Oral Contraceptives
Results
Side Effects

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.

 [more]
3.5
1015
5
22.7%
4
34.3%
3
21.2%
2
13.1%
1
8.8%

Used Oral Contraceptives? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
Number of Stars
Choose All That Apply
Clear All Filters
Done
July 29, 2011

Pros:

Cleared my face completely!
Regular period

Cons:

Some nauseousness at the beginning of each packet
Have to remember to take it everyday

I have suffered from acne since the age of 11 and over the years it got worst and worst. A few years ago I finally began to clear up and back then I thought it was Proactive that had done it for me. I didn't realize that at the time I was also on birth control and didn't connect the two together. A couple of years ago I stopped taking it because I no longer needed since I didn't have to worry about getting pregnant anymore. SO within a year and half after I had stopped taking the birth control, I noticed I started getting a few pimples here and there and then it really got bad. So bad that my face literally hurt :( At that time I came across this website and tried Dan's regiment and with the high amounts of acne treatment it was making my face worst! I followed it to the T and it just didn't work. I had read before on other message boards about acne being a hormonal problem more than a skin issue. That's when I connected the two together. I have NEVER written a review about anything but I am so happy I finally figured the cause of acne and what worked for me that I want others to know and hope it also works for you. There was another message forum on another website that someone always keept posting how acne is a hormonal issue and kept insisting to see some sort of a specialized hormonal Dr to check for any irregularities. I always thought they were just trying to advertise their product. But they never did recommend any particular product. Now I am a proof of that theory. It took a good three months for my acne to start clearing up and now 5 months later I am completely acne free. I think I might have a little one trying to come out now but other than that I am clear. Now I just have to deal with all the ugly scaring of years of my severe acne :( I know a lot of people have really bad side effects but I would recommend you try different brands. I tried a couple before I felt comfortable with this one and I even just use their generic brand.
This Was Helpful

38 user(s) found this helpful

Report
July 14, 2011

Pros:

Cleared Acne

Cons:

Diarrhea
Mild Nausea
Vomiting

I went back on Ortho Lo because when I used it in college, it dramatically kept my skin clear. Of course, the first two weeks of taking the pill, my face exploded with huge, tender pimples. However, I am on week six and my skins looks flawless! I suffer from adult acne and heavy scarring but since I have not had a breakout in about a month, my skin is smooth and the old scars are fading. The issue now is that first - second week of every new pack leaves me feeling sick, experience rare vomiting and have diarrhea/stomach discomfort. So now, I have switched from taking the pill in the mornings to right before bed. That way, I skip all of the negative stuff. I will continue to take this pill based on the skin remedy alone.
This Was Helpful

22 user(s) found this helpful

Report
June 20, 2011

Pros:

- Breasts are fuller. Amazing.
- Break-outs clearing up quickly.
- Skin feels more youthful on face.
- Eyes seem whiter, healthier
- Appetite suppressed.
- No nausea.
- I feel happier/younger. Feels good.

Cons:

- No Bad Side Effects (So Far) New User. Still on my 1st pack.
- Felt somewhat sleepy the first few days on the non-placebo pills. Perhaps just body adjusting?

I'm still only on the first pack but straight away I noticed my face clearing up very fast. My skin on my face seems more glowing and youthful. It's like a little dose of the fountain of youth, for me this is amazing! I have breakouts of adult acne on my neck, super ugly ones, that are hideous and big boil types that are red and leave really big dark scars, and now they're all going away. Every little bump is going away too. My face seems to be glowing, my eyes seem whiter. My breasts feel very full now, and have since the 2nd day on the blue pills (the first non-placebos) which is a good thing too. It's as if someone did a rewind on the clock of aging, and I am getting back skin elasticity and breast fullness which I feel like I had lost the past 10 years. I'm 41 years old, and although I look quite young and act quite youthful, I was feeling the loss of the estrogen as is natural at my age when the little gray hairs first start appearing and the androgen hormones go up and we start to notice little whiskers, and thing we never had before, and especially break outs on the neck. All of which is very annoying. This happens when our estrogen starts to drop. But, with these pills I feel great and am hoping that I continue to. My real reason for starting these pills was to remove this terrible adult acne from my neck and to keep from getting pregnant. So far, it's better than I anticipated. It's clearing up very fast, and no side effects to complain of.
This Was Helpful

55 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 9, 2011

Pros:

1.CLEAR SKIN
2.BREAST ENLARGED
3.LESS EMOTIONAL

Cons:

None that I have come across

I had been taking LoEstrin24Fe off and on for two years and it didn't cause MUCH noticable problems until after taking it a year, I was overly emotional, I broke out in cyst like acne on my jaw line and left scars behind from the severe acne. I knew I needed something different because my body was not wanting it. I switched to Ortho Tri-Cyclen LO two months ago and I have never felt better. I am not as bloated as I was, my face is acne free, it is also healthier (creamy looking), and my breast grew a whole cup size. The first month my boobs were tender but after I finished my cycle it went away. Overall I give this birth control a FIVE!!!:))
This Was Helpful

68 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 1, 2011

Pros:

breast enlargement
lost weight
cleared acne
lighter periods
less cramping

Cons:

felt a little sick first couple days but didn't last very long

doctor recomended the pill to me and I'm very glad she did. face is more clear, hair looks shinier, regular periods, very light/no cramping, lost some weight and my breasts grew. I feel more confident and healther. my doctor gave me the pill for free which was nice because I hear tri-cyclen is pretty pricey.
This Was Helpful

44 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 8, 2011

Pros:

Clears acne
Regular, predictable periods

Cons:

Can get a bit expensive for name brand, depending on your insurance, but it's worth it!!

