Do birth control pills for acne also protect against pregnancy?

Dear Reader,  

The short answer is yes—Low-Ogestrel, and other low-dose combination oral contraception (COC) pills, can be prescribed as both contraception and hormonal acne treatment purposes. Low-dose birth control pills generally provide effective protection against pregnancy, especially COC pills, when taken as prescribed. Read on to learn more about low-dose birth control pills and how they work to prevent pregnancy and treat acne! 

What is Low-Ogestrel? 

Low-Ogestrel is a type of COC pill, which means it contains both estrogen and progestin hormones. Low-Ogestrel and other COC pills prevent pregnancy by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg, also known as ovulation. COC pills also thicken the cervical mucus to make it harder for sperm to enter the uterus. They also thin the uterine lining making it harder for sperm to implant in the uterus.  

How do birth control pills help treat acne? 

COC pills can be used to treat hormonal acne. Hormonal acne is often caused by high levels of androgens, a group of hormones that include testosterone. These hormones make the skin more prone to producing sebum—an oil made by glands in the skin—which results in clogged pores and contributes to bacterial growth. The estrogen and progesterone in the pills reduce androgens in the body and help control acne. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four types of birth control pills for acne treatment, which are Beyaz, Estrostep FE, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and Yaz. Each of these options is available as a combination birth control pill and contain a low dose of the same synthetic estrogen—ethinyl estradiol—as low-ogestrel pills with varying doses of progestin. However, many health care providers also prescribe other combination birth control pills for acne, and research has shown that they’re similarly effective. 

An important caveat is that the pills only serve contraceptive purposes effectively if you’re taking them as prescribed. You may consider consulting with your health care provider about your dosing schedule to ensure that you’re getting the desired result of acne treatment and pregnancy prevention.  

Does using a low-dose birth control affect pregnancy prevention? 

There are two types of low-dose birth control pills: low-dose COC pills and progestin-only pills (POPs, also known as minipills, which generally aren’t prescribed for acne treatment). In general, low-dose COC pills are as effective as regular pills at preventing pregnancy. Additionally, they may have fewer side effects because of their lower dosage of estrogen compared to regular COC pills. In contrast, minipills might be slightly less effective than combination birth control pills for preventing pregnancy. This is because they don’t prevent ovulation. They also require a stricter daily schedule, which typically entails taking the pill every day at the same time.  

What are the pros and cons of low-dose birth control pills? 

Besides potentially leading to fewer side effects and alleviating acne issues, low-dose birth control pills may also offer other benefits, including: 

• Lighter or more regular periods
• Improvements in period cramps
• Decreased risk of conditions such as endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and ovarian cysts  

List adapted from VeryWell Health 

Some potential negative side effects of the low-dose birth control pill, include abnormal bleeding or spotting, and not having periods. Other less common effects include acne, mood swings, and nausea. 

It should be noted that although low-dose birth control options can be useful in addressing multiple concerns, birth control in general doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). That said, consider using a barrier method of contraception in addition to birth control pills to help protect against STIs. For added benefit, they also protect against pregnancy. 

Here’s to a twofer,