2008 Woodie Awards
Fornication Forum
Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: Culture
- Page 1 of 1
Q: Dear Fornication Forum,
One of my friends is taking birth control to control her acne because the hormones clear up her skin. However, I know this one girl who took it for the same reason and ended up getting blood clots in her lungs and brain, which apparently is a side effect to some treatments. What are your thoughts on this? Is taking birth control for acne worth the risk or even taking it at all and just using a condom?
Sincerely, Blemished Paranoia
A: Dear Blemished Paranoia,
My first question is, has you friend consulted a dermatologist?
If birth control is an issue or an uncomfortable choice for your friend, have her go to a dermatologist first. A dermatologist can prescribe medication for acne in a topical cream, liquids, injections and pills. There are also other alternatives to acne care; the market is flooded with products and treatments.
However, if your friend is having a hormone problem that is causing her acne, I would still consider first talking to a dermatologist about proper skin care and then talk to her OB/GYN about birth control pills or shots for acne.
Let’s first talk about the basics of a woman’s monthly cycle and understand how that can cause hormone problem that lead to acne break-outs. During a woman’s normal hormonal cycle from about day one to day 14 a woman releases low to moderate levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen.
Generally, at about day 14 ovulation begins. Ovulation is the time when the egg is released from the ovaries and begins to travel down the fallopian tubes. Just before ovulation, to facilitate the release of the egg from the ovary, the body releases large amounts of the hormone estrogen. Just after ovulation the uterine lining also changes and becomes thicker.
Essentially the body is preparing for fertilization and implantation of the egg on the uterine wall. As the egg travels down the fallopian tubes, the levels of estrogen fall, and at about day 20-22, the levels of progesterone increase and the egg itself begins to secrete progesterone. These fluctuations in hormones create both good and bad changes throughout the body, and acne is one of the bad changes for women.
Next, let’s talk about the pill and how it works. The birth control pill contains synthetic estrogen and synthetic progesterone, called progestin. The pill works by changing the levels of estrogen and progesterone in your body and these changes suppress ovulation, i.e. prevent the egg from being released from the ovary. Birth control can both prevent and cause acne depending upon the strength of the pills’ hormone composition. Some pills are higher in progesterone and some pills are higher in estrogen. Pills that are higher in the synthetic hormone progestin stimulate the glands in your skin to produce more sebum (oily substance) and create acne. Pills that contain less of the hormone progestin will most likely not stimulate sebum production and help clear up acne.
There are many brands of birth control on the market that vary in the doses of hormones and a person should experiment to find a pill that is right for her. Have your doctor help decipher which one of these brands interacts best with your reproductive system. Right now the most popular and FDA approved brand of birth control for acne is Ortho Tri-cylcen. Other pills recommended for treating acne are: Desogen, Demulen, Brevicon, Oycon 35, Ortho Novum 7/7/7 and Nelova.
Yes, there are risks involved in taking birth control pills, and yes, blood clots are one of those risks. Other risks involved in taking birth control pills are: weight gain and fluid retention, breast tenderness, abdominal pain and nausea, chest pain, headaches, mood changes and spotting between periods. If you already have a medical condition such as heart disease, high blood pressure, hepatitis or jaundice or a history of migraines or blood clots, this is considered a contraindication, meaning you probably should not take birth control. In this situation, the best thing to do is discuss your medical history with your doctor.
To answer your last question, “Is it worth the risk?” The best advice: become educated about your own body and how it works, be smart and make informed decisions about your body and health. Be informed and make informed decisions about contraception choice and use or practice abstinence. If hormones or hormone imbalances are a problem, getting exercise, changing your diet, drinking more water, sleeping well, as well as living a health lifestyle, is the best prescription.
***All questions sent to “Fornication Forum” are answered in a professional, respectful manner and researched by trained medical professionals, while written up and edited by The Arbiter’s culture section staff. To submit your own sexual health related questions, e-mail them to culture@arbiteronline.com, with the subject “Fornication Forum.” All e-mails will be kept anonymous to respect the privacy of those individuals.
