Synthetic hormone symptoms and conditions

Please help me. I have had the Mirena for a little over a year now and I have been miserable ever since. I just yesterday one of my very frequent depressive states. I has become so bad that I often think about hurting myself. I am very petite, 4'11 to be exact and I have never weighed anything over 115lbs. I just recently went to the doctor and I weigh 147lbs. I have always eaten healthy and I couldn't explain my weight gain. It has become so depressing I refuse to take pictures and I no longer want to look in the mirror. I have horrible headaches and my periods are longer. I am now going through a divorce and I don't have a job or health insurance. I really need to take the Mirena off but I don't know what to do!! Every day that passes by I keep getting more and more depressed. I am afraid for myself...help me

I had the Mirena IUD inserted on April 1st 2009 for treament of endometriosis, nearly a month and a half ago, and I am absolutely miserable. I thought I was completely losing my mind, only to find out from finding this site and others that I am not alone. The worst of my side effects are the EXTREME anxiety and now depression. I have had a history of both from time to time in my life but nothing like what I have experienced since the Mirena. Also, my hair is falling out like crazy, my face is breaking out everywhere (never before), and worst of all I've gained 7 lbs since I got this thing put in. I felt ravenously hungry almost immediately, I never craved sugar and food like this in my entire life, not even when I was pregnant. I too was fooled by my OB in that I would experience little to no side effects as I cannot take BC due to the effect of hormones. She said that the Mirena is a localized synthetic hormone within the Uterus and would not at all enter my blood stream. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I'm a basket case, my 3 yr old told me that she misses her mommy, that I sleep too much. That is what finally brought me to researching my symptoms and the Mirena it was the only thing new that could be related and so it was. To summarize my side effects in order from worse to much worse: weight gain, hair loss, cramping, bleeding constantly, libido decrease, extreme tiredness, severe mood swings, depression, blurred vision, sever migraines (no previous history) and the very worst of all the ANXIETY. I'm generally a very happy positive person and lately I can't even stand myself. I often times ask myself when will I ever feel normal again. My OB refused to take this thing out after I went in for an office visit a week and a half after insertion. She said let's not "throw the baby out with the bath water" and give it till 3 months before we can say for sure that I'm experiencing this from the Mirena. Whatever, it's been 6 weeks and getting worse. Finally today I took some blood tests to prove that I'm not diabetic, that I don't have a thyroid problem and that my CBC is fine. Then finally she will consider removing it, well newsflash lady, I'm going to demand it be removed immediately. If not, I'll take it out myself.

Hi Everyone,
My experience with Mirena is still causing me distress, and I had it taken out on 9/1/08. I've been Mirena free for 5 months now, and still waiting for my hair to grow back. I do see some small, short hairs around my hairline, and I'm hoping that it's growing back, but maybe it's breakage? Any thoughts?
Here's my story: I have always had very heavy periods, so after one botched ablation two years ago, my doctor suggested Mirena. I had it placed in June, 2008. Almost exactly 3 months later, I figured out why my hair was falling out. Every time I brushed my teeth, I noticed how thin my hair had suddenly become. You could see each individual hair from the front of my hairline backward about 2 inches - each individual hair surrounded by lots of space! There was hair loss at the temples as well. I had my thyroid checked first, because my mother has a thyroid problem. My bloodwork was fine. I thought maybe my last highlight/foil might have caused it...but it was not breakage, it was an all-over thinning out. I finally realized that the only thing different was the Mirena, so I insisted it come out immediately. My doctor told me that at 45, I should expect thinning hair, which was probably the cause, not the Mirena. I told him to JUST GET IT OUT!
I really wish I had researched the matter beforehand, but am thankful that I put two-and-two together in a matter of months.
If anyone else has experienced hair loss, please post. We have to get the word out!

