Contraceptive pills symptoms and conditions

I have been on Yasmin now for around 7-8 months and am shocked at the responses that I have heard. Now that I have read into this I have had similar experiences with this pill - I have been on countless contraceptive pills since 15years and am now 25yrs and heard this was one of the best pills advised by my GP but one of the more expensive ones so were reluctant to put me on it!- previous problems, migraines, high blood pressure, weight gain and extreme IBS and spots but this pill apparently would cure this!

I have always had problems with being on the pill as they make my period pains worsen, cramps, extreme IBS however when I am off the pill I don't experience these symptoms - Does anyone experience the same?????

Have been to doctors several times with pains in my abdomen,chest and had to go to hospital to get this checked several times and got scans all normal no problems - i wonder if this pill has anything to do with this?????

Since being on Yasmin have noticed changes such as depression and feelings of extreme loneliness, feeling not so great in myself even thou my fiance tells me every day am gorjus, mood swings, wanting to burst out crying, headaches, extreme tiredness all day every day, and most recently extreme weight gain to my stomach is this normal am healthy eating and started exercising more to help but seems to be getting worse?????

It's really getting me down and am in the middle of planning my wedding and find myself not being excited or getting annoyed but it should be the happiest times planning my wedding. Advice..........????

Hello everybody!!
I had a very bad reaction the very first time I took my first YASMIN pil. Well, I took it on a Sunday night at 23h45 and went to bed. 1h00 in the morning I wook up feeling:
-Dizzy,
-My hands and legs heavy
-I had a LOT OF TROUBLE BREATHING/ bad hearth palpitations
-then my whole body started shaking very badly
I felt just horrible, so I called an ambulance. They took me to the hospital and checked everything on me. They told me there was no evidence to say that my reaction was caused by Yasmin. But I am 100% sure, cause I was feeling really healthy and all of a sudden, in 1 hour time I was just feeling horrible. I obviously did not take my 2nd pil….
After recovering, the following week I started with DIANE 35. This time I took 2 pils, but I was feeling very sick (vomiting, could not even eat, etc) all day long so stopped once again.
After talking to different doctors, and seeing that nobody cares… Finally I’ve done some ALLERGY TESTS for YASMIN and DIANE 35. I was just sure that the result would be positive, but I was really surprised when the results showed nothing at all. I just could not understand anything.
I know that my reactions where due to the pils. However the allergy test did not relate my sickness to the pils. Does somebody have an explanation?? Any similar experiences? Do you think that I just cannot take hormone treatments?

Thank you!!!

I have been on Yaz for three months, first two were okay, not I totally feel prego, morning sickness, sore breasts, moodiness, weight gain, odd bowels. I tried to talk to my OB Tuesday and she got a page in the middle of my appt. Babies don't wait. She said to keep taking it she'd see me in month. AHHHH I can't do this, I totally broke down to my hubby last night and he said to stop it now. I have two beautiful girls, am 26, and am crazy!
Yaz has made me feel like my gestational diabetes is back, my head hurts often, I am cramping, lower back pain, irritably, want to sleep all the time, am short tempered with my kids....this is nuts!!!! Trying to get ahold of my doctor again, might just go back to my childhood family doctor. Good luck, I was on depo before my second child and had a horrible reaction to it too, even miscarried after I had been off of it for a year and still hadn't had a period. Birthcontrol stinks, I feel like I am poisoning my body, and why, so I don't have another baby. So I am experiancing, nausea, headache, stomach cramps, depression, crazy feelings, irritability, fatigue, sore breasts, decreased sex drive, morning sickness.
Good luck with your decisions.

I can't believe this!! I was searching the internet to see if there were any side effects from the mirena as one gets closer to the end of the Mirena life and I came across this site. I'm so blown away. I am getting my Mirena taken out in a week because it's been 5 years that I've had it in and I NEVER realized all the problems I've been having in my life was because of the IUD!! This whole time I thought it was just me and I was going crazy. So looking back on the last five years it's all making sense to me! Not only was the pain so unbearable getting it in, but the pain in my abdomen was so bad for 2 weeks straight, and no let up with the pain, that I almost passed out from it. My horrible boyfriend at the time told me suck it up. I said a prayer one night praying for the pain to go away and that if wasn't gone by the morning I was going to go get it taken out! I woke the next day and the pain was gone. But this wasn't the end. I developed depression ( I thought it might have been because of the crazy relationship I was in) which I'm STILL prescribed for and I also severe anxiety attacks,which I NEVER had before in my life! dizziness, lower backaches, crying fits, extreme fatigue and copious amount of hair loss, right around my hairline. I used to have lustrious hair which I had to have two hairties in to hold it up, now I can use a tiny little jaw clip to hold it all up!!. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it was because of the Mirena. I thought how great it was that I got it put in and didn't have to worry about it for another 5 years, since I have a terrible time taking regular contraceptive pills ait the same time every day. My memory has definitely been affected and another symptom I never thought would be possible is the weight gain. A year ago I was diagnosed to be Pre-Diabetic and have had to change my diet and exercise. You think I would have lost the weight, NO, quite the opposite I have actually gained more weight. I have little to NO sex drive and I USED to have a very high sex drive. Now this is all making sense to me. I really wish I had found this site sooner! Like 5 years ago!!! So thank god I am getting this thing taken out of me next week. I am opting to get a diaphragm fitted and getting all these harmonies out of my system, maybe I'll go back to being my old self! (tears in eyes as I am typing this!!! ) All these years....who would've known. I am still in shock!!!!!

