Effects of birth control pills symptoms and conditions

I am going bald after taking Loestrin 24 Fe for only 3 weeks. My hair is coming out in clumps. I thought my hair dresser had done something wrong, I started eliminating possible causes and decided to read the information packet when I realized that loss of scalp hair is one of the side effects at the bottom of the list. I have large bald spots in my head of normal thick healthy hair and the hair on my head now look very unfamiliar. I know I will have to start wearing a wig within another week.
I am so disappointed because I was starting to feel happy that I haven't experience any of the usually side effects of birth control pills and was thinking that I would give it the 4 month trial that my doctor suggested. I am a 43 year old woman trying to take this pill for bleeding control after ruling out other causes for my bleeding, now I think I am over trying pills.

I had Mirena in for 3 1/2 years. The first year was basically a fog. I started spotting, moodiness was ok, bad acne. The next 1 1/2 years I experienced light bleeding, acne , slight dizziness, some fatigue. On the third year that I was on mirena that's when things began getting worse. Around a month after my 38th birthday I started getting really bad symptoms. The worst part was the Dizziness. I got severe headaches, major dizziness, moodiness, less patience with everyone, weight gain, increased appetite, depression, fatigue during day, nervousness, panic attacks, some hair loss, bleeding gums. The dizziness was the worst. I would get panic attacks along with the dizziness. This especially got worse around time of period. I noticed just before I was scheduled to get my period I would get these crazy dizzy spells and anxiety. I have had numerous test and gone to Cardiologists, Nuerologist, Gyno. The gyno's are the worst. They deny that it is the mirena. However, I have been doing some research by myself and have come across many websites like this one. Most of the women who have been on Mirena have had the same symptoms that I have had. The one symptom that I did not here of was bleeding gums. During my pregnancy I noticed that I would bleed when brushing my teeth. Of course this is normal because of hormones. However, about a year after I gave birth to my daughter my gums were still bleeding. I was on mirena for about 6 months already. The dentist had me go in 4 times a year, because he was concerned. They thought it was bizzare that I had this promblem at 38, Wanted to know if anyone else experienced this? Also, wanted to disclose that in the early years of mirena I was taking Prozac. Around the second or third year of mirena I started to be a little forgetful about taking the prozac daily. This may be a reason why my panic attacks came on strong around third year.

The cure is worse than the disease is true for me with Yasmine. I started because of heavy periods, very painful ovulation, and cysts on my overies. Stop the periods sounded better than a hysterectomy.
My gall bladder has been very sore, and causing me the classic symptoms of gall stones or gall bladder disease. The ultrasounds, MRI's and blood tests are normal, the pain is always there, and very strong at night. I have seen at total of 6 doctors before someone said," birth control pills cause this type of pain." I have quit Yasmin but true to the British Columbia health system it will take another month before I can see my GYN. All women please check all the side effects of birth control pills, it seems so common, we take for granted that it won't be us that has the problem. Just for all you nay sayers out there, I already have a low fat diet, I am 5' 3" and 130lbs.

GUEST 37772
JOEY-

It would seem that you are right and very smart for listening to your body and to your intuition. What I can share with you is that for many, and in my case, my skin did look the most beautiful that it ever had-but in truth, and upon reflection, I always had compliments on my skin. I have mediterannean in my background so it runs on the oiler side in the t zone and I am therefore more prone to breakouts. However, the upside is less wrinkling/slower pace than women with dry skin.

What I will say is this, the horrible side effects of Yasmin that have been documented here, and on the UK site Flowerbabies/Sarah set up, is no case for taking Yasmin. It is so detrimental to our bodies and our health and as we all come to learn if we haven't already, there is no quality to life when your health is sacrificed.

Yeast infections are very COMMON with BIRTH CONTROL PILLS. Most everyone of them opens a woman up to experiencing these because of the change in hormones and the effect on bacteria and yeast levels in our bodies. It alreay exists, just in healthy levels. When there is over-growth however, it causes yeast infections-one woman here had THRUSH which is yeast in her mouth.

VAGINAL dryness is also a side effect of Yasmin. Please read the insert that came with the Yasmin pills. You can also google Yasmin side effects and read an electronic one online. Many women reported changes to their sexual libido while taking Yasmin.

There are a couple of birth control pills: Orthocept and Ortho-tricyclen Low that i had good results with. Ortho Novum 35 as well has been around a long time. However, after years of being on and off birth control/hormones, what I would say is that if you can find natural method of birth control/non-hormonal, you are far better off in the long run. If you google side effects of birth control pills, you will see LONG lists of side effects. There is so little really known about women's hormones and these synthetic forms do damage.

I did not suffer from vaginal dryness while taking Yasmin but I did:
1. Significantly lose vision in my right eye
2. Developed a heart murmur
3. Developed chest pain and pressure and heart palps and irregular beats
4. Clogged painful eardrums

All* of these were directly linked to Yasmin and are even documented as possible side effects in Yasmin insert.

