew, all of the sudden too! But not too much, so I am happy with that.
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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:

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 1, 2009

Pros:

-skin was crystal clear
- regular periods
- prevented pregnancy

Cons:

- Made breasts larger ( i was already a d cup, i didnt want them any bigger!!)
- weight gain and bloated feeling
- caused skin condition of painful lumps in legs, known as erythema nodosum

worked with out problems for about 3-4 months then i started getting the painful lumps in my legs, which were attributed to birth control but they went away with medication My skin was literally glowing when i was on this medication, I would just warn those who may have had past inflammatory problems with their skin/body in general. it was ortho tri cyclen lo actually)
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January 26, 2009

Pros:

You don't get pregnant, period is regular.

Cons:

You turn into a psycho bitch, bleed the entire first month, cry, get violent and angry, sleep all day, and nothing is fun.

I started taking this after having a baby. The first month i had a heavy period the whole month. I had severe mood swings and was a total bitch. I started slapping my boyfriend and starting fights about nothing. I would cry at the littlest thing. I would lay in bed all day when I had nothing to do trying to sleep. it got less severe over the months but it's been 5 months and those things are still there minus the bleeding. and to top it off I was paying 50 dollars a month with insurance. I used to be a nice person now no one can stand to be around me. I'm stopping it this month and going to my doctor.
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