Lessina symptoms and conditions

OMG! I have been on NR for 3 1/2 yrs. I too thought is was the best thing since sliced bread ;) That is until now. I am 29, married 4 years, with a 4 yr old son. I have NO sex drive. I mean ZERO. My poor husband goes MONTHS without sex. When we do, I am so dry that it isn't fun for either of us. This was not how things used to be. I am also tired and cranky all the time. My mood swings are terrible. I do have hypothyroid, and since all of these are common symptoms, I went to have my blood checked. Of couse, my thryoid came back fine. I thought I was loosing my mind. Thank god for this sight. After reading some of the withdrawl effects, I am worried. Any suggestions on a new BC?

Its funny because I always thought all my symptoms were just 'me'. But now I am highly doubting this. I was on some heavy birth control quite a few years back and it led to severe panic attacks. So I was switched to yasmin, which seemed to help, and I had the most clear skin I've ever had and no break through bleeding, but I was quite emotional on it. After reading everything on these message boards a few months ago, it really got me worried that Yasmin was contributing to my side effects (oh and 0 sex drive by the way too), so I was switched to lessina/alesse. I am in my second pack, second week, and I am feeling like I am losing my mind. I have half my sex drive back, more acne, and more panic. I am worried I will never find a good balance with any pill. Anyone actually have a good experience with a pill, any recommendations? I wouldn't recommend these two, but everyone reacts differently. Please, any recommendations at all??

hi everyone-

i feel very bad for all of you who are having such bad experiences with yasmin. i have been on it for 5 months now and have also experienced problems, though very different than what you have described here. in general i am very skeptical of sites like this since it is obvious few people are experts in medicine, endocrinology or other clinically relevant topics, but i will share my experience in the hope that others have found solutions.

to preface i will say that i have been through nearly half a dozen bcps (levlite, alessa, lessina, etc.) and have not been happy with any of them. my main complaint however has been spotting, which is only annoying. the first thing i noticed on yasmin is that my periods became much lighter, shorter (1-2 days!) and my spotting stopped completely. but within a few months i also developed pretty severe acne, increased body/facial hair, gross spider veins in my legs, fatigue, and have recently been experiencing severe cramping during or after intercourse. i'm 26, workout 5-6 days/wk, run marathons, eat very healthfully and drink 2-3 liters h20/day. i don't deserve this!

i hadn't tied these symptoms to the yasmin until i remembered i had symptoms like this the very first time i went on bcp, 9 yrs ago!! then i was on orthocyclin. the main similarities between the 2 problem pills have been the higher estrogen dosage and similar progesterone dosages. ironically, both of these pills were supposed to HELP acne, and even though i have never had it in my life it got worse!

fed up with bcps i went to my ob/gyn and she recommended mirena, the newest iud. upon reading about it i'm concerned the progestins may be what is causing my acne and hair growth, and that is what is in the iud, though in smaller doses. i really want to stop estrogen b/c the spider veins bother me most of all, but i'm afraid of upsetting my hormonal balances yet again! anyone out there with similar symptoms?

thanks,
reads too much

I am so glad I found this website, finally. I have been on various BC pills for 15 years, on and off. I was on Yasmin for 4 months until I realized the terrible and severe diarrhea I was having was being caused by the Yasmin! Yes, like many others I had severe breast tenderness for the first two months, and almost stopped it then (I wished I had). But the diarrhea started in the first month, and then just kept getting worse. My internist didn't connect it either, and sent me to a gastroenterologist. He sent me for pelvic and abdomenal X-rays, and then scheduled me for a colonoscopy. It was so bad, on the worst nights, I was running to the bathroom 10 or 12 times with cramps and diarrhea. I lost weight, sure, but I was also severely dehydrated and of course fatigued. Right before the colonoscopy, I had the week off the pill, and finally connected that those were the only days I wasn't getting sick. I called my Ob/gyn right away, and she said she was surprised - she had had good luck with the pill (or perhaps she benefits in some way from prescribing it?????) and she switched me to Lessina, which has been wonderful. I am so glad I made the connection before I ended up in the hospital!