? on progestins in BC

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2004
? on progestins in BC
5
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 9:44am
I've heard that certain progestins are more androgenic than other ones, which in turn are more likely to cause acne. Does anyone know which progestins are the most androgenic and which are least androgenic?

Thanks in advance!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 10:23am
Hi wildeyes24, welcome!

Take a look at the information on these links. The links in the text and sidebars of the pages have a great deal of information too.

Progesterone: http://www.fpnotebook.com/GYN111.htm

Progestin activity: http://www.fpnotebook.com/GYN115.htm

Progestin androgenic activity: http://www.fpnotebook.com/GYN112.htm

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 11:42am
For me, the pills with higher androgenic activity (like Loestrin and LoOvral) kept my skin clear. But the pills with lower androgenic activity (like OTC Lo) made me break out. I suppose it just depends on how your body reacts.

~Josie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 9:26pm
One thing to keep in mind when you're thinking about the androgenicity of progestins... In order to measure the difference between progestins and compare it to the androgens in an adult male rat, they had to use the equivalent of hundreds of birth control pills worth of progestin. Androgenicity is a bit overstated in its relevance, but some folks still feel that it's relevant enough to take a look at.

In my own experience, the most "androgenic" pill that I took (Loestrin) didn't contain the most androgenic progestin, it just contained a lot of progestin in general--and I had nearly perfect skin. I did notice that my skin was oiler when I took a less androgenic pill with a more androgenic progestin, and I did have cystic acne with that pill (Triphasil), but when I switched to Ortho Cyclen, which has the same progestin as Ortho Tri Cyclen (supposedly it's not very androgenic at all, though the progestin is derived from the progestin in Triphasil), and still had the cystic acne.

The Family Practice Notebook is one of my FAVORITE pill references, you should check it out. There's a lot of good information in there that can help you make pill decisions with the help of your doctor!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2004
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 8:31am
Thanks for the responses! I checked out the website and it seems to be really helpful! I was just wondering because I had been on Ortho-Tri Cyclin and wasn't having a problem with acne, but I got to the point of NO libido! So, doc switched me to Necon. I'm not breaking out bad, just a few here and there. And before I was getting the cystic pimples which really hurt. Think I'll just give it some time. But thanks for the reference if I need to switch again!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 11:34am
Just a note. When I was on a pill that gave me acne, I found that Proactiv or Walmart has a copycat called Acnefree, helped my skin considerably. Maybe its worth a try!