Yasmin and cramps

Hi.
I was on Yazmin 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 Yazmin 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 (Yazmine).
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. Yazmin worked great in getting my skin back on track, my periods were definately 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 develope out of the blue migranes.... 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 couln'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 Yazmin. It was as if I had never been on Yazmin 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 aftr being on the pill)
Then September... it was only a week late so I thought Oh! myabe 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 Yazmin. It might be totally unrelated.. but since no one had mentioned it I just wanted to ask if anyone had experienced anything like it?

I am 28 and have been on Yasmin for 2+ years...recently switched to the generic. Other then a little touch of nauceousness around my period I do not experience any bad side effects. In fact Yasmin seems to regulate my period and cramps. I do have some anxiety issues which I treat with a drug called Celexa. With Yasmin and Celexa as part of my daily routine I feel well balanced and happy.

This is a warning to those of you who are going off of Yasmin in an attempt to get pregnant! (along with a few other issues)

I was on Yasmin for almost 3 years, and I'd like to first say that I had SO many stomach issues since being on it that I had eventually been sent to a gastroenterologist by my GP. My gynecologist swore up and down that Yasmin could in no way be the reasoning for my stomach issues (nausea, motion sickness, diarrhea etc) however, I've recently gone off of Yasmin in an attempt to get pregnant. Here's where my huge problem comes into play... About a week and a half after going off of the pill I started having severe dizzy spells as well as fatigue. These symptoms persisted for the next 2 weeks or so and then about 4 days before I was supposed to get my period I started experiencing intense cramps. Of course my fiance and I were a little bit disappointed because this meant that those side effects meant we hadn't successfully conceived. So a few days go back, as does the usual Wednesday that I receive my period. So Thursday I decided to take a pregnancy test and to our complete and utter surprise it came out positive! We were so excited, as were our friends and families. So again, a few days go by (and I never got my period) and my cramps persisted night and day. Then I started experiencing sickness at night time when I tried to go to bed. We of course thought this was due to the pregnancy. Then Monday at about 4AM I woke up in complete and utter pain and went to the bathroom and came to find out I was bleeding. We completely panicked thinking I was miscarrying. I ended up spending that entire day in the hospital and later the next day we found out I was never pregnant. We had gone through a river of emotions within those 2 days and although we were very glad we hadn't miscarried, it was also devastating to realize we were not yet pregnant. False positives are very rare, and I'd have to say that they SUCK. So watch out girls, and make sure to go to the doctors for a blood test ASAP before getting too excited. Just wanted to let you all know.

As for us, we're going to keep on trying and hoping for the best. I of course never intend on going back on Yasmin as I've discovered I've been completely wasting my and my gastroenterologist's time due to this medication.

I had been on Yasmin for about 2 years and it was great. I had no adverse side effects. My periods where shorter and lighter and I did not have the horrible cramps I had before getting on the pill. I loved it. Then about three months ago the pharmacy switched me to the generic, Ocella, which the pharmacist insisted was exactly the same, but beware it is not! I have gained about 15 pounds, I had to go up a whole bra size because my breasts are so swollen, my breast are tender and ache most of the time, and as of right now I have been bleeding badly for two weeks and I have never bled when it wasn't time for my period. My OBGYN said the generic was most likely the cause. I know the generic is cheaper but do not take it. Yasmin is well worth the extra money. I am getting back on it immediately! A lot of people do blame the pills for stuff that would have happened anyways. So do not be scared to take Yasmin. Everything isn't for everyone but it was good for me. It's done it's main job which is to keep me from getting pregnant and isn' that the reason most of us take birth control for? So put up with a few side effects, at least you don't have a baby to deal with!!!

Hi, Ive just turned 18 and something very similar happened to me. I have been on Yasmin for 5 months now and yesterday I got really bad cramps and passed out in the shower. I have been feeling a bit odd for a while now so my boyfriend took me to hospital. We thought that i might be pregnant since i have been having the following symptoms for over a week now:
hot flushes (mostly at night)
nausea
cramps
really bad headaches that last for days
light nervousness
and I feel so so tired all the time even if I have slept for 10 hours
im not sure what is wrong with me and its been really frightening. I never though it could be the pill but after reading all these posts im now starting to wonder...