I cant believe i have just found this page!!

After feeling more sore inflamed 'hormonal' spots on my poor cheeks i decided to look up 'mirena related acne'.. i knew that it had some side effects, like possible skin breakouts, but i really didn't think that i would have ended up with skin like a pubescent teenager.

i was diagnosed with severe endometriosis after years of complaining to my gyne at 19. i tried all the usual route of contraceptive pills, oestrogen and the mini pill, but non seemed to suit me, so i was recommend the 'mirena'.

i first had one implanted 4-5 yrs ago, this had to be removed after barley 5 months. i was doubled over in agony on the bathroom floor and often had my breath taken away with excruciating stabbing pains.

i had my current one inserted in May 2007 at 23, under general anaesthetic whilst having a laparoscopy to try and remove some of the endometriosis. Granted i felt rough after being in surgery for 5 hours, but once all the stitches were gone i thought i would begin to feel human again.

i have put on quite a bit of weight, i went from 7 1/2 stone to just over 9 stone in just over a year (i don't know what it is in lbs sorry!) believe me at 5ft in height it's noticeable!!!!

i have never previously had migraines until the mirena, i now have them every 2-3 months or so.

my poor long suffering boyfriend thinks i no longer 'fancy' him as my libido has gone!
my breasts have become so painful and swollen it hurts to sleep on my side, its painful if i even try to run up stairs, and the boyfriend is no longer allowed to touch them!!

and at certain time in my cycle, my tummy becomes so swollen, i look 5 months pregnant, in fact i was asked the other day when was my baby due...i was really not impressed!! during the swollen tummy time sometimes when i am sitting down it feels like the mirena may burst out of my back passage.. (not a nice image i know) there is a sharp stabbing pain and then a wave of nausea comes over me, this stabbing pain can last on and off for a full day.. i have told this to my gyne.. he had said it must be irritable bowel syndrome!! i have never had IBS before!!

all this at 24 nearly 25, i'm supposed to be enjoying these years, but with my skin the way it is and my body confidence shot, it is really really depressing.
i just thought for so long i was being silly and over reacting to everything, but obviously i'm not the only one..i would not recommend the Mirena to anyone, i fact i would not wish it on my worst enemy. ther are far too many side effects!

Since HTML is not allowed...need you to find the links to the following:

"whether an oral contraceptive (OC) containing drospirenone (DRSP) (3 mg) + ethinyl estradiol (EE) (30 μg) (DRSP + EE) could modify psychological symptoms and whether it could modify steroids interfering with the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-A receptors.

Conclusion(s): The results suggest beneficial effects of DRSP + EE on psychological symptoms by

decreasing DHEAS."

Beneficial to lower the levels of DHEAS?!

"Women With Higher Levels Of DHEAS Have Better Cognitive Function"

"dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), inhibit the production of TNF in vitro and in vivo."

Who is at greater risk?

Those who have the HLA-DR gene type and already have allergies/asthma.

Adrenergically blockaded conditions = AdBCs include the following: respiratory allergies, skin allergies, and asthma.

IgE will go thru the roof. Allergic reaction. Th2 pathway.

""It has also been shown that young women exposed to intensive stress situations,

with low plasma of dehydroepiandrosterone
sulfate (DHEA-S),

and a recent use of contraceptive pills are most at risk for

onset of autoimmune disease."

Apart from the mood swings and terrible irritability (which I have experienced with most contraceptive pills I have tried) Yasmin gave me uncontrollable, incurable THRUSH. It first started about three months after starting Yasmin and I had it for 8 months straight until I went off Yasmin. Within weeks the thrush subsided. It was HELL. I was at the doctor every month, using creams, taking oral anti fungals. But within a week of ceasing treatment, I would get that dry, irritated feeling for a day followed by the itch and every other depressing symptom of thrush. Each time I would be in tears. I was swabbed for EVERY STD imaginable just in case, but (thankfully) all clear. It was horrendous and I am disappointed that neither my GP or Gyno could identify Yasmin as the problem. I also asked my Gyno if Yasmin could be causing the depression I was experiencing and he said not likely that it was probably some other underlying issue which baffled me as I have a wonderful life in all aspects. I have just started using the NuvaRing after not being on hormonal contraceptives for over 3 years. I am about to rip that out too! I cannot use hormonal contraceptives, not if I, and the people around me want to live a happy and harmonious life. Poor husband will have to wear the trusty old condom until we've had all our kids and he goes in for the snip!

