October 15th
2009
1:41 AM
I am a few days away from my 19th birthday and i've been taking Yasmin since the age of 11. I was diagnosed with PCOS when i was 11 and Yasmin has been what's keeping my period regular and more or less pain free since then. In May of 2008 i was switched to the generic version of Yasmin called, Ocella and started to notice more and more symptoms and side effects. My stomach pain in the mornings grew greater by the day and when i was on my sugar pill i would gain an unbearable migraine. Thinking it was just part of being a woman i ignored it and went about my life. It wasn't until December of 2008 while out with a group of friends i came into some serious stomach pain. thinking it was just a typical stomach ache that i normally got i ignored it. when i came to be about 4 am and the pain hadn't stopped i started to worry. first thing in the morning i went to the doctor who referred me to get an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed that i had gall stones and that i should have my gall bladder removed before more complications were to occur. Being a college student only a week away from returning to my second semester i opted to wait until spring break to have the surgery. During the 3 month wait i experience extreme diarrhea whenever something was put in my mouth, extreme stomach pain, heartburn, nausea, headaches, sore muscles, the list goes on and on i felt like i had been hit by a truck every day and i still had to go to class. in March of 2009 i had my gall bladder removed thinking that the symptoms would finally stop i returned to school only to find that nothing got better. It's been 7 months since my gall bladder has been removed and i'm still having the same symptoms as before and now i've added depression, stress, lack of energy and interest and many other things to the list. I'm still taking Ocella because i've never been advised otherwise but the symptoms are taking over my life. I am a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering at college and it's just become harder and harder to focus on my work or to enjoy the aspects of college that i should be with the frequent trips to the bathroom or having to opt out of a fun activity because of stomach pain. I was wondering if anyone can help me, maybe point me in a direction where i can get better and get back to enjoying what a 19 should be. Thanks.
-- By giantpinkflamingos6 | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
October 9th
2009
7:16 PM
I was on Yasmin for about 5 years. I had no problems and my skin was great and i lost weight. it took my periods from 7 days of heavy bleeding to 3 to 4 days of light bleeding with no cramps. The only reason i switched to a different BC is that i wanted less periods and cause of the recall that was out for Yasmin at the time. i am now on the generic for seasonal with no problems.
-- By amandya | Reply | Private Message me
October 3th
2009
6:07 PM
I think I have a side effect that may have branched off of Yasmin. I have had throbbing in my fingers and my hands that woke me up in the middle of the night. Has anyone else experienced this? I have also had a stiff neck.... thats been killing me. I wasn't linking it together......and still am not sure if has to do with Yasmin. I don't know if its my anxiety or if Yasmin is causing shortness of breath... i get heart palpitations as well along with pain in my arms and legs (minor). I'm not liking this at all.
-- By teepee1234 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
October 2th
2009
11:54 AM
I have been on Yasmin for 5 yrs now and was diagnosed with a heart condition at 16 yrs old and dealt with it for 2 years, I started have really bad cramps and going 2-3 months with no period and 2 months of straight bleeding! I came off of Yasmin (Yaz) 6 months ago and since then have come off my heart medication and have had no other problems with my heart. I changed from Yasmin to Ortho Tri Cyclin and have experienced severe cramping heavy bleeding and horrible low back pain! My dr just proscribed me Loestrin, I'm gonna try it at least anything can be better than having a period for 2 months straight and severe pain!! Anybody had problems like mine on OTC?
-- By pianochic | Reply | Private Message me
September 14th
2009
6:37 AM
Hi,
I am turning 22 in 3 months and have been on Yasmin for almost 5 years.
I can relate to almost all side effects listed on this site. I'm so glad I found this site now because I decided to stop taking Yasmin about a week ago. I just want to see how I fair without it.
While on Yasmin I was fine until the third year. I started experiencing severe anxiety, heart palpitations, severe mood swings. Small things infuriate me which normally never do. My skin is better but I experienced getting weird pimples that do not surface but cause deep scarring even if I do not fiddle with them. Also, I am about 5'2 and my pre Yasmin weight was 47 to 49 kg. I now weigh 53 to 55 kg so the equivalent gain of about 10 pounds in less than a year and it just keeps climbing. None of my clothes fit and this happened rapidly within a spce of 3 months. This is a lot for me as I am small in frame.The gain keeps on building around my stomach area and looks asif I am permanently bloated. IBS has been quite bad since Yasmin also.