One of my friends is taking birth control to control her acne because the hormones clear up her skin. However, I know this one girl who took it for the same reason and ended up getting blood clots in her lungs and brain, which apparently is a side effect to some treatments. What are your thoughts on this? Is taking birth control for acne worth the risk or even taking it at all and just using a condom?
Sincerely, Blemished Paranoia
A: Dear Blemished Paranoia,
My first question is, has you friend consulted a dermatologist?
If birth control is an issue or an uncomfortable choice for your friend, have her go to a dermatologist first. A dermatologist can prescribe medication for acne in a topical cream, liquids, injections and pills. There are also other alternatives to acne care; the market is flooded with products and treatments.
However, if your friend is having a hormone problem that is causing her acne, I would still consider first talking to a dermatologist about proper skin care and then talk to her OB/GYN about birth control pills or shots for acne.
Let’s first talk about the basics of a woman’s monthly cycle and understand how that can cause hormone problem that lead to acne break-outs. During a woman’s normal hormonal cycle from about day one to day 14 a woman releases low to moderate levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen.
Generally, at about day 14 ovulation begins. Ovulation is the time when the egg is released from the ovaries and begins to travel down the fallopian tubes. Just before ovulation, to facilitate the release of the egg from the ovary, the body releases large amounts of the hormone estrogen. Just after ovulation the uterine lining also changes and becomes thicker.
Essentially the body is preparing for fertilization and implantation of the egg on the uterine wall. As the egg travels down the fallopian tubes, the levels of estrogen fall, and at about day 20-22, the levels of progesterone increase and the egg itself begins to secrete progesterone. These fluctuations in hormones create both good and bad changes throughout the body, and acne is one of the bad changes for women.
Next, let’s talk about the pill and how it works. The birth control pill contains synthetic estrogen and synthetic progesterone, called progestin. The pill works by changing the levels of estrogen and progesterone in your body and these changes suppress ovulation, i.e. prevent the egg from being released from the ovary. Birth control can both prevent and cause acne depending upon the strength of the pills’ hormone composition. Some pills are higher in progesterone and some pills are higher in estrogen. Pills that are higher in the synthetic hormone progestin stimulate the glands in your skin to produce more sebum (oily substance) and create acne. Pills that contain less of the hormone progestin will most likely not stimulate sebum production and help clear up acne.
There are many brands of birth control on the market that vary in the doses of hormones and a person should experiment to find a pill that is right for her. Have your doctor help decipher which one of these brands interacts best with your reproductive system. Right now the most popular and FDA approved brand of birth control for acne is Ortho Tri-cylcen. Other pills recommended for treating acne are: Desogen, Demulen, Brevicon, Oycon 35, Ortho Novum 7/7/7 and Nelova.
Yes, there are risks involved in taking birth control pills, and yes, blood clots are one of those risks. Other risks involved in taking birth control pills are: weight gain and fluid retention, breast tenderness, abdominal pain and nausea, chest pain, headaches, mood changes and spotting between periods. If you already have a medical condition such as heart disease, high blood pressure, hepatitis or jaundice or a history of migraines or blood clots, this is considered a contraindication, meaning you probably should not take birth control. In this situation, the best thing to do is discuss your medical history with your doctor.
To answer your last question, “Is it worth the risk?” The best advice: become educated about your own body and how it works, be smart and make informed decisions about your body and health. Be informed and make informed decisions about contraception choice and use or practice abstinence. If hormones or hormone imbalances are a problem, getting exercise, changing your diet, drinking more water, sleeping well, as well as living a health lifestyle, is the best prescription.
***All questions sent to “Fornication Forum” are answered in a professional, respectful manner and researched by trained medical professionals, while written up and edited by The Arbiter’s culture section staff. To submit your own sexual health related questions, e-mail them to culture@arbiteronline.com, with the subject “Fornication Forum.” All e-mails will be kept anonymous to respect the privacy of those individuals.
Be the first to comment on this story