I have taken this Levothyroxine ever since I got Thyroid Cancer in 2006. And thank God I am free from cancer now. My main problem now is that, sometime I really don't know what was wrong with me and get confused over my own feeling. I do have cramps, sleep problem, headache, menstruation problem, mood swing, panic attack and always thinking of a negative thing eg like am I going to die. It has been bothering me since than. Please help I just wanna know is this really due to the medication or its really that I am going to die. I am very confused at times when feeling this side effect. =(

I had my mirena inserted about 13 months ago before Christmas after the birth of my 2nd child , I was naturally shedding the baby weight until Mirena came into my life and then I gained 10lbs effortlessly within 2 months! even though my diet is always the same (I am coeliac). I had to start working out running 4 times a week and gradually have lost 8lbs but its been a huge battle.
Last May I woke up one morning bright red covered in a sunburn type rash all over my body it was scary, my joints ached so bad and my hands and feet were really swollen as if my body was reacting to something.. my gp did some blood tests and nothing it kept happening for 2 weeks and then the rash went,..I put it down to a virus at the time but felt as weak as a kitten and suffered night sweats, anxiety and flu like symptoms for months.

Ive had to really fight to keep up my running because most of the time I feel tired and depressed and run down and I have awful PMT the past few months have been dreadful I feel rubbish most of the time..everyone is getting on my nerves, I have little sex drive too and I am sure its down to the Mirena..its side affects remind me of the mini-pill which I took once for a few months it sent me so extremely loopy (paranoid and anxious) that my husband flushed them down the toilet!! well I think its the same/similar type of synthetic hormone that my body DOES NOT agree with.

I saw my Gp the other day and asked her about the side affects and she still said that I shouldn't have any after a year and it was very rare but after reading about it on here I cant believe it... its obvious and Im getting it removed. Ive had over a year of feeling terrible and various ailments so much so that I think my immune system (which is already sensitive) has suffered.

The Mirena* IUD, which its manufacturer calls an IUC (intra-uterine contraceptive) is being heavily promoted to young women in the U.S. as a wonderful high-tech, no muss, no fuss, put-it-in-and-forget-about-it for five years form of contraception. But it’s really just a levonorgestrel uterine implant, the same old side-effect ridden progestin that was in Norplant, a tiny implant that is injected into women’s upper arms and then causes many of them months if not years of misery.
MIRENA IS SAME AS NORPLANT

\ i had mirena 9 months and that was enough i know myself very good, so when i started changing i knew it was mirena. i almost ruin my marriage, with my bad moods. but what worry me later was that if YOU BREASTFEED IT WAS WOREST, THIS IS WHAT I FOUND ON BEWARE REPORT ON MIRENA. I WAS VERY UPSET CAUSE I BREAST FEED MY CHILD AND MY DR. DID NOT INFORM ME THIS!

could find that followed breastfeeding infants exposed to levonorgestrel (Norplant) was done in Norway and found that they had higher incidence rates of respiratory infections, skin conditions and eye infections than the control group, and later were found to have a higher proportion of “neurological conditions.”

To me it’s unthinkable to even consider exposing a nursing infant to any type of progestin. I would call this a form of corporate sociopathy—marketing without a conscience to unwitting, under-informed women who are just trying to responsibly avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Since the FDA is unlikely to take action against this practice it’s up to the rest of us to spread the word.
IF YOU BREASTFEED AND HAVE MIRENA READ THIS ABOVE

I am so happy to have found this site, I only wish I would have researched prior to having Mirena inserted. I have had The Mirena IUD for nearly three years. I thoroughly enjoyed having decreased flow and some months not having a period at all. However now I realize its probably one of the worst decisions I ever made. Only recently have I come realize that my fatigue, inability to concentrate, loss of memory, lack of interest in anything including sex, weight gain, constant yeast and bacterial infections were most likely due to the IUD and not due to anything that I was doing wrong. I have had bouts with depression and have been on meds for that, however it seemed like I was a basket case, over anxious and often times a nervous wreck. There were days recently where I was lethargic, lacked motivation to do anything. Then I'd have a good day, a day where I felt energized and thought, well maybe it was just the gloomy weather. Now I have come to realize it had to be the IUD. That is the only thing that makes sense. I made an appointment and got the IUD removed yesterday and already I can tell a difference in the way I feel. I woke up this morning feeling well rested for the first time in three years. I am looking forward to getting back to the "old me" rather than just a shell of of person that lacked motivation to do anything. I wish I would have investigated further and not listened to my Nurse Practitioner all these years that told me over and over that my symptoms were not the cause of the IUD.

