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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August 24, 2010

Pros:

(Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo)
Less oily hair and skin
Hair more manageable
Cleared mild acne on back
No crazy mood swings
Made periods light and short

Cons:

Did not clear up much of the acne on my face.
Might have made me a little more emotional but hard to tell if the pill or just being depressed over acne.

I took regular Ortho Tri-Cyclen from age 18-24 and it cleared my skin up completely but gave me wild mood swings. This time around I thought I'd try the lo version and although I don't get the crazy mood swings like the regular kind, the lo version has not helped significantly with clearing up my skin. I am about to complete my 3rd pack and switch back to the Nuvaring. I read a few reviews that said it helps but takes a long time. So far it isn't showing any signs of getting any better after 3 months. The benefits I did see (less oil, etc) were immediate). I would recommend the lo version to those with mild acne. No sense in taking the regular version if you have mild acne but if you have more severe acne I think you need something stronger than the low dose.
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July 26, 2010

Pros:

+Not Pregnant
+Light Bleeding
+No Cramps
+No acne(But i have never had bad acne)

Cons:

+Feel sick to my stomach often
+Mood swings
+Bad breast tenderness

I am kind of stuck on whether i like this birth control or not. I like the no cramps, and light bleeding, but this pill makes me some what sick. I feel sick to my stomach almost everyday, but it could easily be from something different. I am a moody person off the pill anyways, but on it i am a royal pain! Every little thing gets to me, and i get offended easily. The littlest things can make me cry, even if its not sad. Also my breasts are very sore, i cannot tell yet if they are growing or if they are just tender. I will have to wait it out, and see if any of this changes over time. Over all i would recommend it, if you can deal with the mood swings.
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July 12, 2010

Pros:

Fuller breasts, predictable periods, lighter periods, less painful cramps. birth control

Cons:

Weight gain, loss of sex drive.

I've been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for a few months now. I'm definitely not as big as a fan of it as I was with Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. Overall, I've gained about 10 pounds in my lower abdomen, hips, love handles and butt. I can certainly feel the increased tightness in my jeans. I used to have a strong sex drive with on Tri-Cyclen Lo, now I find myself shoving my boyfriend away from me at times. Before the pill, my period was highly irregular, it was common for me to have a 16-22 day cycle. My periods now are always 28 days. My cramps before the pill were intense, the doctors had me on 1000 mg of Naproxen every 4hrs for the pain. Now, I don't even need a Midol. It's got its advantages and disadvantages. It all comes down to if the individual is willing to lose some of a sex drive and put on a few pounds that are pretty difficult to come off.
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June 29, 2010

Pros:

has already helped to regulate bleeding

Cons:

naseau, bloating, weight gain & breast tenderness (but only on pill for 1 1/2 weeks)

I have just been on this pill for a little over a week to deal with some irregular bleeding issues--while i have some side effects now i am going to ride it out for three cycles because they are supposed to disappear within that time frame. I took it when I was younger and never had a problem---I have seen alot of posts complaining of headaches and emotional issues, etc.. While I cannot say that they are not a direct result of the pill--you should know that these are symptoms of hypoglycemia too and the pill has been found to effect insulin resistance in some which can cause hypoglycemia--a condition that can be "corrected" with a change in diet, so ask your doctor before you give up on this pill is you have seen other benefits from it
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April 9, 2010

Pros:

stopped major breakouts, reduced sebrum production (oil), regulated cycle, controlled hormonal acne

Cons:

melasma, terrible acne and oily skin after coming off the Pill, fears of long-term severe side effects

I used the Pill for 10 years. It really helped my adult acne at first - especially the hormonal variety that springs up two weeks before my period. After a while though, I'd say about 5 years, my body grew used to it. I even developed melasma (darkening of the skin) above my upper lip and on my cheeks and forehead. This is why I came off the pill, which resulted in EXTREMELY oily skin and major breakouts for about 6 months. Now, thanks to benzoyl peroxide used 2X per day, my acne is again under control, but I'm still dealing with the melasma. If you have moderate to severe acne, I'd recommend trying the Pill because it WILL help, just be cautious about staying on it beyond 5 years or so due to long-term severe (and not so severe) side effects.
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March 29, 2010

Pros:

Breasts have definitely grown and it's only been a week. No nausea and no headaches, which is a plus.

Cons:

acne has gotten slightly worse. i am breaking out mostly around my chin/ jaw area and my cheeks as well. i've become a bit more moody, but nothing too serious or beyond my control.

It's only been a week, so i guess i need to stick it out for a few months longer. I haven't experienced any bad side effects other than acne and becoming a bit moody at times. hopefully it'll be worth it in the end!!! PS. For those who have experienced clearer skin after 3-6 months, did your acne disappear suddenly or did it happen gradually as the months went by?
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March 9, 2010

Pros:

* improved acne
* regulated periods

Cons:

* weight gain, uncontrollable appetite

This might not be the same for everyone, but I've been a skinny girl for my entire life and still gained a good 10 pounds on this stuff, even after completely overhauling my diet, going to the gym and lifting weights three or four times a week, and drinking lots of water and black coffee every day. I even had to keep a bunch of cottage cheese stocked in my fridge just in case I woke up hungry in the middle of the night (which I did most nights). The day that my second period after quitting Ortho started, my appetite went back to normal just like that and I lost all the weight I gained and more over the next month without even trying. On the bright side, Ortho did motivate me to make a bunch of lifestyle changes to ward off the weight gain. I completely stopped drinking soda and started eating more whole grains, vegetables, and animal proteins, and I got lots of exercise and built up some muscle. I had a ton of energy and felt great overall, even though most of my clothes were uncomfortably tight. My skin was never better, too. After a few months, though, I finally got sick of fighting with my stomach and stopped taking Ortho. My skin turned back into pizza until I finally discovered the magic of Acne.org Treatment and talked to my doctor about Alesse, a low-estrogen BC pill, which hasn't caused any horrible side effects in the month so far that I've been on it. So, like, I'll probably review Alesse later. Bottom line: Ortho Tri-Cyclen made my face purty, also made me fat. I personally wouldn't take it again (and I went on it twice with the same outcome both times), but your results may vary.
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January 22, 2010

Pros:

Prevented pregnancy. Made breast bigger.Covered by most insurance companies.

Cons:

Weight gain, mood swings, break through bleeding.

This was the first birth control pill I was on. The first month I gained 15 lbs. I didnt gain any after that but still many years later I still can not get down the weight I was before taking this pill. On the plus side my breast did go from a B cup to a C cup! I didnt ever really see a major difference is my skin either. Only after trying other birth control pills did I see a difference.
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December 5, 2009

Pros:

Not pregnant! That speaks for something. My boobs got a bit firmer, which I did like. Less hair growth on legs. Free from Planned Parenthood in CA

Cons:

My period just didn't stop! I got EXTREMELY crazy, and depressed and exhausted, and I am normally an extremely happy, rational, hyper person! Acne got a bit worse, if that can be credited to the medication, but it didn't get any better at all.

I've stopped taking it and my mood is already better after only two days! Wow! I'm definitely switching!
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November 19, 2009

Pros:

did not get pregnant. no acne at all!

Cons:

i used to weigh 105 pounds then i go on this pill and i gained at LEAST 15 lbs.. absolutely no interest in sex, tired as hell, vaginal dryness, and towards 4 months on this dumb pill, i started to get really violently sick

sucks.. id rather see my dermatologist more often for my acne then deal with 15 lbs of weight gain.
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