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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Used Oral Contraceptives? Rate It:

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November 3, 2008

Pros:

Prevention of pregnancy... duh! Also acne has cleared up.

Cons:

Very minimal nausea.

So far so good. I haven't been on it that long but I would recommend it. I really have noticed a decrease in my acne.
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November 3, 2008

Pros:

It made my periods shorter and lighter thats about it,

Cons:

weight gain, bad headaches, food cravings, mood swings, sore breasts, nausea, just over all yucky!!

this pill is not worth it, if u want shorter lighter periods and can handle all those side effects then i would say go for it. Other wise this pill is useless,
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November 1, 2008

Pros:

I didnt really have any problems with it not really any side affects and its affordable. Boobs got a little bigger.

Cons:

Did not help with my skin it actually made it WORSE!! Depression.

My face never broke out like it has now after i started taking this bc and it stresses me out a lot. I mean i like it other wise because i have no side affects. i had a few cramps but nothing horrible and shorter lighter periods !!
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October 30, 2008

Pros:

No cramps, less acne, no pregnancy.

Cons:

A little weight gain, sore breasts, nausea.

I would recommend it and that's it.
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October 26, 2008

Pros:

It's also a contraceptive; I don't remember any other pros...

Cons:

If you miss 1 pill you have to take 2 together thus giving you a larger dose of hormones. This defeats the purpose of a low dose to control acne!

I used Ortho Tricyclen Lo a few years ago. My hormones are a primary cause of my acne. I can predict my period based on how many inflammed spots I have. I had to stop using Ortho Lo because it actually made my face worse than it had EVER been. Occassionally I would miss a pill and then have to double up on a dose to make up for it (as the directions tell you to do). Well this double dose of hormones would cause me to break out horribly!! It was NOT worth it. I haven't used birth control pills ever since then...my boyfriend just wears a condom. I really want to try Nuvaring since I wouldn't have to worry about missed doses then!
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October 23, 2008

Pros:

It did help with my acne. My face was clearing up; only had a few small zits here and there. Much improvement. Didn't cause sleeplessness, depression, or irritability as other BCs have done with me.

Cons:

It made me a little sick to my stomach. It caused vivid dreams. But, the worse is that I believed it caused me to have a bad anxiety attack. I don't use it anymore.

When it comes to BC, it's just guessing and testing. If you have bad acne (especially as an adult), and you've never tried a tri-cycle type BC (a different type of pill for each week), then I would suggest to give it a shot. This stuff was helping my acne, and I would have stayed on it if I didn't have the anxiety attack. I tried Yaz before, and it caused minor anxiety attacks, so I know BC can do that to me. I just don't have any luck with this stuff! I hope you have better fortune with this than me because it might help clear your face.
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October 17, 2008

Pros:

No Back and Chest Acne, No Headaches, Regulated Periods, Bigger Boobs, No side Effects, No Weight Gain

Cons:

Acne on Chin.

I have been on OTC Lo for about 6 months now. I had lots of back acne and chat acne. I used it primarily not to get pregnant and for my acne. On the 1st month, I lost my back an chest acne. Now its soft as a baby. My boobs grew a little bit smaller. Breast Soreness does not bother me. My periods are regulated. The only problem I have right now, after 6 months of using it, is my facial acne. It is bothering me. Mostly on the chin. I will try to observe it for a month or two. If it will not work, ill switch to OTC regular. Higher estrogen helps cure acne.
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October 15, 2008

Pros:

Period predictability, clearness of complection, lighter/shorter periods, and no cramps.

Cons:

Headaces, sensitive boobs, nausea for a month and slowly dissapeared.

The first month and a half are ruff but then after the body adjusted to the pills it was great. (Some pills you don't have as many periods but if you have unprotected sex and missed a pill how would you know your pregnant?) OTC has lighter and predictable periods to give you some warning if you might be pregnant. Overall this product does its purpose of keeping one's hormones regular and preventing pregnancies. I would definitely recommend this product to women.
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October 13, 2008

Pros:

After a 2 months it cleared up moderate acne on face and back acne. Regulates period. No cramps during menstrual cycle and very regular bleeding. Doubles as birth control (Although I recommend using some other form of contraception as well)

Cons:

Depression. Tendency to become overly emotional. Slight weight gain.

I wouldn't recommend this to girls with only a mild acne problem. I have never been a very emotional person, but when I started using this I became severely depressed (No exaggeration), especially around the last few days of the pill right before my period. So if you already have an existing depression problem, I strongly suggest that you NOT take this. But if you can manage to get through a few speed bumps, it was worth it for me. I've had acne here and there since I was 14, I'm 18 now and this really helped clear it up, especially the back acne. But it's not for everyone. See your doctor and do your homework before you start taking it!
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October 8, 2008

Pros:

i had very slight side effects, my boobs got a bit bigger, no cramps, had no increase in acne, and i know exacly when my period is coming.

Cons:

i had nausea with the pill for the first 2 months.

the pill works perfectly. although i didn't depend on the pill alone... condoms CAN break [and they have with me] but no babys!!!!
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