I've been taking Orthotricyclen (off and on) since I was about 17 years old. I'm 30 now and it's the ONLY BC that I will take. I love it! I'm not sure where all of the negative reviews are coming from, but everyone's body is different. I will add that Orthotricyclen is NOT a generic brand and I have never known it to cost any LESS than $20 (copayment) for a 30 day supply. So those of you who claim to have received Orthotricyclen at $10 and even FREE?? You may want to double-check and make sure that you have not received the GENERIC version of Orthotricyclen which is called TRI-SPRINTEC or something of that nature. I usually have moderate acne, but when I'm on Orthotricyclen, my skin clears up wonderfully. Whenever I go off of it, my skin will stay pretty clear for about 8-12 months and then my acne will start to come back, until I start the pill again. My periods are always very regular with this pill. My period usually lasts for 5-7 days when I'm not on the pill, and there's no change in my period length when I'm on it. I also love that I can tell exactly when my period will start by where I am with the pills. By the time I take the last "active pill", my period is there with in 24 hours. All in all, I love this pill. It sucks that it's getting a bad rap, because it really does clear my acne up better than anything else that I have ever tried. But like I said, everyone's body is different. Just please be sure that it is actually Orthotricyclen that you are having issues with and not the generic brand.
This Was Helpful

37 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 16, 2011

Pros:

Improved my complexion greatly
on time periods
no spotting
few side effects
less headaches
reliable periods

Cons:

Heavier period
few headaches

This is the best form of birth-control I have found. I have tried Mirena and other pills including Yaz, lo estrin and some more. This pill has given me the least problems on the other pills I had severe migraines (but I am prone to them) and with Mirena I had awful cramps. I have to be on the brand name though as the generic gives me head-aches. OTC also helped greatly with my acne now it just flares up the week before my period and that is usually when I get more moody, but if I keep my face washed and keep persa gel 10 (bezyol peroxide) on my face it doesn't cause any problems.
This Was Helpful

29 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 9, 2011

Pros:

clears skin
no side effects
regulates period

Cons:

none

This really cleared my skin as a teenager and I stopped going on it as an adult because I thought it had stopped working but I was so wrong. My skin got SOOO much worse when I stopped and restarted. Always talk to your doctor before starting or ending medication (duh!). I wish I had. Now I'm back on the pill and I'm finally seeing results after 3 months. Be patient because it can really help if your acne is hormonal (like mine). Good luck!
This Was Helpful

28 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 22, 2011

Pros:

*Skin Clearing*
*Bigger Boobs*
*Feel Happier*
*No Cramps*
*Lighter Periods*
*Regular Periods*

Cons:

*Possibly bigger appetite, but not affecting my weight*

I love Ortho Tri Cyclen! I've only been on it for two months, but my skin looks about 10 times better and it's improved since day one. I started it for acne and because I had super irregular periods. I love knowing exactly when to expect my period and I love that I have no cramps, and my periods are lighter and shorter. My boobs have also gotten bigger (maybe a con for some, but for me that's a pro). Also I just feel happier in general, although that could just be a self esteem boost from my skin clearing up, who knows. I completely recommend trying Orthotricyclen, but it's easy to tell from reading these reviews that it affects everyone differently. I would recommend sticking with it for at least a few months though, so your body has time to get used to the hormones. Good Luck! Hope The Pill helps you like it has been helping me!
This Was Helpful

53 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 12, 2011

Pros:

Protection
Cleared Mild Acne
NO weight gain
NO nausea, bloating, stomach pain
NO mood swings
NO decrease in sex drive
NO spotting

Cons:

No cons

Like ALL birth controls, this pill takes at LEAST 3 months for your body to get used to it. I started this pill 9 months ago and have had NO problems. I have tried Loestrin 24 Fe which gave me horrible stomach pains, YAZ which made me have major mood swings, and Seasonique which made me spot every month. This is the first pill I have had success with. Please remember every girl's body is different with different levels of hormones released. With that said, not every pill will work for you. I WOULD recommend this pill to anyone and everyone. Try it for at least 3 months. If you have some weight gain, work out a little more & problem solved. If you have acne, watch your diet. Know your body and what you put in it. Know the active drugs and hormone levels in this and all pills before you take a BC. Take note of what seems to work and what doesn't. Bottom line.... I love this pill. Good luck :)
This Was Helpful

60 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 2 3 4 5 6 … 17
Next

Relevant Article(s):

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.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

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.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website