So, with that, I'd encourage you to see the UK site if you haven't already and the host of women who have experienced terrible side effects while on Yasmin as well as coming off of it.

Listen to your wisdom. you'll be ahead of many of the rest of us before we came to decide to come off of Yasmin a little too late.

GUEST 37760
Your side effects-specifically those related to weight loss are experienced my many women. I lost 15 lbs on Yasmin-and I directly attribute it to the diuretic in Yasmin as I went off, gained 10 back immediately.

Diahrhea also common. See insert that accompanies Yasmin. Most to many side effects women experience as well as outline of the enormous risks are there.

I hope that you are off at this time and feeling better.

GUEST 37745
Yasmin can and often does give women nausea and dizziness. Longer term, loads of side effects that can be debilitating. If you haven't already seen many of the side effects here-I encourage you to read through as many as you can as well as on the UK site and at ask a patient.com.

While this may go away, there are so many risks and so many terrible side effects women have suffered and are suffering as a result of being on Yasmin and/or Yaz now (its recent sister to hit the market)-I'd encourage you to get off of it now and explore non-hormonal methods of birth control. its so not worth it. Some of us, many of us have suffered terribly.

GUEST 37679!
HOW DID THEY COME TO DISCOVER THIS? WHAT WERE YOUR SYMPTOMS? THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS RESULT I'VE SEEN HERE BESIDES THE VERY FIRST ENTRY ON THIS SITE WHICH IS STROKE, AND ANOTHER WHOSE HUSBAND REPORTED HIS WIFE DIED OF A STROKE AFTER PARTICIPATING IN A YASMIN FORUM.

I hope that you have recovered??? How are you today? I hope you will post your experience on www.askapatient.com as well as to the UK site.

Did you have any prior high risk/risk factors?

Are you taking up legal action? A number of us have been wondering how to do so.

I do hope that you are healing. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

GUEST 37673
Your side effects, specifically those of vertigo/dizziness and fatigue also documented here as common side effects. also documented on Yasmin's insert for possible common side effects. Good, very good, that you have stopped taking it.

Also common-irregular heart beats, heart palpitations-risk to women and risk in general with this pill for hypertension/high blood pressure. I experienced this, 1.5 years into taking Yasmin. First heavy chest sensation, then developed a heart murmur, irregular beats and chest pain that continue to this day 5 months off of being on Yasmin. Several other women here and at the UK site Flowerbabies set up also experienced this-multiple trips to the ER, EKG, ECG and a slew of other tests.

If it feels like your lungs are burning, i hope you are off this now? Has this continued? Interestingly, since I got off of Yasmin, I have been sick every month for the last 5 months at the onset of menstruation. A Naturpath I've seen has advised that changes in hormones create inflammation in the body and make this possible-more susceptible to infection. I've had bronchitis for 5 months in a row, each time starts at the onset of menstruation.

Your complexion going to hell is not so common as most women experience the opposite. It is so good that you are listening to yourself-and getting off of Yasmin. Too many of us had side effects over time that we didn't add up/attribute to Yasmin until too late-or until we are already suffering today from longer term side effects.

I also noticed while on Yasmin, I would wake up in sweats and became even more sensitive to cold than I already was. Almost like flu like symptoms-that several women here also experienced.

Nausea-also very common and outlined as well in Yasmin's insert of possible side effects.

To hear that these symptoms are in no way bad compared to those you experienced on Ortho Evra is quite concerning as that path is now under lawsuit and many of us are only waiting until this occurs, or working to figure out how to sue Yasmin and Yaz.

Best of healing wishes to you and congratulations for taking the responsiblity for listening to your body, taking the initiative to research your side effects, and taking personal responsibility for your own health. We can't count on pharmaceutical industry, pedaling doctors who receive financial incentives for prescribing this stuff, treating us like guinea pigs, to learn to take care and education for our own bodies and health.

Jasmine

Michellep~

I just read your post and I am soo sorry you have been treated this way! I am in medical school right now and I am very concerned for you! The symptoms you are describing are very consistent with a blood clot in your leg. One of the most dreadful side effects of birth control pills is what they call DVTs (blood clots in the deep veins in your leg). The part we worry about is that the clot can break off little pieces and send them to your lungs, heart and brain. The vision changes could unfortunately be a sign of that already happening. I know that going to the ER sucks and can many times be a financial burden, but as a tax-payer (more than willing to have my tax dollars go to your hospital bill) and a medical student...please go to the ER!! If you start having pain in your chest or blackouts of any kind, dial 911. The ER has to treat you and you don't have to sign their forms saying you will pay. You have to give consent, but they can always write what you don't pay off. Your life is worth it!
(ps, you might want to get a different regular MD)

As for the leg, take a couple aspirin. Not tylenol or ibuprofin (advil, motrin, etc.), not aleve either. Get some good old-fashioned aspirin (bayer, etc.) It will help take the swelling down, cut the pain a bit and it will help your blood clot less if you indeed do have a blood clot.

Please let me know how things turn out!

kelly