The New Intimacy

Sex Fact: The Birth Control Pill

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Contributor: Kayla Kayla
Aside from being 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy (when taken perfectly), the birth control pill is also used to treat skin acne, regulate hormones during menopause, relieve painful cramps, and regulate a woman's period. Many types of birth control pills exist including the mini pill, combination pill, and extended-cycle pills.

Learn more sex facts like this in the Vagina: An Owner's Manual book.

Has anyone been on the birth control pill and found it to be effective for treating acne? If you haven't been on the birth control pill, do you think you'd try it?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
Yes, I've been on the birth control pill. It made my acne worse.
8  (5%)
Yes, I've been on the birth control pill. It didn't effect my acne.
79  (45%)
Yes, I've been on the birth control pill. It cleared up my acne.
44  (25%)
No, I've never been on the birth control pill. I'd try it to clear up my skin.
1  (1%)
No, I've never been on the birth control pill. I'd try it for other reasons.
9  (5%)
No, I've never been on the birth control pill. I would not try it due to health risks.
11  (6%)
No, I've never been on the birth control pill. I would not try it due to personal preference.
8  (5%)
I wouldn't take it because I'm male-bodied.
3  (2%)
Other
12  (7%)
Total votes: 175
Poll is closed
03/14/2011
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Contributor: Armsjlove Armsjlove
I was on birth control pills for years but they never controlled my 'average' acne problem. It did take one heck of a bite out of my libido, though. ~ Arms
03/14/2011
Contributor: Coralbell Coralbell
It didn't actually clear up my acne, but it did improve it.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
Quote:
Originally posted by Coralbell
It didn't actually clear up my acne, but it did improve it.
Same with me.

My main reason for taking it is to dull the cramps from hell.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Victoria Victoria
I haven't used birth control in like 12 years, but when I did... I remember it made me sweat more. Isn't that odd?
03/14/2011
Contributor: Lucidity Lucidity
It didn't totally clear it, but I think it helped a little for me too.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Kayla Kayla
Quote:
Originally posted by Armsjlove
I was on birth control pills for years but they never controlled my 'average' acne problem. It did take one heck of a bite out of my libido, though. ~ Arms
Mine killed my libido too. It's why I ended up going off of it.
03/14/2011
Contributor: *Ashley* *Ashley*
Quote:
Originally posted by Coralbell
It didn't actually clear up my acne, but it did improve it.
Same here.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Coralbell Coralbell
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
Same with me.

My main reason for taking it is to dull the cramps from hell.
It helped a lot with my cramps too. I used to have to take prescription painkillers for them.
03/14/2011
Contributor: LadyEarlGrey LadyEarlGrey
I had the most amazing skin when I was on the pill. I also lost weight But it really messed with my period, making it much longer so I got off of it for that reason.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Stephanie Marie Stephanie Marie
I have never taken the pill, and I never will.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
My wife took the pill when we were younger, but it was actually more to regulate her periods. I would not ask her to use the pill today due to the potential health risks involved such as stroke. Granted, the risks are low, but there are other methods that have less dangerous risks involved.
03/14/2011
Contributor: KaraSutra KaraSutra
On top of making my acne worse I also put on a lot of weight, had horrible cramps and suffered from terrible Migraines. I went to the doctor after 3 months and he switched me to a lower dose - same thing. Again 3 months later went back and he switched me again. After trying 4 different brands with the same result I finally stopped taking it. In a matter of a month everything was fine. Sadly the pill just doesn't work for me.
03/14/2011
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
I never noticed any impact in the acne department with any of the pills I ever took. As a teen and in my 20's I had to try all different formulations, and never noticed any side effects from any of them.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Blooddragon Blooddragon
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
Aside from being 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy (when taken perfectly), the birth control pill is also used to treat skin acne, regulate hormones during menopause, relieve painful cramps, and regulate a woman's period. Many types of ... more
My wife has never taken the pill or any other form of birth control in her life. She has seen too many adverse effects with her girlfriends..endless periods, acne, moodiness, weight gain. Then there's those "have you taken this..and it caused this?" commercials. We are pretty natural people..