I had a lot of suicide thoughts and feel lonely all the time. I would cry for no reason at all. For a while now I have been sooo tired and have energy for nothing. I cannot get out of bed in the morning and could easily sleep the entire day. Pre-Yasmin I would wake up at 7 every morning with no alarm and be wide awake! I used to have cool dreams, now I only have the occasional nightmare, and thats if I dream at all.
The worst was when I experienced SEVERE bloating on my stomach and strange ovary pains.(i looked asif i was 4 months preg) I had ultrasounds and x rays but they found nothing.
I was a BITCH with NO sex drive.
After a week without Yasmin, My sex drive has started creeping back and don't feel as bloated. Hopefully the weight will drop away soon as well.
Will post back here in a month.
Thank God for this site. I thought this pill was supposed to be a miracle. It is CRAP. I hope I don't need to go back on any form of birth control. I'm too scared now!
August 20th
2009
2:46 PM
Thank god I found this site! My body has been going crazy ever since I started taking Yasmin two years ago and I didn't put two and two together until reading all of these postings and realizing the Yasmin might be the culprit.
I'm a healthy 31 y.o. who exercises regularly, doesn't smoke and has been on various oral contraceptives for the last decade without too many side effects beyond slight moodiness and minor weight gain. About two years ago I switched over to Yasmin. About two months ago I came across this site as I was researching hypertension which I had developed. I was confused and didn’t know what was causing it as I am healthy, unstressed and have a history of low blood pressure. But as soon as I found this site it all started coming together and I realized Yasmin had done much more than raise my blood pressure. I immediately went off the pill and almost right away many of my side effects went away. Here's what I've experienced since being on the pill:
-Weight Gain: Almost right away I gained ten pounds. I’ve effortlessly lost five of those pounds since going off the pill.
-Seborrheic Dermatitis: After a few months of being on Yasmin I developed a painful scalp condition called Seborrheic Dermatitis. Side effects of this are inflamed scalp, redness and most importantly, hair loss. The doctor said it is generally brought on by stress but on further research I saw that it is also caused by hormones, so it wasn’t a stretch for me to realize Yasmin might be the culprit once I saw this site. Over the last couple years I’ve been using all sorts of prescription shampoos to make the problem go away and nothing helped. But as soon as I went off the pill my scalp condition cleared in only a month without the use of shampoos.
-High Blood Pressure: Before I went on the pill my BP was about 100/70. During the time I took Yasmin my BP slowly climbed to above 140/90. Within two weeks of going off the pill my BP was back down to pre-Yasmin levels.
-Irregular Heart Beat: After about a year and a half of being on the pill I started to suffer from seriously irregular heart beat which went away immediately after I got off Yasmin.
-Hyperpigmentation: I know any birth control can cause this but none of them ever have until I went on Yasmin at which point it sprung up all over my face. I’m hoping the dermatologist can clear it up now that I’m off the pill.
-Tightness in Chest: Happened around same time as irregular heartbeat and is now gone.
-Anxiety: I’m not sure I can blame Yasmin for this one since going off Yasmin has not caused it to go away. But enough posters on this site mentioned it as a side effect and it wasn’t a problem for me pre-Yasmin, so I wanted to mention it.
-Irritability: I’m generally easy going and don’t let the little things bother me, but as soon as I went on Yasmin everything started to bug me. Now that I’m off Yasmin I’ve been in a much better mood.
If anyone is on this pill or thinking about going on it, I implore you not to. Too many risks especially since there are so many other pills out there that don’t have many side effects. I mean, there are close to 5,000 postings on this site, mostly against this pill while if you search the web there are almost no other pills that generate this kind of attention. That alone tells me something. I hope the makers of the pill pull it from the market immediately or doctors stop recommending it.
-- By newkie | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
June 24th
2009
9:19 AM
My doctor told me that the reason a period is so brown and you can spot when you are on the pill is because it creates a fake period. I had been on Yasmin for 2 years got off because i was broke then a year ago got back on to yaz. I just got a script for Femcon and im really worried about gaining weight. My doctor did say that it takes a few months for your body to get used to it though.
-- By michelleg1123 | Reply | Private Message me
June 22th
2009
9:09 PM
ive been on Yasmin for about 3 years now because it clears up mah acne...but now i don't know if it's good for me. the first side effect ive noticed about a year after was that i get really burnt when i go out in the sun... and this is even with sunscreen! i get red rashes and my face gets swollen... at the time i thought that was just heat rash and didn't think much of it. now about 3 yrs later, i got a really really bad sunburn which resulted in huge blisters, and this scares me. I used sunscreen and my doctors said it couldn't have been just the sun so they are still trying to figure out what caused the burn...however after reading this thread im starting to think that Yasmin was the cause of it coz i never used to get sunburn before i started taking the pill... i grew up in a place where its Summer for almost a whole year so its really crazy to think that i would get burnt this much just for staying out in the sun! this past year ive also started gaining weight and now my sex drive is just gone... i thought it was me but i couldn't understand why that would be...now it all make sense...