DO NOT TAKE AS A BIRTH CONTROL PILL!!! THE DOSE IS NOT ENOUGH TO PREVENT PREGNANCY. WORST SIDE EFFECTS OF ANY PILL I,VE BEEN ON. IT IS NOT A GENERIC OF ANY OTHER PILL. NOR IS IT MEANT TO BE A BCP. IF YOU WERE SWITCHED TO THIS BY YOUR PHARMACY (IN MY CASE WALGREENS) GO TO YOUR DOCTOR ASAP TO SWITCH TO SOMETHING ELSE. AND REPORT THE PHARMACY. MY DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT THIS PILL IS BASICALLY AN "OLD LADY HORMONE PILL". IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR A PHARMACY TO SWITCH YOUR MEDICINE EVEN MORE SO WHEN IT IS SWITCHED TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT YOU WERE TAKING IT FOR.

I had the Mirena inserted on 25 June 2007 as I was having terrible trouble with my prolonged periods. After having endometriosis and a cysts removed, doctors advised this would be the best thing for me, especially as I've had lots of problems with several different contraceptive pills.

However, since 25 June, I have been bleeding, I stopped for 2 days and now have started bleeding again! Hair is falling out, mood is really low and my skin has become really itchy especially on my face. No matter what cream I use, even tried anti-histamine tabs, it's just getting worse. Last night I experienced terrible leg pains in both legs.

I'm going back to the doctors today and am now seriously considering having the thing removed as soon as I can. I don't feel myself at all.

Has anyone else experienced problems such as this?

Yas

AVOID YASMIN LIKE THE PLAGUE! I never have got on with contraceptive pills, but this pill is absolutely the worst of all types I've tried. I specifically told my doctor that responded badly to hormones in BC pills such as weight gain and tender and enlarged breasts - well, two days after starting Yasmin, I started to get shooting pains in the sides of my breast and I grew at least a full cup size. I was miserable, having to wear sports bras and unable to move in any way without feeling discomfort.

The discomfort was not only in my breast, I also started to get extremely moody and a bit depressed. My best friend and husband and I were on a weekend seminar and the two of them called me 'punchy' all weekend. This occurred for about two weeks, succinctely during the two months, I was on Yasmin.

Other side-effects were: heavy periods, spotting, weight gain, dizziness and I swear, I could have slept my life away on this pill. I was always feeling tired and like I needed more rest.

I'm now trying Loestrin 20 now - hoping that will be ok for me.

hi kim123.
i have been doing a bit more research lately on vitamins and minerals to treat all of our symptoms but for me especially the anxiety that i still suffer from although to a much lesser degree than when i was on yasmin. i came across a very interesting article that made me think of you. it concerns vitamin b12 deficiency. the principle factor being anemia...ring any bells?........ many vegetarians suffer from a b12 deficiency as it is found in animal products...still ringing??????....... it is a KNOWN fact that contraceptive pills cause a depletion in levels of b12...are the bells getting really loud yet????? some of the symptoms of b12 deficiency are, anxiety,depression, tingling of the hand and feet,loss of appetite, problems with the ears and nasal passages and the clincher for me is the sleep problems!!!! those bells should be deafening by now. I suspect (but am not a doctor so don't hold me to it!) that you were already low on b12 and folic acid before you even started taking yaz so may have been feeling mildly blah with some nodescript symptoms,then when you were on yaz any stores you may have had of this much needed vitamin were destroyed and viola..your life was turned up side down! it may be worth you doing a little research into vitamin and mineral supplements and taking a good all rounder,ie b vits,magnesium,calcium,zinc,definately some fish oil if you do not get a lot of ioly fish in your diet. i'm not saying it will cure you but it won't hurt you and it may well enable you to come off the lexapro in a couple of months. i hope some of this will be of help to you.i am going to go and see a homeopathic practitioner in the new year and in the mean time i am going to carry on taking my vits.i know they won't cure me over night but i am sure they will help me in the long run!

sarah

Has anyone on or having taken Yasmin experienced actual chest pains? Like the sense initially aches/pressure in the chest? That comes and goes? I am asking because I had this and still do after being off of Yasmin for 2 months. I also have been diagnosed with a "murmur" (which is irregular flow of blood) which I think I have now seen plenty of women complaining about.