I was put on birth control when I was 21 years old and I started with Estrostep FE for irregular and very painful periods. 9 years later, after complaining of unusually light periods and horrible hot flashes I was switched to Yasmin to see if that would make a difference. I was fine with the Yasmin for about 6 months but then I came down with what I thought might have been a stomach virus. I was fine until June of that year when I came down with what seemed to be another stomach virus. I found this odd as I had not had a stomach virus since I was eight years old, but I seemed to have contracted two within six months of each other 22 years later. By the time July hit, I was experiencing these "stomach viruses" just about every other day. I would have horrible acid indigestion and the sensation of needing to vomit (but I never would) which would send me running for the bathroom for hours at a time just in case I did. For over a year I sought the advice of doctors and had been theoretically diagnosed with the following: stress (always the first one), acid reflux disease, IBS, and gastroparesis. I have gone through an endoscopy, gastric emptying scan, colonoscopy, two ultrasounds, two CT scans and an MRI. Drug wise I have been put on Prevacid, Compazine, Zofran, Zegerid, Imipramine, Reglan, Levsid, and Erythromycin. I now am buried in medical bills and the whole thing has caused me to miss a month of work without pay. I also was struggling to eat and, at one point, had dropped 25 pounds which is very frightening for someone with my tiny frame. The mental anguish was unbearable and I was actually at the point of welcoming a diagnosis of cancer just because it would have been answer. The idea to stop taking the Yasmin actually came from a fifteen minute conversation during a birthday party with an obstetrician. Within two weeks of stopping I was absolutely fine. I gained all of the weight back in record time and am once again a person who rarely ever needs stomach aids (in three months I've only taken two tums). Stopping the Yasmin made absolute sense because the nausea episodes would only occur between 9am and 2pm (weird, just like morning sickness) and my thyroid levels were all over the place. One blood test would show them as normal and another would show them as sky-high. I questioned my ob-gyn why she said my blood tests were normal when my thyroid levels were actually twice the normal level. She merely shrugged it off as being "normal because of the Yasmin". No wonder I never felt well! I've been off Yasmin for three months now. I've only gotten one light period that lasted for three days. It was over a month ago and it took almost two months to happen after stopping the Yasmin. I don't know if I'm sterile because I have heard cases of girls becoming infertile after long-term use of the pill (any kind). I am definitely interested in joining a class action lawsuit because I don't feel I should be the one stuck with all of these bills. Has anything been officially started yet?

Hello everyone,

I have been feeling certain things lately so I thought "let's see what Google thinks it is". I typed in "bloated, tired, swollen legs, increased breast size" and the first site that pops up is this website. I actually thought I might be pregnant because and was surprised to see "Yasmin Side Effects" instead of "signs of pregnancy". I have taken Yasmin for almost 7 straight years. I was off it for 1 summer and probably one other month total in that whole time. I haven't really noticed any huge changes until recently and, like I said, it hadn't even crossed my mind that the things I was feeling could be from Yasmin. First of all, my breast won't stop growing and are so, so sore. I actually just bought my first D bra tonight, after being a C since probably my Junior year of high school. My legs and specifically my calves tend to feel extremely tight and stretched lately. I thought this was from running & exercise in general, yet I've exercised intensely & frequently for 4 years and this is a recent feeling for me. I have noticed for about a year that spider veins have started appearing on my legs. I thought I was just inheriting this from my mother, who has a lot of spider/varicose veins. My sex drive has definitely decreased significantly over the years I've been on Yasmin, but again, I thought this was normal or "just me". I go through periods where I have quite an appetite and can eat bad foods yet not gain weight. Then I go through periods when I seem to have the same eating patterns as normal and I'm exercising normally as well, yet I always feel bloated and fat. Plus, I have no appetite during these times. I also go through cycles where I have horrible stomach issues (I get a "bubbly" feeling, have had really bad cramps on occasion). I thought this was a side effect of coffee but now I'm wondering...

I get my period next week and then I think I'll stop taking Yasmin to see if any of these problems subside. Does anyone know any type of birth control that doesn't cause side effects?

Good luck to everyone!