-- By gaga123 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
May 22th
2009
11:43 AM
I don't want to scare all of you, but I thought I should share my recent experience. I am 40 years old and have never tolerated birth control pills very well. I experience major headaches that make the effects not worth the pain. As I was approaching menopause, I developed an ovarian cyst and dysfunctional bleeding and anemia. My periods could last up to 8 weeks at a time. I was desperate. I was put on Yasmin and was told to give it 3 months for my body to acclimate to this drug. I had a headache EVERY day that I was on this pill. 2-3 times a month it would flair up into migraine status. After 2 months and 1 week, I had one of those headaches that didn't go away. I went to the doctor 3 times to figure out what the problem was. I had a stroke and it was not diagnosed for 9 days due to the fact that I didn't have many outward stroke symptoms. I had a blood clot in my brain that blocked my sinus, sigmoid, and jugular veins. My neurologist said that most people would not have lived through this and that I was lucky to be alive. Please warn your friends and family. This is so dangerous. The only risk factors that I have are my age (40) and my weight (200 lbs) at 5' 7. I did not smoke, rarely drink, I'm not on medication for any other thing.
-- By whehew | Reply | Private Message me
April 29th
2009
12:51 PM
I had been on Yasmin for about three years, and just over a month ago I had a blood clot in my brain that caused two seizures. If any one has information on a class action lawsuit, I would greatly appreciate it.
-- By allisonm | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
April 12th
2009
4:55 AM
For all of you that has had problems with Yasmin or Yaz, I'm sincerely sorry. I'm really curious though to all of you, has anyone that read the leaflet that comes with the birth control box, have any problems? If you read that it may increase potassium which may cause serious heart and health problems so it would be good to get your potassium level checked before taking it. Side effects usually go away after 2-3months, has anyone have problems longer than that and ended up finding out what was the problem? I just wanted to know because my girlfriend is about to take it...and I wanted to know if one knew about the effects of this pill, and what precautions they had taken. Okay, thank you.
-- By skilledalex | Reply | (5) replies | Private Message me
February 2th
2009
6:22 PM
I'm 21 and Ive been taking birth control since I was 16 for depression. I started with Yasmin, which after a bit lost its effectiveness - when yaz came out I switched to that. It was wonderful. I had been on it for about a year or so and Ive had problems with pelvic pain for awhile. I had a laparoscopy in November and my doctor switched me to Femcon, saying that I might just have a hormone imbalance and that would fix it right up. I haven't been so miserable in my entire life. I went out and bought a preg test because of all the breast tenderness, sickness, mood swings, weight gain and headaches I have all the time. I feel bad for my boyfriend having to get up in the middle of the night to console me when I cant sleep because Im so uncomfortable and nauseous. Im unhappy. And I get two periods a month, sometimes lasting for two weeks, I don't get it! I don't care what the waiting period is to switch back, I still have a box of yaz and Im switching tomorrow.
-- By helium | Reply | Private Message me
December 18th
2008
11:10 AM
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.
December 1th
2008
6:07 PM
Hi.
I was on Yasmin for about 9 months and stopped taking it about a year ago. I had been on a few other pills in the past while in college and always had problems. When I was given Yasmin it was after an abortion and my doctor and I agreed that maybe it was time to give Birth Control one more chance. Since I had had such a bad time with the pill in the past we went with a low dosage (Yasmin).
I have always had great skin but around 22 I started to have adult acne... mostly attributed to the high level of stress I am always under with work and all. Yasmin worked great in getting my skin back on track, my periods were definitely shorter and lighter. I have always been prone to terrible cramps and heavy bleeding. The pill was great for the first two months or so. Soon I started to notice that I was gaining wait despite the fact that I eat really well and really don't eat more than I ever did before. I had 0 sex drive to the point that I started finding ways to avoid having sex with my boyfriend....at one point we did not have sex for 2.5 months. He was an angel and never really complained. But I started to have a problem with it. And it seemed I had a problem with just about everything. I was overly emotional and having rage fits and would just pick fights with him and anyone I could get my hands on. I didn't develop out of the blue migraines.... but my headaches became more severe and frequent. While I was feeling this way I knew it was irrational and unprovoked and made little to no sense but I just couldn't stop. I felt like it wasn't me anymore. I didn't understand the things that I was feeling. I was reacting and behaving in a way that was just uncharacteristic of me. And then I also started spotting every month towards the end.