Has anyone now off of Yasmin relieved the trouble with the plugged/pressure in the ears? I am using a Nasal rinse bottle and that seems to help a little bit. I did mention in previous emails that a hearing doctor told me that they have known for a long time that ortho-contraceptive pills are odo-toxic meaning toxic to the inner ear because of the way they adjust fluid levels in the body which directly impacts fluid levels in the inner ear. This is just so crazy to me that they know that and yet, no where do I see this published and the RN's and Doctors don't know this?

this has clearly for me been such a lesson in responsibility for personal health and warey of drugs in general at this point.

hi guest 33365,
well done for being so supportive of your wife.
I had all of those symptoms plus more that your wife has had.
My husband eventually begged me to stop taking yasmin.
Maybe some women are not suited to taking any of the contraceptive pills.
Personally since i stopped taking artificial hormones i have felt so much better.
For me, yasmin was the pill with the most side effects.
My blurry eyesight disappeared after stopping the yasmin.
Look up naprotechnology.
It is a great and safe alternative.
Best of luck
murph70

hi guest 32977,
hi, a couple of things jumped out at me there from your post. The no sex drive is really common on many brands of birth control but one of the quite often mentioned side effects of contraceptive pills (especially yasmin) is the vaginal pain.This could be because the hormone levels are not right for you and cause the vagina to atrophy (ie become tight and dry) as happens during and after menapause.that is why some ladies have problems inserting tampons etc. the other thing that jumped out at me was that you said you had kidney surgery. have you checked that it is ok to take yasmin,did you have your pottasium levels checked? yasmin is a pottasium sparing diuretic and is not recommended for people with kidney problems. also you mentioned anxiety????? has this just begun whilst you have been on yasmin? you may find that once you stop taking it (if you choose to) that the anxiety will vanish on it's own. so many ladies have ended up taking meds for the anxiety when all they needed to do was stop taking the pill.
good luck to you whatever you decide.

sarah

ditto on the sore throat! i get sore throat and a muffled sensation in my ears about 2 days after my period starts, mydoctor is checking my throid levels again now i am off the yasmin so may ask her why hormones should affect my throat. nice to see you posting again abs528...how are you doing? are you hanging in there? i have been off yasmin for 5 weeks now and i feel like i am getting better and better all the time,i still have my odd days when the anxiety gets the better of me but in general i am winning,i hope this turns out to be the case for you too. According to my doctor contraceptive pills can cause a worsening of anxiety symptoms and definately makes depression worse so maybe it is the same for OCD? i have always been a "cautious" person but i think the shift to "terrified of my own shadow" was definately caused by the yasmin as now i am off it i seem to be back to being cautious...just a little more so than before! best wishes to you all and if anyone gets an answer about the sore throat thing please please post it here!

hi ladies,
yet another update! i have just been to visit my doctor to tell her about my recent revelation that i think yasmin caused all of my anxiety/panic attack/depression issues not to mention the huge list of physical symptoms, she hmmmm yes that can happen with contraceptive pills especially if you have hormone problems or thyroid problems..which i do! she is running some new thyroid tests to see what my levels are doing now i am off the yasmin as i became hypothyroid while taking them (i have hishimoto's disease but it has been under control for ages). she seems to think there is definately a link between poor thyroid function and contaceptive pill side effects because the tyroid controls your hormones as well as countless other processes in the body.She was totally behind my decision to stop taking yasmin and suggested a total detox from any chemicals and to eat well and drink loads of water as dehydration is also a major factor in anxiety/panic attacks and depression. rather than just dismiss my ideas she actually agreed with me!!! i was shocked as my male doctor looked at me like i was mad for making such a suggestion last year when i started to get all my problems,i was perfectly healthy before i took it! well there you go ladies that is my rant for the day! the moral of the story is...if you were fine before you started taking yasmin and you're not fine now maybe your birth control pill is the prime suspect!

sarah

i have lost 6 kgs weight and i am taking yasmin contraceptive pills since 3 months

Hi girls I have been reading your entries with great interest as I feel I may be yet another victim of the side effects of Yasmin. Since taking Yasmin just over a year ago I have been battling with my weight ( I put on near enough a stone in weight and my breasts jumped a whole cupsize!), feeling extremely panicky and being very emotional for about a week before my period is due to start, and really vicious after I go back on it.
It all came to a head last night when I made my partner call out the paramedics as I thought I was on the verge of a heart attack.( I'm 28!) Out of no-where my heart started racing and I became very faint and extremely aware of my heart beating - it was almost deafening! I had noticed a few months ago that this was happening but put it down to me smoking. Since then I have stopped smoking but the feelings are just the same!
The reason I switched to Yasmin was to try and help with acne, but I don't think it has really done that much. I have never felt so out of control of myself as I do on this pill. Prior to Yasmin I never suffered anxiety attacks, some days they are so bad that I have to take days off work as I can't get of the house.

I guess all contraceptive pills will have side effects but I can't wait to see my GP and get off this, it's just too scary!

Best wishes to all other Yasmin users, we all know what you are going through. XxX