Ive been on Yasmin for 3 months by which time it shouldve already absorbed in my system. Im 17 and the other day after 3 months of feeling ok but being diagnosed with mild depression and a hormonal imbalance; feeling ok but a little skirmish and over the past week, I got into the shower and nearly passed out twice. This was unusual for me because ive never fainted before and Ive never been dizzy. I got half dressed on the ground opened up the bathroom door and yelled out to mum. If you've ever seen a corpse's face, that's what mine looked like. I wanted to cry coz i was so scared but no tears came out. My legs felt weak and i wanted to throw up and i had a huge headache that lasted probably two-three days; i had severe abdominal/period pain and I thought I was going to die. On top of that I had to miss the day off school and mum had to take me to the doctors. The doctor told me that it was all just to do with Yasmin so she put me on a new pill called Levlen ED. I was so scared and i wouldn't wish this on anyone. If it happens again to me i may have to see a gynecologist. Please if there is anyone out there that has had the similar thing can you please let me know? xx L.

I just posted a side effect on the Yaz page. I know all birth control pills are different for everyone but for the most part I had a lot of success on Yasmin. I was on Ortho Tricyclin for about 2 years in my early 20's and started having severe abdominal pain and severe bloating (all over my body). After several tests (blood work, CT scan, ultrasound, etc.) came back normal, I asked my ob/gyn to switch me to another type of birth control b/c I really didn't feel like myself and when your Mom says "You look like a zombie" then you know something is wrong. He gave me a prescription for Yasmin and I had immediate abdominal/bloating relief and felt normal again. I took Yasmin for 6 years and my only complaint is that I got PMDD the last 6 months I took it. I wasn't sure if it had something to do w/ turning 30 or just being on Yasmin for that long or a combination. I saw a commercial for Yaz and asked my ob/gyn if I could try it. The PMDD went away after the second month on Yaz but next week I'm going to try Yasmin again due to side effects I developed on Yaz (no energy, tired all the time, not feeling alert, feeling depressed). I'm crossing my fingers that Yasmin help me feel normal again and not bring back the PMDD.

HORRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS FROM YASMIN!
I am 21 and I have been on birth control pills for 4 years. I used to be on a generic low dose hormone birth control until i developed an ovarian cyst which the doctors told me was because of the low hormone. So now im on Yasmin and i have been on it for 2 months. So far i have gained 6 lbs ( i have weighed the same since 9th grade until now), and i eat healthy , my eating habits have not changed. I am also super moody , i feel depressed, can't sleep, constantly crying, me and my fiance are constantly fighting because of my mood swings. I also get horrible cramps during my period and i bleed about 11 days after i have just had my period. The side effects are awful and Im thinking about switching to Mirena because I cant handle this anymore. Hope my experience is helpful.

Okay, I don't have any side effects, but I do want to know something important!
I'm 16 years old and i REAALLLY want someone (who knows about the Yasmin pill!) to help me out with this one. Tomorrow i am going to the doctor with my mom. I have irregular menstruation. Like 2 or one week before it's supposed to come. I also get cramps, which are just enough to hold out...But the thing is, i just want to get the Yasmin pill. I heard that it clears your skin (although i don't have acne or anything) and it can make your breast bigger.. I have like a A-cup and bigger breast are nicer.
But now I read these bad experiences and I'm just scared to start it.. But still i wanna try it, 'cause I can stop right after it starts to become bad, right??
Please give me a good and useful answer!

Thanx!
A confused girl

I am 18 years old and ive been taking Yasmin for about 2 years, and tonight i came across all of these stories of bad experiences.
after putting together the pieces, ive realized that im not crazy after all! i have had every symptom out there for this pill except high blood pressure and nausea.
i used to be 135 pounds before i got on this pill, and now i am 160 pounds.
i find myself crying all the time, im surprised my boyfriend can put up with it.
i have no energy, all i want to do is sleep. i get sharp pains behind my eyes that cause me to shift them to find a spot where it wont hurt. i have no sex drive at all. i constantly feel depressed and sometimes don't want to live. im so tired of feeling this way.
the only good thing that happened for me was that my skin had cleared up tremendously!
and now i want to just stop and quit this pill right now! im just afraid my acne will come back.
this pill should not be given to women, all of these stories show great reasons on why its harmful.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS PILL!! ITS NOT WORTH IT.
im glad i found all this out before it was too late.
my boyfriend wants me to finish the rest of my pill pack but i just want to stop right now.
i don't know what to do.
if i continue taking this pill for the rest of the pack i will feel worse about it each day knowing its harming my body and life.
help.