I am so glad that i found this site. I was feeling like i am going CRAZY! I got the mirena after my third child Oct 2005. I can't wait to have it removed!!!! My story started by going to the doctor to find a good birth control. My doctor suggested the mirena, it sounded like the perfect method for me...up until today Oct 2008, i thought that it was perfect.
After the insertion everything was great until i started to feel like i was always pregnant(tender breast, nausea and vomiting, weight gain, and dizziness). I would report to doctor, have test run, simply told that i might have a stomach virus. Symptoms would come and go alone with now major hair loss, constant yeast infections, sore limbs, greasy oily skin, unexplained sweats, losing of 30 lbs, but gaining back 10 lbs in a month, bloated stomach, mood swings, unexplained sadness/depressions!!! I use to have long thick hair, but now i barely have any. My scalp is so sore and my hair is very dry and brittle. I thought that maybe i was just stressing myself and needed to take it easy. I started to grow very tired, drowsy with blurry vision, stressed-out, even slipped into deep depressions about any and everything. I would blow up on anyone for anything. I am so not feeling like myself....
After several OB-GYN and Dermatology appointments, I came to the conclusion that it might just be my so called "perfect" birth control. I expected my doctors to know the exact reason after i mentioned by birth control but they would always say that it was not likely to be the mirena. I will be having this removed this week. I just hope and pray that everything goes back to normal including all my beautiful thick hair.

I am on the third pack of Femcon, switched from Ortho Tri-Cyclen because my periods were too long. I can't say I have any major side effects, no depression, no wackiness etc., One that I do have is breast tenderness, my boobs blew up like balloons and I do have major skin/chin problems that no dermatologist can help me with for the last few weeks. I couldn't figure it out what it was from but I think it might be from the pill. Never had any skin problems, acne and all of the sudden my chin breaks out badly, not pimples more like under the skin red bumps. Anyone with the similar problem???? HELP.

For all of the poor girls who are searching "mirena experiences" because you are looking for a sure thing contraceptive-
This site is only for people who have had BAD experiences. Read them all if you want, but take into consideration they are the 3%, or whatever number, that had problems. None of these women deserved it, asked for it, needed it, or wanted it, but unfortunately their bodies responded to it in such an ugly manor.

Here's my experience so far....Had it inserted 8/06/08. Insertion was fine. Felt that speculum more than I could feel the actual insertion of the mirena.
Slight cramping afterwards...not immediately-went home and for like 20 minutes had cramps lighter than my period cramps.
For the first week bled lightly, second week had an actual period, week three and week four just spotting. The doctor told me this can go on for up to six months...kinda worth it if you think about it.
No acne problems so far, my hair is fine (and trust me, if my hair was thinning, falling out, or anything like that I would take the mirena out!), muscles and joints feel like they did before pregnancy, still breastfeeding (I know that they say that the mirena will make you produce less breast milk-tell that to my breastfed 13 pound 24 inch long 2 month old. he would disagree)
My breasts are a little tender and at first I was slightly bloated (less than if I were on my period) but that has subsided. Abstained from sex for a month after insertion per my doctor's orders, so I will come back and post if there were any problems with that...NEXT WEEK! yay!
Know that I understand the side effects could show up later.

Now again, EVERYBODY will experience something different. We are interfering with nature. Birth control is one of the most unnatural things we could do to our body.

Again, since this site commonly comes up when searching the mirena, I want for women to know that it might work for them better than it did for others.

