I've been on Ortho-Tri Cyclene for about 8 years now, since I was 14. I. LOVE. IT. I hit puberty early and I hit it hard and fast. Ever since my first period when I was 9/10 I'd had a very painful, very heavy cycle, and had really intense moods and skin issues, namely in the form of the face acne from hell.
By the time my doctor suggested HBC, I had been using the strongest perscription topical ointment available to me for years at that point, along with anti-biotics, but to little avail. It had finally got to the point that I was going in for monthly liquid nitrogen peels, and while they did help it was very painful and distressing because the effects of the peel only lasted for about two weeks, tops. (For those not familiar with liquid nitrogen peels, I always called them the "popcicle from hell," and they consisted of my dermatologist taking a tongue depressor, coating it with frozen liquid nitrogen mix, and then rubbing it across my face; when I first started getting them done my doc advised me that some people found it distracting to try and meditate on whether the cyro was so cold that it felt like it was on fire or so hot that it felt like quick-freeze ice D:).
Anyway, since I'd hit puberty and gotten all of my growing done within two years of that (I was a *giant* 5th through 7th grade, though I'm relatively petite now), my pediatritian said that it was all right to go on HBC even though I was on the young side. I had some issues getting it at first, given that I lived in an area very conservative when it comes to issues involving sex, but with my mom's support I've been on it and very happy with it ever since. If there are any side effects for me I've not really noticed them; once I had issues with my insurance and missed two months of pills and that sucked BIG TIME, so I'm definately much happier even now on them than off. Skin is EXTREMELY better, my moods are more balanced, and my periods, while still pretty heavy, are much shorter and almost completely pain-free.
Only issue that I have now is that now that there's a generic available for Ortho-Tri Cyclene I have to call and make sure the pharmacy has the brand name in stock before I can get my refill. There have been negative issues with the generic now offered for women who, like myself, take the pill primarily for the benefits hormone balance wise, with the BC being an added bonus. I'd much rather pay the extra five bucks a month than risk the possibility of depression that comes with the generic for gals like me.
One funny-ish little anacdote about my BC: my younger brother also had similar skin issues. He knew that I was on some sort of pill that had really helped me, so he asked his doctor whether or not he could go on the same pill that his big sis was on, you know, the one that came in a ring and was different shades of white, green, and blue. There was a bit of an awkward moment where my mom and his doc had to figure out a tactful way to explain that mine wasn't exactly a pill that boys could take and get the same effects. ;)
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Sorry for the novel, but I love my BC. *hugs*
Date: 2008-05-16 08:41 pm (UTC)By the time my doctor suggested HBC, I had been using the strongest perscription topical ointment available to me for years at that point, along with anti-biotics, but to little avail. It had finally got to the point that I was going in for monthly liquid nitrogen peels, and while they did help it was very painful and distressing because the effects of the peel only lasted for about two weeks, tops. (For those not familiar with liquid nitrogen peels, I always called them the "popcicle from hell," and they consisted of my dermatologist taking a tongue depressor, coating it with frozen liquid nitrogen mix, and then rubbing it across my face; when I first started getting them done my doc advised me that some people found it distracting to try and meditate on whether the cyro was so cold that it felt like it was on fire or so hot that it felt like quick-freeze ice D:).
Anyway, since I'd hit puberty and gotten all of my growing done within two years of that (I was a *giant* 5th through 7th grade, though I'm relatively petite now), my pediatritian said that it was all right to go on HBC even though I was on the young side. I had some issues getting it at first, given that I lived in an area very conservative when it comes to issues involving sex, but with my mom's support I've been on it and very happy with it ever since. If there are any side effects for me I've not really noticed them; once I had issues with my insurance and missed two months of pills and that sucked BIG TIME, so I'm definately much happier even now on them than off. Skin is EXTREMELY better, my moods are more balanced, and my periods, while still pretty heavy, are much shorter and almost completely pain-free.
Only issue that I have now is that now that there's a generic available for Ortho-Tri Cyclene I have to call and make sure the pharmacy has the brand name in stock before I can get my refill. There have been negative issues with the generic now offered for women who, like myself, take the pill primarily for the benefits hormone balance wise, with the BC being an added bonus. I'd much rather pay the extra five bucks a month than risk the possibility of depression that comes with the generic for gals like me.
One funny-ish little anacdote about my BC: my younger brother also had similar skin issues. He knew that I was on some sort of pill that had really helped me, so he asked his doctor whether or not he could go on the same pill that his big sis was on, you know, the one that came in a ring and was different shades of white, green, and blue. There was a bit of an awkward moment where my mom and his doc had to figure out a tactful way to explain that mine wasn't exactly a pill that boys could take and get the same effects. ;)