I can't believe this is prescribed for women in order to HELP them! I took it for a few days only, it was a very scary experience. My periods were irregular and my Gyn said this would help. I started the pill and by the next day I was having HORRIFIC cramps, not even double doses of Ibuprofen would touch them. I felt dizzy, nauseaus, and I started feeling depressed within a few days. I went to bed one day with the cramps and I actually felt suicidal, didn't want to get out of bed or speak to anyone. I just laid there and cried and cried!!!

Well, I know myself enough to know that this was not any way to treat myself so I stopped taking them immediately. Within 2 days I was back to normal. I told the Gyn but she shrugged it off, said I should have stayed on the pills as I would have evened out. How does she know??!!??!! I'd like her to take them and then say that.

I started taking some good supplements, Black Cohosh was one, along with B vitamins, E, Calcium/Magnesium, and I felt pretty good within a month or so. My periods evened out too!

Take care of yourselves ladies, you know your bodies better than doctors!
:-)

Hi Iv'e been off of Yasmin for 2 months after a 2.5 year run. When I was on Yasmin I had HORRIBLE cramps before and during my periods, I was tired 24/7, extremely heavy periods, dreadful mood swings, depression, panic attacks, paranoia (I couldn't stay at my house alone for just an evening w/o thinking someone was going to break in my door and kill me). Now that I am off of it, I'm thirsty almost all of the time and frequent urination. I went to the hospital because I was scared of having diabetes since dry mouth and frequent urination are two main symptoms. Thankfully, the hospital staff dismissed it and diagnosed me with a UTI. I still have dry mouth and frequent urination. Now about my period, Last month it came a bit late but it still came. This month I'm currently 3 days overdue for my period (I'ts been 32 days!!) I've never had sex in my life so I know it isn't pregnancy. all I can do is blame this horrible drug and go see my OB/GYN on Monday to see if everything else is ok. Anyone have any reassurance for me?

I have been off this pill for 6 days...was taking it for 11 months and I feel horrible today. My side effects while on this pill where:hair loss, complete loss of libido, vaginal dryness, headaches, muscle pain and twitching in my legs, rash on my breasts that was very itchy, nervousness, bladder problems: constant need to urinate and feeling pressure in my kidneys. The list goes on and on. I am scared coming off these pills, I have had dizzy spells all day and feel very nauseated, I have bad cramps. I stopped the pack mid-cycle and I have been bleeding fully since yesterday. I am so scared of whats going to happen next.

I began taking Yasmin in July 2006. I had been on bcp for about 10 years at the time, mostly due to bad cramps and pms symptoms. Yasmin worked out well, but there was just one side effect, I would become extremely emotional right before my period. In October 2007 I went for my yearly check-up and mentioned this to my doctor. He switched me to Apri (Desogen) saying that this would be a better pill for that side effect. I began taking it that next month. Right away I had feelings of nausea and breast tenderness. Even though I felt like this I gave Apri a chance. In January 2008 I couldn't take feeling like this anymore and stopped taking it. In February I noticed my hair began falling out. I hadn't gotten a period this month either. I went to the doctor in March and she ran many blood tests. My estrogen came back extremely low (at a level of a menopausal woman). Instead of exploring any other options as to what to do, the doctor put me right back onto Yasmin, since now I went two months without a period. I figured that I would have to learn to live with a little moodiness before my period that Yasmin gave me. The doctor also made me believe that this would put an end to my hair loss...Nothing could have been further from the truth!!! I went back on Yasmin in March 2008 and what a HUGE difference than from the first time I was on it. Not only was I emotional now ALL the time, but I physically felt much worse. I had constant breast tenderness, acne (which even as an adolescent I never had), oily skin, and my hair was constantly falling out. Emotionally I was a wreck! I was constantly crying and very depressed! I began going from doctor to doctor, which is unlike me. I hate doctors and would only go for a serious illness. Now I was hoping that one of these doctors could give me an answer. But 6 months later and NO ANSWERS. The only thing that a few doctors said was that Yasmin was good for those with hair loss. So after reading many of the entries on this website and after much soul-searching...I am going off birth control for good!!! I have lost well over half of my hair, have practically pushed everyone that means anything to me away, and have personally hated myself! I have literally lost the past 6 months of my life! It is now time to see what my body is capable of on its own. I'm done putting this poison into my body and would tell anyone else to do the same. I always knew that there were side effects associated with any kind of medicine, but I could not have ever imagined that all of these side effects could have and would have happened to me. I felt like I had to write this after reading all of the other entries. Many of those entries gave me the courage to quit and I would be happy if this could help or inform even just 1 person! I would appreciate if there were anyone out there that had a similar experience to either post it or reply. Thank you.

