Oral Contraceptives
Read All About Oral Contraceptives
Compare To Other Treatments
5
22.7%
4
34.3%
3
21.2%
2
13.1%
1
8.8%

Used Oral Contraceptives? Rate It:

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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?
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
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.
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November 30, 2008

Pros:

Breasts got bigger. No acne

Cons:

Nauseated all the time. Vomiting nearly 3 times a week. Mood swings.WEIGHT GAIN!!!!! I've gained almost 15 pounds!!!!

This pill sucks i wouldnt recommend it, to anyone... It's horrible.
November 26, 2008

Pros:

Prevents Pregnancy, Less cramps

Cons:

Your body gets used to the hormones and wont like it once you go off the pill.

I have been a birth control user for over 15 years and have been on this one for 5 years now. I think this is the best one overall, my acne has improved and my moods are "stable"
November 26, 2008

Pros:

very light periods skin made my skin kind of clear

Cons:

bloatiness....and weight gain!! i've only been on it for less than a wk and i am craving everything!

Everyone is different and I just started...I just hope I do not gain like 20 pounds!
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November 25, 2008

Pros:

U WON'T GET PREGNANT

Cons:

I HAVE AN OUTRAGEOUS BREAKOUT OF ACNE ON MY BACK AND FACE

I GOT OFF THE PILL IT IS NOT GOOD FOR ME. IF YOU LIKE TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE AND ITCHY THEN THIS MIGHT BE FOR YOU. I HAVE NEVER ITCHED SO BAD. I HAVE OUTRAGEOUS ACNE ALL OVER MY BACK AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ACNE ON MY BACK. I WANT TOTRY SOME OTHER BC. I CAN NOT STOP EATING AND SCATCHING!! IT WAS DRIVING ME CRAZY LTERALLY!!!!
November 24, 2008

Pros:

Prevents pregnancy, clear skin & breasts got bigger. Free with health care plan.

Cons:

Bloating & gas.

My spotting only lasted for 2 days during the first month that I was on the pill. During the 1st month however, it caused extreme bloating! My stomach actually looked like I was 3 months pregnant and when I weighed myself, it said that I had gained 8 lbs! This has since gone away now that I am starting my third month on the pill and I haven't had any other side effects, but the major bloating, weight gain and gas was horrible for the first month! It was all worth it though because I don't have to worry about getting pregnant, my skin is clear and my breasts have become slightly bigger. :)
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
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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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.

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.