Just had mine inserted..it wasn't a pleasant experience at all as my cervix kept tightening up. I didn't feel well the rest of the day, cramping, bleeding, and fatigue. Better today. I hope I don't develop further problems/
What surprises me about this site is that many of the things you are describing are listed by the pharmaceutical company and the FDA as warnings and precautions as well as possible side effects. My doctor went through all of these step by step with me. I have a follow up appointment in 4 weeks and then another at 12 weeks then annually...all to check the device.
Yes, it is terrible that you had to go through these things, but this is a foreign device that is inserted in your body to deliver progesterone...if you are breast feeding, this will get to your infant; you are at risk for an infection; you are at risk for it to move/dislodge; it is a hormone and you may have adverse effects; it shouldn't be used if you have fibroids; immediate postpartum use is cautioned.
I am glad you are sharing your experiences, but I think it would be even more useful to report them to the FDA. Thanks.

I wonder if you realize you are talking to over 4000 users will all the same or similar symptoms....when addressing a mass of people who agree upon the negative aspects of this Synthetic HORMONE. Just wait until the time when you start getting the palpitations, (as a completely fit young person like me) Then tell me how great you feel. if this wasn't serious and in suspicion, we wouldn't have googled it and made an account just to be able to contribute to complaining. if we wanted to attribute our negative health issues to something rather than owning up to them, we surely wouldn't reach out to strangers to do it, but rather be satisfied with that idea in our head, as our reasoning, as you suggest. Say what you wish about Us complainers, I can only THANK GOD that I had enough side effects to become fed up with it truly enough to say goodbye AFTER 6 YEARS of troubles including tiredness, weight gain, depression, anxiety, palpitations (scary flip flop ones ...and super fast out of no where ones....exercise ones and sitting in my bed ones....Irritability and lack of interest in life in general) This is my first month off in 6 years and i had no period, so i came on to google it....and come to find out there are zillions of women having trouble on LOTS of sites if you type it in google. I hate to tell you dear, but just because you are having a great result with it in ONE aspect after a short time, doesn't mean your hair wont fall out too when you finally decide to stop like the rest of us. I can only hope mine wont. and again, I reiterate, this many people cant be wrong. I hope the best for you and for gods sake, get OFF the shit.

Wow you are all a bunch of complainers who try and blame XYZ on Yasmin which probably have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the pills. I have bee diagnosed with PCOS and have been on hormone therapy since age 15, first zovia, which worked well enough but did not get rid of a lot of my symptoms, only lessened them somewhat, so now I am on yaz. My depression has completely subsided, I feel GREAT and only had some nausea which almost EVERYONE gets when taking a hormone therapy birth control pill. Trust me, if you are going to have SIDE EFFECTS it is not going to happen 4 YEARS LATER, please.... grow up and take responsibility for yourselves, rather than trying to blame a pill

My God, This is so confusing!! I 'm 23 yrs old and I've been taking YASMIN for about 2 yrs. It really helped with my period pains, my periods were lighter and everyday in every month was totally normal for me. Everyone else in the world had the pains pains except me!!
A couple months ago, I decided to stop taking the YASMIN, because I thought that maybe I would be ok without it and save myself some bucks everymonth. But Oh My GOD!!
I never believed in the existence of PMS until last week:
I was on a diet and last week I just ate junk food none stop, my mouth was like a conveyor belt for ice cream, cake, chocolate, meat, pizza. And I knew I should stop cuz I was ruining all the progress I made with my diet... But I couldn't stop eating!!
My libido sky rocketed... Which was difficult because I was trying so hard not to be sexually active with my horrible ex-boyfriend... I tried to concentrate on other things, but having sex was literally taking up everything!!! I felt like a real whore....
My ability to suppress negative emotions was also difficult. I usually deal with a lot of upset persons on the phone and I usually am the one to re-assure them and give them all the information they need. One of my superiors enjoys picking on me and I ALWAYS let it slide. But last week... My God, I knew I was getting angry, I told myself "don't allow yourself to look ignorant and blow up" but it was as if I didn't have control!!!
I got bad cramps days before my period. Usually I get them the day before or on the day of my period. But I couldn't function!!!
My period came really really really late, by about a week and a half. I was so worried that I was pregnant especially because of my week of weakness with my ex... I took four EPT's.
When my period finally came... It came really heavy. This is embarrassing. But I'm wearing adult diapers at night. Tampons would be a waste. When I use the bathroom, blood just drips out in large gross clots.
And so I'm starting back on YASMIN.
Friends who took YASMIN experienced negative side effects: breast tenderness, leg cramps, increased PMS. But what I listed here was what happened when I came off it for two months. I'm not recommending it. But after reading this I realize that we are all different, different how?? I guess we'll need a Gyno or MD to give reliable answers.
Good Luck, and my condolences to you all!