Hi, ladies. I have been on and off birth control for nearly 8 yrs now. I am 26. I started when i was 17 d/t very heavy menstrual bleeding and cramps. I've been on several different kinds. I just started Yasmin (actually the generic) 3 days ago and have decided to come off of it already. After reading some of your comments I have def decided I'm going to take a break from the pills. I have experienced severe depression and anxiety within the past two days and my heart racing really rapidly. I have mitral valve prolapse and was surprised my nurse practitioner prescribed this for me. I have also been very sleepy. Not sure if this is one of the side effects or not. But please be careful to all of you out there when choosing birth controls. I've decided to take my chances w/ the cramps and just suck it up. No medicine is worth causing your body harm. I don't recommend Yaz or Yasmin to anyone!

I have been taking Yasmin for a little over a year now. I had really bad mood swings and was extremely emotional during the first month, but ever since then I have had no problems. My period is a lot shorter and lighter, I have no cramps, and my skin has almost completely cleared (and it was really bad before). However, my breast size did not increase whatsoever, and seeing that I am A cup, I would have loved that. Reading all these comments makes me wonder why I did not have that side effect! Besides that, I didn't have any weight gain or notice any other problems! Hope this helps!

Hi ladies,

I'm a 20 year old girl and I've been on Yasmin for just over a year now and it has hands down been the WORST YEAR OF MY LIFE. I started taking it for extreme menstrual cramps that would leave me screaming on the kitchen floor, curled up in a ball begging for the pain to stop. Yasmin fixed that, trust me it was like a miracle, and my acne on my face and back cleared up, another miracle.

Now the bad stuff. The first month was okay, because sometimes it takes time for the hormones to take affect. But I became severely depressed thereafter. It just started happening, crying all the time, hopeless, binge eating, gaining a lot of weight. And on top of that the GI problems, my stomach literally ballooned out to the size of a watermelon, and everything I ate irritated me. But a few months ago I became bulimic in a drastic attempt to get control back of my life, I hadn't even thought of the pill as the culprit up until this point. Keep in mind that I'm young, fit, have a great family, in school, there's no reason for my to be falling so low.
I started seeing a therapist, then a psychiatrist. I was this close to being put on antidepressants. And then something happened, my years worth prescription of Yasmin ran out so my OBGYN told the pharmacy to refill my prescription but with the generic brand, Ocella, that they had available which would only cost me 10 dollars a month with health insurance. Within four days I felt like my old self. Happy. I couldn't believe it. I went to a physician for tests and everything seemed normal, but after explaining to her my severe stomach problems she told me that it seemed like the pill induced me to become lactose intolerant. Wonderful!
So I started the second pack of Ocella a week ago and it all started happening again. The first month was fine again, but my body had caught up by now and even though I've cut dairy out, my stomach has ballooned up again and I have heartburn and indigestion no matter what I eat. Yesterday I felt insanely depressed, I binged, became insanely nauseous and threw up. I didn't leave the couch once. Now I know that it may sound like I need to reevaluate my problems, but I promise you, THIS IS NOT ME. I've realized that Ocella is exactly what it is, the generic version, and hence chemically the same as Yasmin, so the effects will mirror Yasmin's. MY OBGYN told me to finish the pack, and then I can come off them, and I cannot begin to explain how excited I am. I'm done with pills, and I'll find another way to deal with the pain.

Please, if you're taking birth control for something like acne, reconsider, it's not worth it. We are the experimental age. We can't ask our grandmothers what the long terms affects are. But if you must be on it and are feeling badly in any way, switch! You might find something better for you.

