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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September 18, 2013
Satisfied!

Pros:

Less acne
Increased sex drive :)
No oily skin

Cons:

Intense bleeding which is probably why I'm more tired
Tired a lot
Slight more intense lower back cramps

My face is less oily, it's helping my acne and I also have a great sex drive since i realky didnt have one to begin with:) but I am tired a lot and I have heavy bleeding if I missed a pill and not horrible but more intense back cramps.
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January 23, 2013

Pros:

No weight gain
Seems to slowly cure acne

Cons:

Horrible initial breakout
Mood swings

I have been on this pill for 3.5 months, about to finish my fourth pack. I still have occasional breakouts, though it seems to slowly be getting better. I did not have acne before I started this pill; it GAVE me hormonal adult acne. I am simply sticking with it because of all the reviews that tell you to hang in there. I'm hoping next month is finally the end of this acne bull$&@!! I went on the pill because I was previously on the patch and insurance stopped covering it. If you don't have acne, STAY AWAY. I had perfect skin my whole life, now at 25 I all of the sudden have acne. My self esteem has taken quite a blow and I don't know how much more I can take. This month better yield clear skin, and fast.
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October 5, 2012

Pros:

- prevent pregnancy

Cons:

- severe depression
- no libido
- SEVERE acne that lasted even when I got off the pill

I took yaz which kept my skin clear for years even after I stopped I'd get one or two but nothing serious, I decided I wanted a pill less linked to blood clot risk and tried OTC each week the hormones increase and around week 2-3 I woke up with a new cyst daily I was currently modeling and obviously can work until things cleared up but those suckers take forever. The worst part is my hormones never balanced out and my skin stayed that bad indefinitely until now I'm back on yaz. Biggest mistake of MY LIFE. This pill can work for some people but the increasing hormones just really don't work for some people. I'd go with yaz, it's more anti-androgenic and stable.
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July 27, 2012

Pros:

No Cramps
Larger Breasts
Decreased Apptite Initially

Cons:

Bad Breakouts during week 3
Breast Tenderness

I am finishing up my second month of the pill and so far I have not seen any changes in my break outs. It always get pretty bad around my pms week and this month was no exception. I would say contrary to what a lot of girls are say my appitite actually decreased the first month. I will notice how it affected it more when I get back to school because I tend to eat more when I am home. The most noticable side effect in my case would be how sore my breasts have become. I have very little breasts (A cup) and I can definitely tell they are swollen. I could give or take having the larger breasts because I am only 5 foot tall and don't need them to be huge. I've been on several birth controls before this and have had swollen breast but I think they have gotten larger on this one out of all the others. I am sticking with this pill for a little while longer because everyone has said it takes at least 3 months for the acne to clear up. I have hopes that next month my pms breakout won't be as severe.
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February 15, 2012

Pros:

No weight gain
Prevent Pregnancy
Predictable Periods

Cons:

Take The Same Time Daily

This Product Works Wonders For Me, I Love It
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December 9, 2011

Pros:

-Didn't get pregnant.
-My skin was beautiful while I was on it
-I actually lost weight

Cons:

-Anxiety
-Horrible irritability
-When I decided to stop taking it is when my acne started
-Unbalanced my hormones

I wasn't on the medication to help acne. But once I went off of it. I messed my face up. I'm still trying to get it back to normal and it's been over a year
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October 28, 2011

Pros:

No babies

Cons:

Unspeakable mood swings
Acne breakouts
Tired

I have never had a problem with any birth control prior to taking Tri Sprintec. I have been on Yaz, Ortho Tri Cyclen, and Seasonique with zero side effects or problems. I started taking Tri Sprintec because I lost my insurance coverage and needed something cheaper than Seasonique. My doctor prescribed Tri Sprintec because of it's price. To put it simply.... it sucks. From day one my acne increased. I have light acne, with flare ups around my period but this stuff made new pimples appear DAILY for the entire two months I was on it. Maybe I should have given it longer to work itself out, but after two months of breakouts I couldn't take it anymore. I've been off of it for nearly a month and my face is just now recovering. This stuff was terrible.
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November 6, 2010

Pros:

clear skin, controlled periods, not pregnant

Cons:

moody a week before period

ive been on it for a year and i actually lost weight and it cleared my skin. me breasts didnt get bigger. i would have breast tenderness a week before my period but thats about it. i never had regular periods and this helped me alot! i ran out of my perscription and havent been on it in 2 months. i did get moody the first month but thats done. i did break out a bit and i havent had a period. im not pregnant so its because of the sudden withdrawal of hormones. so i would recomend this for teens with irregular periods =)
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November 13, 2009

Pros:

I know when my period will come within a 2 hour block. My breasts got bigger. I haven't gotten pregnant (we use condoms and the pill...my family is very fertile) Acne cleared up. no side effects

Cons:

My cramps got a bit worse-I didn't get cramps before. Possible weight gain-first time I've ever gained weight, may be from going to college but as a div 1 runner, I work out twice a day so weight gain was unexpected

Works great, no side effects, no bleeding between periods, you know exactly when your period will come and it helps acne
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October 28, 2009

Pros:

none

Cons:

heavier bleeding, worse cramps, thinner hair, facial hair growth, dryness during sex, moody

I have nothing good to say about this birth control! If it works for the rest of you good for you but it was a total disappointment for me!
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