I don't know of any female who has had there acne get better due to birth control.
Sorry if this was not that helpful, but it is our experience.

Organic pure coconut oil in the solid form is good for acne..oil, believe it or not! It also clears up old purple scars.
03/14/2011
Contributor: danellejohns danellejohns
I was on the pill, like eons ago, I didn't have an acne problem but I had heard that it could be used as a treatment. I am not sure if it works or not. I went off the pill because I smoked and that makes it less effective so I figured there was no point in using that form of birth control.
03/14/2011
Contributor: RammaJamma RammaJamma
I would offer advice about the pill and acne but I just don't have acne. It did make me lose weight, my boobs grew and my libido ramped up as well as making my cramps ease up on periods.
03/14/2011
Contributor: liilii080 liilii080
I was on the pill but never had a lot of skin problems so I don't think it helped me really. And I didn't like the 5 pounds it added to my frame.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Pixel Pixel
I was on birth control pills for a year (tried three different types in that year, looking for one that didn't make me insane) but they didn't have any effect on my skin.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Alys Alys
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
Same with me.

My main reason for taking it is to dull the cramps from hell.
This is my experience exactly! I am just so glad that I no longer want to throw up/pass out/die once a month that even if it didn't do anything for my skin, I'd have stuck with it.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Annemarie Annemarie
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
Aside from being 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy (when taken perfectly), the birth control pill is also used to treat skin acne, regulate hormones during menopause, relieve painful cramps, and regulate a woman's period. Many types of ... more
Having PCOS, I use it to regulate my periods, clear up my acne and help with the hair in all the wrong places problem.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
I experienced about a 30 pound weight gain when I started on Depo at about 17. I had just about lost most of that weight when I started on the pill a few years later. So far, I haven't experienced the weight gain, but my periods are pretty light, and I still have no real issues with acne. I've been on birth control for a very long time, but I do think it has lowered my libido, since before I went on it, I was up for it more often. But since I'm not ready for kids yet, I'll keep on it and see what happens.
03/14/2011
Contributor: removedacnt removedacnt
I took the pill occasionally when I was younger, and I couldn't tell you whether it did or didn't affect my acne because I really never had a problem with my skin when I was young.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Redboxbaby Redboxbaby
I took the pill for 8 years beginning at age 15. I never had acne at all as a teenager. I am not sure if it was just me or the pill had something to do with that. I can tell you I have acne flare-ups around my time of the month now though and I am closing in on 40.
03/14/2011
Contributor: sextoygeek sextoygeek
I'm not on a kind that's suppose to help your acne. I had other issues which is why I got on it.
03/15/2011
Contributor: loveshocks loveshocks
I've been on the pill for about 2-3 years now. My acne is pretty much completely gone now (except for the occasional blemish showing up). I don't think it's lowered my libido. I'm mostly on it for regulation of my period (prior to going on the pill, my irregular cycle was a period for 30+ days, followed by another period very shorter after that for a week and then maybe two months of no period followed by another half-month period) and to lessen cramps.
03/15/2011
Contributor: PiratePrincess PiratePrincess
I've been on the pill since early high school for cramps. I can't say that I noticed a change in my acne, but it does affect my libido. Unfortunately I can't go off it, or my cramps will come back. I would have to stay in bed for two days straight and take vicodin for them... My roommate went on birth control specifically for acne and it's helped her quite a bit.
03/15/2011
Contributor: al16 al16
I've never used birth control, and honestly prefer to keep it that way. For me, that little monthly pain lets me know my body is functioning normally.
My close friend is on the pill and loves it, shorter periods, her skin cleared up, and she even seems to PMS less.
03/15/2011
Contributor: rdytogo rdytogo
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
Mine killed my libido too. It's why I ended up going off of it.
Still on it and it kills mine, but since I know that I make a conscious effort to make sure that it doesn't!!! Mind over matter
03/15/2011
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
If there was a guy's birth control, I'd totally be on that!
03/16/2011