I have been on Yasmin for 4 years now and I only recently started to question if some of the things that I have been experiencing are related to this pill. After reading your comments here, I'm more convinced then ever! I am a relatively healthy 31 year right now but for over a year now I have had a terrible ongoing ache in the back of my right thigh, just above my knee. I went to a vein specialist who just wanted to inject me to reduce the vein and "hoped" that it would help resolve the pain. He said that I had reticular veins and that they can be painful but as I understand it, you can get pain in your deep veins, which can result in deep vein thrombosis and even pulmonary embolisms (very life threatening). I have also had terrible ongoing headaches that last me 3 days at least once per month. I've always suffered from migraines so I didn't necessarily connect these headaches to the pill. I have absolutely ZERO sex drive. It's like I have to force myself to do it and it fills me with anxiety to even "gear up" for it. I have vaginal dryness, which can be very frustrating during foreplay and painful during sex. I had previously always been pleased that Yasmin resolved my 10 + year battle with painful cystic back acne. I have beautiful, clear skin on my back since I started taking Yasmin. I have also experienced fairly normal periods (for me). I used to have debilitating cramps and periods so heavy that I would wear a tampon and double my pads (with wings) so that I could live through the first part of the day at work without completely breaking through and bleeding through my pants. They would last for 5 - 7 days but with the pill I have more normal periods, manageable cramps, minor bloating, and still a heavy flow but not nearly as bad as before. I have always had good cholesterol levels and low triglycerides until 4 years ago when I started the pill. Since then I have had 2 blood tests where my cholesterol has skyrocketed and my triglycerides are triple the "normal" range. I eat healthier now then ever before and I regularly exercise as well so I cannot explain my cholesterol change, nor can my doctor (after showing a food diary of mostly fruits, veggies, limited whole grains, lean meat and optimal water). He told me to "go on a low carb diet" and "stay away from "sugars". I can't explain it either, I am always thirsty. I drink almost a gallon of water a day. I have this constant craving for a beverage and dryness if I'm not consistently sipping on water. My eyes are always dry, so dry in fact that it makes me feel tired or like I just want to close them to give them a break. I just started using eye drops, which has helped. Also, I'm tired, very very tired. It's summer so my energy is better only because I force myself to go workout, which always makes me feel better. I must say though, all in all, I have some concerning symptoms that seem to be prevalent throughout the blog but I've also had some positive effects from Yasmin. My concerns and your comments however are enough to take myself off the pill (Yasmin and all others) to try and live with my natural hormones instead of the synthetic in the pill. I think the potential risks outweigh the rewards. Thank you all for sharing and helping me in my decision making process.

I started taking Yasmin at the end of July due to abnormal bleeding of the uterus. At the time that I started the pill, I had been having a period for two weeks so I was relieved when it stopped. However, I have been extremely tired to the point where it is hard for me to keep my eyes open especially right after taking the pill. I have also had extreme tenderness in my breast to the point where I can not sleep on either side of my body. I have always had cramps but this time they lasted throughout my entire period, and they were the worst I have ever experienced.

My symptoms are not as bad as some of the ones you all have posted, but I want tot stop this pill before things get any worse. My doctor said it would also help me with my weight loss, but I'm too exhausted to even take initiative. I called my doctor to make an appointment so I can get my meds changed. Wish me luck.

I have been on birth control since I was 16 due to severe cramps during that time of the month. I have been on several different kinds. They placed me on Yasmin about 3 yrs ago. I thought that was the best one that I had ever been on until I went off of it. I have been off of Yasmin for about 2 1/2 months, since then I have developed anxiety, panic attacks, depression, with racing thoughts. I have contacted my OBGYN who said that this would not be a side effect. I have to say that everyone's body is different. I would like to know if anyone else has experienced any of these symptoms and if so how long will I feel like this?

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!

I am 25 years old. I was on YASMIN for about 6 years. A year ago I choose to get off the pill because I was on birth control for 10 years; I thought that was to long to be on any pill. I was off the pill for a little over 8 months the first 2 months everything was the same, however the last 5 months my periods were a lot heavier, horrible cramps like high school, my skin was disgusting, I cried all the time for no reason, and I gained about 10 lbs despite being very active, eating well and working out 5 days a week. 3 months ago I got back on YASMIN and everything has regulated. As far as the sex drive goes YES it's low, but I can't really say it was extremely high when I was off the pill. I found this site by searching for a cheaper prescription for YASMIN or a coupon. I read most of the posts about YASMIN and I’m not having any of the symptoms with YASMIN it’s more like I’m having them with out it. I’m sure everyone’s Doctor says this pill may not be the one for you. I had to go thru 4 before finding the one for me!

