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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22.3%
4
33.2%
3
21.1%
2
14%
1
9.5%

Used Oral Contraceptives? Rate It:

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July 18, 2008

Pros:

Prevented pregnacy!

Cons:

My skin was completly clear before I started it but now I am starting to get bumps.

Everyone reacts differently to the medicine and I just reacted badly.
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July 15, 2008

Pros:

didn't get pregnant and my boobs look fabulous

Cons:

if you take it really early in the morning before you eat, you'll feel nauseated

It's great and has worked very well for me considering the fact that before I started Ortho, my period came maybe once or twice a year. My skin never looked better and my Boobs are great
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July 7, 2008

Pros:

did not get pregnant, lighter periods

Cons:

if not taken with acidophilous pills monthly yeast infections

works just had to make sure i took extra pills daily with it
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June 20, 2008

Pros:

no cramps

Cons:

MY FACE IS BREAKING OUT LIKE CRAZZZZYY! I have never had a problem with acne until now!

terrible acne, moooood swings...makes me wanna eat allll the time!
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June 19, 2008

Pros:

regular period

Cons:

I took the Tri-Cyclen pills for 3 months and end up with DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS. My left leg has been swollen for 2 months and also has the catheter procedure done however the problem is not going away

I would like to share my experience of this pill. First I got a stiff neck for a month. Then it moved to my shoulder and side, after a week I got DVT . My leg was swollen and hard so I rushed to the emergency and got local procedure done to remove the blood clot in my left leg. There is about 5 veins affected and my leg is still swollen and cant walk around. I hope no one will get this side effects-DVT. I am scare to try other pills. Ask your doctor about the side effects of the pills and ensure your blood INR is not too thick. Good Luck
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June 13, 2008

Pros:

Didn't get pregnant,less acne,lighter/shorter periods

Cons:

I've been on Ortho for nearly a year now and I'm just beginning to realize, this is the reason for my constant sadness/indifference to everyone/everything. I feel like I don't know what I want or who I like one day, hate the next.

Bottom line...I haven't gotten pregnant, my skin is slightly better, but the toll my relationships have taken..is not worth it.
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April 23, 2008

Pros:

i'm not pregnant

Cons:

emotional, mood swings, and developed acne

I have never had acne in my life, in the past month i have developed postules, cysts, bumps. I am very emotional from one extreme to another, i feel like a completly different person and not in a good way
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April 21, 2008

Cons:

sore breast, mood swings, depression, acne, upset stomach, reduced sex drive, body pains, weight gain!!!

this pill completely changed me and i wouldnt recommend taking it.
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April 7, 2008

Pros:

shorter, lighter periods, less cramps, clearer skin.

Cons:

I experienced no side effects what so ever.

The pill took about 3 months to kick in fully. My skin started to clear up a bit in the first month and got better and better over the course of three months. I also did other things to help my skin and the products that I used were very simple and non-irritating. I had never had acne until 3 years ago (I'm 23) and experience no acne in my teenage years. I tried all the products out there including proactiv. But since my skin was not really oily at least on the surface, the typical acne products dried my skin and irritated it so much that breakouts worsened. The routine that I stick to and stand by has helped me skin ALOT. Cetaphil cleanser, Neutrogina One Less Stress gel, Clinique Dramatically Different moisturizing gel. Mario Bodescu drying lotion, applied with q-tips and St. Ives Appricot scrub used once to twice a week. Mario Bodescu Flower and Tonic mask used two times a week. My face is transformed. Within three months, I have the skin that I had three years ago
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March 4, 2008

Pros:

Cleared up acne, great as birth control, regulated period

Cons:

Expensive every month, hard to remember to take

I was on the pill for almost a year before I was forced to go off for a couple days. Now my period is a week late, and I don't think I'm pregnant...hoping it's just my system getting back to normal. LOVED being on the pill, it was GREAT at completely clearing up skin, regulating periods, and as birth control. It was hard to remember to take and did cause some weight gain, (though I've just recently gained more weight from being off it) Intend to go back on, even if I wasn't using as BC because its so great to use for clearing skin/regulating periods.
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