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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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.
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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!!!!
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September 11, 2008

Pros:

It keeps me and my boyfriend from having babies. Very light periods, usually last 3 days.

Cons:

Cystic acne, which is ugly and socially crippling to have. Moodiness, irritability, sleepless nights, and excessive sweating.

This is the only form of birth control i have ever tried. I have never switched because i guess i didnt think the cystic acne could be from my birth control, i simply thought i was too stressed out and get blessed with terrible genes. However, after reading some of your reviews i see that im not alone. Those of you who've had cystic ance know how embarrassing it can be, ive hibernated in my dorm room for weeks at a time until they started to disappear bc its that embarrassing. Do any of you have suggestions on what type of birth control i should try besides Ortho-Tri-Cyclen Lo . . .because this type is obviously not working for me.
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September 8, 2008

Pros:

Boobs got bigger

Cons:

Horrible acne...

It works great for some people...for me it was the opposite....I hate it.
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September 6, 2008

Pros:

None so far

Cons:

weight gain, moodiness, depression, cystic acne

I was on ortho tri cyclene for years and then I swithched to tri sprintec and was fine. Had amazing skin for 8 years and then after a 3 month break went on Tri Sprintec and my skin is breaking out all over my chin and forehead and the pimples are cystic which I never had. I am debating if I should go off the pill or switch back to ortho tri cyclene where I had no side effects and clear skin.
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July 10, 2008

Pros:

Shorter regular predictable periods (2 to 3 days!), clear skin, pain free periods

Cons:

VERY MOODY - every week of pills I either was sad, irritable or an emotional train wreck, couldn't concentrate, gained 40 lbs almost immediately upon starting.

Stopped taking Tri Cyclen almost a month and a half ago, skin broke out which is now finally clearing up. I can think clearly, feel more like myself. Mood swings are almost all gone other than the usual ones. Still no period. Feeling like I am to be expecting it soon or expecting something in 9 ish months. Oh.. and lost almost 15lbs already and have changed nothing else in my routine yet. Everyone is different, so my experience may not be the norm.... I certainly hope not. I have been on it for three years now, missed maybe a pill or two a year
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June 10, 2008

Pros:

didnt get pregnant thats it.

Cons:

constantly bloated, tender breasts, constant break through bleeding, gained weight, moody, didnt really help my skin

i was on this for 2 years and constantly had side effects, i just went off of it for 6 months because i didnt know what to do! I gained about 10 lbs and always had the worst hunger pains even if i had eaten! This was my first pill i'd ever been on so i had nothing to compare it with, i didnt think the side effects were that bad until i went off of it. Im now on yasmin and am absolutely loving it!! so glad i made the switch
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June 1, 2008

Pros:

nothing at all.

Cons:

i ate like a pregnant woman all the time, got depression, and my acne got so much worse! i tried preventing worsening acne but this just triggered it. i will never ever ever take this again :(

it sucked for me. gained weight because of my increased appetite and also got way more acne.
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May 24, 2008

Pros:

NONE.

Cons:

Worse acne, violent mood swings, violent mood swings, VIOLENT MOOD SWINGS!!!

I just started Ortho Lo and I have been a raging lunatic. I am generally a happy go lucky person. People come to me when they need a pick me up. Since I started this horrible drug, I have been angry, psychotic and completely out of character. DO NOT TAKE THIS!!
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May 13, 2008

Pros:

havent gotten pregnant

Cons:

ACNE HORRIBLE,weight gain,because i have an eating disorder i wanted to gain a little weight but it makes me nauseated almost every day, i have mood swings like crazy and my sex drive isnt even the same

screw this pill
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