Hello-

I took Yasmin for a 1.5 years. I am now 2 years post Yasmin. In hind-sight, had I known what I would live through both while taking Yasmin as well as the 2 years following, I would never have taken it in the first place.

I am going to summarize some of those side effects below:

For the first 1.25 years, it seemed like I was living in an dream. I was that spaced out all the time. No affect, if you will. I felt like a zombie.

Exhaustion/Fatigue:
I became lethargic all the time. Previously, being very athletic, I had no energy at all. A walk made me yearn for a nap. 2 years post Yasmin, I am still trying to recover and bring back all the muscle tone I lost. Reading through alot of possible side effects, ataxia (muscle atrophy/loss) was one of them I suspect could be linked to becoming dehydrated.

Painful plugged eardrums:
Every morning after i would take Yasmin, my ears would have this "popping sensation" much like what it feels like when you are on an airplane and the pressure changes. Over time, my ears became quite painful like I had alot of pressure built up in them. I later learned from a Hearing Doctor that it could well have been the potassium sparing diuretic as the inner ears are composed of potassium/sodium and the diuretic could offset its balance. This doctor also told me that in their field they have known forever that artificial/synthetic hormones are toxic to the inner ears. No other doctor I saw coming off of Yasmin knew this...

Melasma:
I developed brown spots on my forehead, beneath my eyebrows and on both cheeks within starting Yasmin in the first month.

Constant Urination:
I urinated every 15 minutes for 1.5 years straight that I was on Yasmin. Learned later about the potassium sparing diuretic in it a little too late. My blood tests showed I was dehydrated and was deficient in Folic Acid and Vitamin B12. Both 2 common deficiencies seen with artificial/synthetic hormone use.

Chest Pain:
1.25 years into taking Yasmin, at the onset of menses, I developed this pressure in my chest and sharp stabbing pains. The next month, again at the onset of menses, the pressure occurred again, this time spreading across my chest. I went to see a Doctor at that point who discounted that Yasmin could be involved at all. (Not sure why a member of the medical community would say that given I have since read a number of articles that suggest that Yasmin and Yaz both run a higher risk for clots/pulmonary embolisms then other birth control pills). Regardless, I had a chest x-ray to ensure my heart was not enlarged and had an EKG which just showed an abnormally slow heartbeat-Sinus Bradycardia. It was recommended at that time that I have a ECG (echo-cardiogram). Tests start at $5000 each and I did not have coverage for this kind of test.

I went off of Yasmin now, almost 2 years ago. Going off I spent the last 2 years getting sick every month at the onset of menses with severe bronchitis, chest pain that still occurs at menses (I have since learned can also be brought on by low levels of oestrogen and progersterone at menses) and gained 30 lbs.

Blood tests showed I was depleted of Vitamin D, B and Folic Acid, dehydrated and also had elevated potassium (a possible risk with Yasmin's potassium sparing diuretic.

I would encourage everyone to google anti-mineralocortoid (diasperonone) and anti-androgenic effects (Spironolactone)

These are both acting ingredients in Yasmin.

This has been the toughest couple of years in my lifetime. Initially it seemed like a great pill. My skin cleared up, I lost weight and my periods were only 3 days long. On that note, it took a whole year and half for my periods to go back to 5 days from 3 days long so again, doctors telling me that Yasmin would not and could not be affecting my body after stopping, just went to show it took that long for my own body to start re-producing its own natural hormones.