I'm 22 years old and I have been on Yasmin for 3 years. The first year it was fine, but the next year I began getting panic attacks which I never even believed in until I had one myself. I've had severe anxiety that is uncontrollable and doesn't allow me to sleep at night. Let's not even talk about the emotional mood swings during my period. My boyfriend knows when it's that time of the month because I'm not myself. I will cry over things that would never make me cry in a million years. I'm mean and moody and then 20 minutes later I feel bad, but then I'm crabby again. Weight gain has not been a problem for me only about 3-5 pounds, but my breasts did go from a large B to a D. My boobs definitely do not fit my body. I have noticed a lot of hair fall but I just thought it was normal. I too have had problems with my potassium levels as I would get leg cramps in the middle of the night so I began drinking Gatorade and eating bananas every morning which has helped. I love being on birth control because it helps me plan accordingly, but I just don't feel like myself anymore. I am always hungry and am never full. I literally have to tell myself out loud that I'm done eating because it doesn't trigger for me. I have had a stomach ache nearly everyday of being on the pill. I became addicted to TUMS which only made it worse. I thought it was stress related which it might be, but I literally do not go to the bathroom for 4 or 5 days and it is soooo painful. Another thing is that I have no sex drive. I really have to prepare myself for it otherwise sex does not even occur to me. My boyfriend thinks I'm not attracted to him, but I AM! We just moved in together and you would think it was "freedom" but I'm just motivated to have sex. This is not normal for a 22 year old healthy female with an extremely hot man.

Anyway, I just went to the doctor and told her I was interested in Yaz. She gave me a few sample packs which I will begin next week. I'm hoping for the best and I truly do believe that birth control is a trial and error process. Everyone's bodies are different and you need to find the one that works best for you! I will write again once I know how Yaz works out.

-MCL

I don't have a side effect to report, but I have spent the past 3 hours reading all of your responses. Over all they are 95% negative. The only thing I am wondering, is WHY you chose Yasmin to begin with.

I have been thinking about taking Yaz to help with my severe PMDD. If you don't know what that is, basically it's like the moodiness side of PMS times 10. I am euphorically happy normally, lol, kind of like how happy a cocker spaniel is when their family gets home... except I don't piddle on the floor. About 5 days before my period starts I go into a very deep depression, I bloat, I am irritable, and my entire life suffers. I cry (wail is more like it) for absolutely NO reason... blah blah blah. But once I am about 2 or 3 days into my cycle it all passes and I am back to chipper me.

Long story short, I heard Yaz is supposed to be amazing to help stabilize people like me. How many of you started Yaz just as birth control, or as an acne control? How many of you took it for PMDD and it STILL didn't help?

I have been on Yasmin now for 2 months and have had no problems with it. i have not gained any weight or felt moody. i actually feel that my face has definitely cleared up and on my last periods they have been shorter. the reason i asked my doctor for this specific pill was because i had HORRIBLE cramps that i couldn't move. my whole entire body would ache and my appetite was sky high. since being on it i think that it has helped me out. i think if your questioning taking this pill just give it a try for at least three months or so. every woman is different just remember that!!!

Yasmin says it shortens and lightens your period but this is NOT TRUE! I have horrible cramps for about a week before I get my actual period, the flow lasts for about 5-6 days (on a different birth control mine lasted only 3 days), and it is extremely heavy. I have terrible headaches that cause me to feel dizzy and I often lose my balance. I am always tired and have no motivation. I absolutely HATE Yasmin and I am so glad that I am switching off it. I would NOT recommend this pill to anyone I know.

after getting my period at normal intervals for the first five months after i quit taking Yasmin, i stopped getting it. has anyone else had this reaction? it's now been three months since i last got it, and in addition i've been experiencing cramps and bloating almost constantly for the past month as though i were about to get my period (though so far i haven't). plus I'm thirsty all the time. does this sound familiar to anyone?

my daughter is 16 takes Yasmin for severe periods and cramps, stomach pain, moodiness during her periods. She has just started complaining about headache that hurt really bad, not like migraine headaches, she already had a history of those and said that they feel different. I'm worried, has anyone experienced this?

