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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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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November 4, 2016
Give it time!
Even though I am only 20, I have struggled with acne many times. I tried multiple antibitics that worked temporarily, but then either gave me a severe allergic reaction (Minocycline) or stopped working (Bactrim). I even tried Accutane and it was only successful for a couple months following treatment. Anyways after the antibiotics stopped working I felt hopeless. All of a sudden I was plagued with large, painful, cystic acne that covered my chin and cheeks. As many of you know, acne does not really boost your self-esteem. I really struggled to even want to be seen. After doing some research I learned that cystic acne is often a result of hormonal imbalances. This led me to try birth control. In the first couple of months my acne seemed to get worse and I felt as if I was doomed to have bad skin. Seemingly everyday I came back to this site to read reviews about people who said to give the medication time and that after 3 months it really starts working. I sure am glad I stuck with it! My face is now clear. Sure I have a couple pop up now and then, but using topical Retin-A and sulfur ointment really does a good job of zapping them quickly. This medication is well worth the initial struggle. I should also add that in the beginning of taking the medication I did feel very strong mood swings, for me they went away after the initial hormone shock. I wish you the best and hope you find your cure!
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August 11, 2014
NO acne, regular cycles and NO babies ;)
I am married with a 4 year old. I neeeeeed contraception. Haha I decided to go with Nexplanon ("Implanon" at the time) simply for the fact that I was scared I would miss pills (I am scatter brained and never in the same place every day). After getting my second one (not sure why, but the first implant did not break my skin out) implanted in late July 2013, my acne kept getting worse and worse. I have "normal" skin. I'm not dry or oily, but I was getting some MAJOR breakouts. In March I was fed up with it and paid the $300 to get it removed because I had not had a good skin day in a straight 3 months (my upper back being worse than my face) and I was getting super self conscious about my skin. It was just a nightmare and I didn't care about anything other than getting my skin cleared up! It is now August 2014 and my skin is PERFECT (it did take some time. Probably 3 cycles of the ortho for my skin to heal and I did experience breakouts during the transition) I don't take my clear skin for granted now, and it is even better than it was before I had my son. The estrogen makes your skin clear up, but I have also COMPLETELY stopped picking at my bumps. That is hard to do, but your skin really needs to heal. I also use Dr. Bronner's liquid soap after exfoliating back, chest and face once a day with a soft bristle brush I got at Wal-Mart (it's like a Clarisonic with a long handle to reach my back). The Ortho has cleared my cysts and the exfoliation and awesome soap has cleared whiteheads and blackheads! It's awesome and I am absolutely loving a predictable period. As for keeping on track with taking the pills, I always keep them in my purse (just in case I'm not home) and my alarm goes off at 9 every nignt. If I'm home, I just get the package out of my purse and take it. Also I'm only allowed to silence the alarm AFTER the pill has went down my throat haha. ;) hope this is helpful and gives some hope to someone!
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November 29, 2010

Pros:

Cleared up acne

Cons:

Vomiting
Behavioral changes
Severe mood swings

I was put on ortho when I was about 15 because I had severe cystic acne and nothing else had worked. It made me vomit so horrendously at night, that I would pull muscles in my back. I had constant terrible mood swings and other behavioral changes. It wasn't until after about 2 years another doctor put me on Yasmin. All birth control pills I have tried have cleared up acne, and when I told my (now) gyno that I had tried ortho and that it was terrible, he cringed and said that it was such a nasty drug. I would recommend Yasmin most of all, but it's really expensive so I switched and am having good results with Mononessa right now. I highly recommend birth control for hormonal acne, but NOT Ortho!!
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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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November 16, 2009

Pros:

Effective contraception

Cons:

More acne, Nauseous, Cramps, Longer period

Doesn't make you pregnant
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March 9, 2011

Pros:

Acne cleared
No pregnancy
More regular periods

Cons:

Insane appetite increase, especially during the first week of each pack
Water retention
Weight gain
Mood swings
Little to no sex drive
Inability to climax

I've tried Ortho Tri-Cyclen several times, usually for the acne benefits. At this point in my life, I shouldn't have to worry with acne. The pregnancy prevention is nice, but not entirely necessary as I have had great success with a charting and basal method in that area. BUT, I am a runner and the increase in appetite and weight gain has been really annoying. I have irresistible cravings ALL DAY LONG. Things that I never eat (i.e. hamburgers, etc.) I literally crave so intensely that I have to satisfy the craving. Although my acne is gone, my weight has increased. I'd rather fight the acne in another way...
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January 22, 2011

Pros:

-Cleared up skin amazingly
-Lost a couple of pounds
-Cramps are long gone
-feel less bloated
-Not prego!

Cons:

-Feel sick in the morning
-Need to drink lots of water while I'm taking it

The main reason I took this pill was for my acne, My skin has never been that bad but there was point in my life my skin was HORRIBLE my doc put me on birth control and I have to say its a miracle I'm on my 2nd month now.
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October 7, 2010

Pros:

-no babies!
-no decrease in sex drive
-no noticable weight gain
-no noticable change in breast size
-didn't cause acne
-no hair loss
-very cheap with benefits plan ($2.50 with and $15 without)

Cons:

-breakthrough bleeding

I was on the Tri-Cyclen Lo birth control pill for about 5 months. The first three months were awesome. I was on the 28 day pack which allows seven days of bleeding and my 'period' would usually be about 4-5 days all within the placebo pill week. It didn't lighten my period or change the length at all. The last two months of this pill were hell for me though and I have just changed my pill this week. I had my regular 'period' when I was supposed to, then stared my new pill pack and after having only 6 days without bleeding, I started bleeding again. I bled heavily and constantly for 12 days. When I say heavy, I mean bleeding through a super plus tampon in 1-3 hours. I had about another week without bleeding and then got my 'period' again like I was supposed to. This repeated itself for the next month. I was so emotionally drained by the end of those two months from crying at silly things and feeling practically bi-polar but I'm not sure if that was the hormones or if I just couldn't mentally deal with bleeding that often. I'm not sure if my hormones were just overriding the low dosage of this pill or what was going on, but I wasn't willing to deal with having my 'period' that often. I didn't experience any of the other horrible side effects that always scared me from taking birth control though. My body remained very regular, I was horny as ever and I didn't get pregnant! If it had stayed like the first three months, it would have been a pretty perfect pill. I don't know how it is for missing pills, as I was really consistent with remembering. I don't ever get zits at all and that remained the same throughout the whole time I was using it. My sister started at the same time as I did and she has not had a problem with it. She noticed that her breasts were extremely tender at the start of her second week every month for about 3 months but it is not bothering her now. Her breasts also grew in size about half a cup size if not a little mo
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September 8, 2010

Pros:

Hi, I've been using this as a form of hormone and acne control for the past three months now which is the recommended time you take it before you'll see results. I absolutely loved it. In the first month my skin started looking healthier, and I stopped getting huge amounts of pimples everyday. Right now I only get maybe one or two reasonably sized ones around my period which is amazingly better compared to what I had to deal with. I also lost all of my moodiness and don't feel tired.

Cons:

My period is pretty average only 3 days, but there is some spotting ahead of that so when I start take the sugar pills near the end of the pack I just wear protection pads.

It's an amazing product and I highly recommend it.
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