Through all of this, I have met amazing women and other survivors who have offered enormous support. I would suggest to any of you that find your way here to trust yourself and your body first and foremost to what anyone else may discount or try and remedy with anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications. There are a host of amazing authors out there as well who enlightened me enormously on the role of hormones in our bodies, and ultimately, their balance to our overall health and immune function:

Dr. Lee and Dr. Hotze. They both have websites and books which are wonderful. I would also suggest googling Yasmin Survivors online, which will take you to another resource/forum of women who are sharing side effects and healing and survival techniques coming off of Yasmin. The site is: ******

I realize that I am in the minority with this, but I actually really like the NuvaRing. I had been on the pill for almost 11 years (I am 30) and was starting to feel that my hormones were changing and the pill was giving me some side effects. I felt very emotional all the time, began breaking out, and was having weird periods. My Dr recommended the Ring, and while it is fairly expensive, I have had near to no side effects. I did not experience any burning or change in my "insides" with the Ring in, I actually LOST 11 pounds in the last 3 months since I began using the Ring. While I still experience some pre-menstral cramps, they are nothing that 2 ibuprofen won't take care of.
Please everyone, keep in mind that everyones bodies are different. I read up on this site before trying the Ring, and was very hesitant to do so as there is mostly negative commentary on the site. Of course if one person has a bad experience they feel a need to share it as they do not want anyone else to suffer the same fate as them. However, just because one person has a bad reaction does not mean that everyone will, and I think it's important to keep that in mind. I would not recommend the Ring to everyone, because just like all other types of synthetic hormone birth control, peoples bodies are going to react VERY differently. I think that people should make informed decisions, and realize that you are taking a risk any time you try something new. Good luck, and I hope that more folks have good experiences over bad ones.

mirena DOES NOT prevent ovulation!! meaning you will still ovulate, but the sperm and egg cannot implant themselves which in turn will cause a miscarriage!! This is the same for all iud's, For some unknown reason docs will not tell you this, but my doctor did and strongly advises not to use iuds!! You will get pregnant! You may think your having a heavy period but really you could be passing a dead fetus! Sorry to be so blunt, please do research before you choose this method of birth control

I had Mirena in for about 10 months due to being 35, a smoker and in a fantastic relationship, and having children 7 and 5-just had it removed 2 days ago (Thursday Morning)...I met my boyfriend just before insertion and although he thinks I am wonderful (God love him!) I am looking forward to feeling and showing him the "REAL" me...I have always been very patient and calm and happy and emotionally and hormonally balanced (even before and during my periods!) But have progressively gotten worse over the 10 months and gained 10 pounds! I eat pretty well and am extremely active and the pounds just coming on!! So, between this crappy synthetic hormone and the weight gain...who can be happy??? I was the amazing most happy pregnant woman with both of my children for goodness sake, this shouldn't effect me this way!!! For the most part up until a couple of months ago, our sex life was still active, but started to subside (on my end) I've had NUMEROUS UTI's and some of them were just feelings of them but no bacteria so I decided enough was enough...now 2 days after removal I am bleeding heavily (heavier than ever, bled right through tampons and soaked my shorts...thank heaven I am off work this weekend!!) But the way I look at it is I am just getting rid of all the crap this Mirena has caused my body to undergo and I am excited to get back to myself again. My children noticed I wasn't normal and my boyfriend, well, I am looking forward to showing him the "true" me...if he thinks he loves me now then he's in for it...lol!!!! Good luck to all of you ladies who are also having the problems with this stupid thing...but keep thinking positive, I believe it will make our transition back to ourselves much easier and quicker!

