Anyone take EstroStep?
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Anyone take EstroStep?
| Mon, 09-04-2006 - 11:29pm |
My doctor just put me on EstroStep. I wanted to be on BC for my acne. I have never been on BC and should start it next Sunday. I was wondering if anyone here had been on EstroStep and how they liked it. Did you have any side effects?

My sister takes EstroStep (has been for almost 9 months) and has had no problems with it. She is very active and hasn't put on weight... although I think in the beginning her appetite increased a lot. But that was temporary. She says she doesn't think it's really changed her at all. Her skin is very clear, although she didn't have terrible acne before. Overall, she thinks it's a great pill. I've never been on it, but I've been on others that I reacted badly to, and now I am on one that works great (so far). Plenty of pills work out really well for some women, and awfully for others. And all pills come with these possible side effects, so it is good to be aware of them. Ultimately I think it comes down to the individual's body-chemistry and how it reacts. I would definitely encourage you to try it, and just be aware of the changes you go through. If your body doesn't like it, then stop and try another pill.
On EstroStep's website, they do say that it may improve acne -- although a lot of birth control pills make that claim. Again, it's a specific reaction: some people get worse acne on the pill. Just like some people end up gaining weight, while others lose weight, and others don't have any change. As far as triphasic vs. monophasic pills go, I don't know if that particularly makes a difference. Ortho Tri-Cyclen is the only pill that has been "clinically proven" to treat acne (but that simply means they spent the money to do a trial, plenty of pills can serve this purpose) -- and that is a triphasic pill. Also, I think the estrogen in the pill tends to counteract the androgynous effects of progestin (such as acne). This is a triphasic pill with increasing estrogen, which may prove beneficial. It also has a progestin (norethrindrone acetate) with a reasonably low potency. This is mostly just conjecture on what I've read about birth control, but I think it's worth trying this pill out. It might work out great for you.
Good Luck!
I just wanted to add: the triphasic vs. monophasic issue might not have much to do with acne (I really don't know though), but if you are concerned with mood swings, typically the first suggestion is to try a monophasic pill.
Since you have the prescription from your doctor for this pill, and you didn't mention any prior issues with hormonal birth control or depression, I still say to try it, though (plenty of people do absolutely fine on triphasic pills). I just wanted to be as clear as I could...
I know it is different for different people, but I wanted to shoare my experience.