One day I just decided... I had to stop right away. But I was worried about going off of the pill. I switched to something else and that switch made me feel even worst and I just couldn't deal anymore. I had to be free of these awful feelings.
At first I felt better right away. My period was still lighter and less painful than it had been before Yasmin. It was as if I had never been on Yasmin at all. I lost 15 pounds right away and have kept them off.
About three months after I stopped my periods became painful again (I expected this would eventually return).... but worst... I started getting my periods really late. In June it was two weeks late. I took so many pregnancy tests that all were negative but still my period would not come. I called my doctor and she said it was probably the heat. Apparently this happens to some women in the summer when its too hot. But I am indoors all day at work so it just didn't make sense. Then July... same thing... two weeks late.... August same thing. but exactly two weeks. ( I always get it on a Sunday after being on the pill)
Then September... it was only a week late so I thought Oh! maybe I am getting back on track. mind you this whole time I am ovulating on time... so I am PMSing for a really long time. Then October roles around and I'm two weeks late again... and November only a week and four days late... got it on a Thursday night out with friends.
Now I don't know if this has anything at all to do with the fact that I was on Yasmin. It might be totally unrelated.. but since no one had mentioned it I just wanted to ask if anyone had experienced anything like it?
August 12th
2008
3:13 PM
I have extreme problems with my menstrual cycle.. I bleed for months at a time... i have been bleeding for about 7 months now and my gyno gave me Femcon Fe.I have been on Yasmin before and it did not help regulate my menstrual cycle at all. I actually gained over 20 pounds from Yasmin in two months. I didn't change my diet at all. I have been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen and that just didn't do anything at all... i bled right through... After reading all your comments I am very nervous to start Femcon Fe.
-- By zee123 | Reply | Private Message me
July 24th
2008
6:31 PM
I just started using Yasmin 15 days ago and in the second week of taking it, I started experiencing leg cramps. I was just laying in bed and my leg started feeling really weird... I just thought it was because I hadn't done any yoga for a few days. So I did yoga and walked for a while to see if I could loosen it up and nothing. It continued for the whole week so I started taking baths to soften the muscle, thinking that it had to do with lack of exercise, still nothing. I even had my massage therapist husband try and massage it out and still nothing. So I thought it may be early pregnancy symptoms, but the test was neg. I've been researching my symptoms for a week now, and I stumble across this sight. Thank you I will stop taking it NOW so that I don't become as ill as most of you, though I will still have the leg cramps checked out asap. Again thank you.
-- By cheil | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
July 21th
2007
4:42 PM
I have been using Yasmin for almost 10 years. Recently I have began getting migraines (never had them before), nasty vaginal discharge and an embarrassing increase in facial hair. I can somewhat deal with the migraines, but the other two symptoms are extremely irritating.
I have been to my gyno for both. She told me that the discharge was "normal" with the use of Yasmin. I don't think snotty goo coming from your vagina for a straight week before your period is "normal". She assured me that all testing came back negative and it was just something I would have to deal with. As far as the facial hair goes...I can't leave the house without standing in front of a mirror and plucking my poor chin and neck for up to an hour each day. My gyno suggested that I get laser treatment, which would be grand if SHE were paying for it.
I don't know if I want to continue taking Yasmin or not. I have ovarian cysts and used to have severe periods lasting for a week and a half at a time, and Yasmin had helped with those problems.
Has anyone else had these problems...and what are you doing for them?
October 24th
2009
10:07 AM
I'm a 19 year old college student and a I've been on Yasmin for about 3 years. I started the pill because after two major surgeries, my body was traumatized, leaving me with very heavy periods and feeling tired all the time. I started Yasmin and at first, was very happy with it. I didn't lose weight on it, but I didn't gain any weight, either, which is what happened when I tried taking other birth control pills. However, after my senior year, I went off to college, where the problems began. It seemed that anytime I was under stress, my anxiety and bad mood would amplify. I got mad at my boyfriend over small things to the point of wanting to break up with him. Thank goodness he was patient with me! I began having panic attacks and although I was living in horrible conditions at school, I just chalked it up to not being ready to move off, etc. I came home the next semester and had the same problems. Anytime my boyfriend and I get into an argument, I can feel myself get heated up and I become uncontrollably angry. I hate myself when this happens. I have also been very tired. Some mornings, I can't stay awake in class and since I've been on the pill, I have felt the need to take naps way more often than usual. I plan to stop taking this pill as soon as my month is up!
-- By honeygirl123 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me