Thank God for the internet. Seriously.
I am really trying to give Mirena a fair trial, however, some of the side effects are worrying me.
I have been having hot flashes (I just turned 40), my mood swings are disturbing, and my breakthrough bleeding happens often without warning. I also have the weight gain. However, to be fair, I don't know that I can really attribute my weight gain to Mirena. This is pretty important; has anyone else out there experienced addiction feelings? To cigarettes? Alcohol? I have never had strong urges for drugs and alcohol, however, I have lately... Again, can you really say that Mirena is to blame?
The upside is that my periods are, blessedly, light. This is a definite upside for someone who had heavy periods. I also don't feel the strings, nor does my husband. After reading some of the postings on this site, that concerns me.
Thank you.
MaryKay

I've been skimming through all of these blogs and I feel like I must be one of the lucky few that didn't get an side effects from the Mirena. I had it implanted on Sept. 21st 2007 ( 6 weeks after I had my baby) and since then I really haven't had any problems with it. I didn't feel a thing when it was implanted and after wards... just a little bleeding but no more then a panty liner. I stopped having my period with in the first 3 months. Sure the occasional spotting here and there, but nothing to get stressed over. My hair was falling out more the usual in the shower, but my doctor assured me that it usually happenes after women have babies and will go over after the first few months. So to all the women who've had problems, I'm sorry to hear it, maybe the Mirena just wasn't right for you all. But it sure was right for me. ;)

I am a 19-year-old female pre-med student who has been taking this nasty drug for exacly 1 year now.... The amount I am on continues to change, for my disease keeps returning and leaving remission. I finally get down to 10mg from 40mg, and have to go back up when symptoms return!!! This is SO discouraging. The worst part is, no one understands the physical and emotional agony this drug brings on. I'm 19 and feel like I'm 90. My body aches, my weight is constantly fluctuating, I bruise from simply being poked (being a clumsy person, I look like I am beat!!), my bones feel as if they are about to break, and I am SEVERELY despressed. Being in college and taking rigorous classes, this is just too much for me to handle anymore... My 5-year relationship with the love of my life/best friend is falling apart because of my horrible mood swings.. don't blame him for leaving. I feel as if this drug has ruined my life more than the disease itself...Does ANYONE know if one's body and mind returns to "normal" after FINALLY being off this drug??? I pray to God the answer is yes... I would appreciate someone's reply and/or insight, because my Dr. fails to tell me about ANY side effects until I mention something. PLEASE REPLY!!!

Hi Everyone. This is a bit wordy, but please forgive me. I just feel compelled to put the whole story out there. In case some fine detail helps someone out there feel a little less random and crazy.

I have been having irregular, almost non-existant periods my whole menstruating life. i started menstruated later than most girls. i have a delicate relationship with my body weight, having to REALLY really control everything in order to maintain a healthy shape on a tiny frame. i recently was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome. it makes a lot of sense... and im excited to clear up some of the symptoms related to this disorder (and yes, there is an odd laundry lists of odd symptoms... which never seemed too related before i pieced it together, just an annoying, sometimes embarrasing parade of weirdness)

Anyway. My doctor told me that if I quit smoking she would offer me A RX for Yasmin. because of the particular hormone imbalances I was experiencing, and the synthetic hormone in the BC, it was her first thought for a treatment plan. I was eager to quit smoking, so this added some incentive. I was also excited that I may get some relief from something as commonplace as BC pills. I have gone thru breif phases of using BC Lo-Overal back in my late teenage years, and don't recall any real side effects, maybe a tiny bit of weight gain, maybe a touch of the moodies... but nothing to write home about. Doc said this time would be different, and that while some other BCs would intensify my forementioned hormonal problems, this would/should/could do just the opposite.

Now for the punch line. Its just been one week. I feel crazier than usual. Like the most intense of PMSs is with me everyday, INCREASING in intensity everyday. My lower belly, uterus feels full and cramped. My already large chest just became even more "entertainingly full". I've always suffered with depression and anxiety, I'm no stranger to that. But this was such a fast and direct spike in that category, I can't ignore that.

My diet and excercise routein is excellent, the smoking cessation is difficult but successful, I take prozac to help with my mood/anxiety... I didn't think adding yasmin to the mix would make me feel as if my situation would become nastier. uhhh!

I understand BCs come with side effects, but for my particular situation, I feel like I'm bound to very specific hormone combinations, with little room to try out different ones. Its upsetting to think that Yasmin is being so rough so soon. Will I adjust? Are there other options for women looking to help with PCOS?

All this makes me want a cigarette real bad.
thanks for reading and thanks for all who tell their weird tales.

Hey Ladies,
I've been reading your posts of the last few days and feel compelled to write again((I posted last week). I have been working with a naturopathic endocrinologist for a little more than a week. He explained exactly what b/c pills do to your system; forgive me if this has been said before! Basically, the pills fake your body out into thinking it's getting PROGESTERONE, but in fact, it's getting PROGESTIN, which is a synthetic hormone. So, your body "thinks" it's getting enough, or possibly too much PROGESTERONE, so it begins making more ESTROGIN, which is one of the major culprits for many of our "ill effects" as he calls them. Yasmin, as you know, also has the diuretic in it, which actually dehydrates you and you really have a hard time catching up and getting rehydrated. I actually saw a "mainstream" female endocrinologist first and she said all of my hormone levels were NORMAL. When I saw my new dr., he said my levels were at the LOWEST end of what's considered normal, which is considered pretty bad by those that really understand these things. I encourage everyone still suffering to have your hormone levels tested; the saliva test is apparently pretty accurate, if not, a blood test works too. I' m now taking at least 15 supplements 2X/day in addition to progesterone cream to get my hormone levels back to normal. This is after having only been on the pill for 5 mos and OFF for 8 mos. The damage can be quick and unfortunately, long lasting without some kind of intervention. I'm feeling better already and the swelling and bloating is starting to go down. The weight gain is creaping downward but that's better than not at all! If anyone would like information on this send a general email and I'll respond personally.

Blessings.
Rita

I've just been through two weeks of inexorable synthetic-hormone hell (the surreptitious diuretic notwithstanding.)

Now, my life was no walk in the park prior to my two week consumption of Yasmin, but thanks to the extremely painful cystic acne break-out and yeast infection with subsequent smarting vulva, alongside exacerbation of my depression and increase in suicidal ideation/social phobia, plus vaginal spotting nearly everyday since my period stopped, I can safely claim all notions of the aforementioned 'park' (and any nearby verdure) have been concreted over with planning permission granted to a pharmaceutical drugs monopoly peddling this toxin to unsuspecting women.

I should have known something was awry when the pill's inaugural admittance to my body was met with a severe bout of vomiting and I have been feeling intermittently nauseous all throughout my course.

I truly believe just this short spell has marred my mental discernment and judgement, I'm sure my partner would concur also, the culmination of this shift in mood being my decision to split with him! I have been feeling so detached and downcast with ever-decreasing interest in sex, and this is some volte-face for a 23 year-old with a former intractable hankering for online pornographic password cracking!

Doctors should not be prescribing this symptomatological timebomb as a 'safe', 'symptom-free', 'good fit' to swathes of the female population undeserving of their first ever panic attack, or to put a slightly less reactionary spin on it: their first ever foray into the searing world of vaginal thrush with an irascible helping of labial discomfort.

When I awoke two days ago with a shooting pain in my buttock, I realised I'd reached the point of no-return! My oestrogen/progesterone limen was reached and I hastily discontinued use. I'm not even sure if the buttock was just waging a sublimated protest or if it's also a pandemic side-effect but when one's gluteus maximus undergoes a paraleptic surge you know it's time to abjure this hormonal cartel.

I must also add, in common with many people who've written here my breasts are also extremely tender and sizeable.

I have promptly stopped taking Yasmin and would implore others to do the same before things escalate. It is regrettable that so many women ply their bodies with these pharmaceutical drugs on a long-term basis solely for the purpose of contraception. I don't think it is a healthy lifestyle choice not least because when you loose your own physical homeostasis and sex drive, vicariously subjecting your body to an unnatural regulatory system it is not a good situation for any relationship. Therefore, the very modus operandi of the pill becomes obsolete anyway.