I had been on Yasmin for about a year, then switched to Loestrin, and then back to Yasmin the past 3 months. I've never felt more anxious, depressed and suicidal. Not to mention the cramps are just as bad as they were before. I have never had problems before with anxiety attacks or depression but the past 3 months I have just not felt like myself. I stress over the dumbest things and work myself up into a frenzy over things I should not even worry about. Went to my dr. today and my nurse agreed with me and said she had the same side effects when she was on Yasmin. I am not off it as of this morning and will be starting a new birth control pill. She also now has me looking into anti anxiety meds

I posted not too long ago as my symptoms first began creeping up on me, high chloesterol, depsite a lot of exercise and eating healthy and having a normal body fat percentage. (AND I MEAN SO HIGH THAT I SHOULD WEIGH 500+ pounds)! I also have vitiligo, this causes skin discoloration and began having muscle aches and trouble sleeping at night. I had been on Yasmin for a little over a year and taken a break for 3 months before getting back on and symptoms started creeping up 2-3 months after coming back on Yasmin. I have aslo began to have hair loss in the past few months, gained 17 pounds in 4 months despite excerising and eating healthy. I began having hert palpitations and my late night writing can be attributed to trouble sleeping and overwhelming anxiety. I also have a lower sex drive now and am very depressed. I have been off Yasmin despite my doctor not believing a low dose pill could be causing all this, for one month. I have had withdrawals without a doubt, I am having severe breakouts, my breasts are so tender air caused by a fan hurts them and I want to cry all the time. The worst thing of all is my doctor won;t believe me, but how else can all this be happening. Blood tests ruled out thyroid and anemia as culprits as well as pregnancy (apparently I wouldn't notice that the 17 pounds was really a baby-what are these doctors thinking I know my body!). I hear all your symptoms and I wish I could say that they go away as soon as you get off the pill, but I can say if you just got on and things seem to be great realize I was on it for over a year and swore by it becasue it was the first pill that seemd to help with my emotions and cramps...but that all changed and my life feels like it is crashing down. I may never convince my doctor that yasmin is doing this to my body...they don't blieve me that I'm not eating fast food and siiting on my butt eating fatty foods all day and that is why I'm gaining weight and have dangerously high chloesterol, but I hope I can convince you all. I have had bad luck with all pills, I am allergic to spermicide and can't use diaphrams, I had my period for a month solid on the shot, but what Yasmin is doing to me makes me worry that my life is truly at risk...I would rather deal with cramps that are crippling than be ridiculed by doctors and hate myself the way yasmin makes me fo.

My doctor put me on continuous birth control hormones to help alleviate the severe cramps associated with endometriosis. I tried NuvaRing first, but went off because of vaginal/vulvar burning. I switched to Yasmin a few weeks ago. My breasts hurt nonstop for the first packet, but cleared up after that. I noticed I was feeling depressed a lot. My period decided to start before I even finished the active pills in the first pack. My sex drive dropped to zero. I became very irritable, like having constant PMS. I started noticing blurred vision/feeling like a blackout was coming on when I was climbing stairs. I started getting winded just climbing stairs. My energy fell through the floor. I continue to struggle with mild depression. The vaginal burning continues; intercourse is too painful--I suspect it may be linked to the hormones and not the NuvaRing. Honestly, NuvaRing had much fewer side effects for me than Yasmin. I'm not sure what to do next except get off the Yasmin.

I have been on Yasmin for almost 2 years. First 1 1/2 seemed great. I am taking it because my ovulation 8 to 10 days is very painful and bloated and constipated and then my PMS another 10 to 14 days severe cramps, severe all pms symptoms. Last few months have been exercising and cutting calories and have lost not one pound, always had headaches but could be worse, but weirdest thing is At the GI doc today my blood pressure was high. I have never had high blood pressure. I am going to be 45 and I am not over over weight, maybe e can lose 10 to 15 pounds. No HB pressure in family history. Very concerned I think I am just going to stop it. Anyone else with onset of High Blood Pressure, please e-mail ******

I am so relieved to come across this forum. I have been on Yasmin for about 3 years. After reading several postings here to my husband, we were both horrified to hear that I wasn't the only one having strange issues without a clear cause. I too have had heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, uncontrollable mood swings, inability to concentrate at work or deal with normal work stress, back pain, trouble falling asleep, low sex drive, and most recently, horrible depression. I have been to psychiatrists, allergists, chiropractors and physical therapy - all to try to find the cause. I have just gone off the pill, and have noticed improvement so far, and am very excited to see it hopefully improve. Hopefully I will be able to find a hormone-free birth control, instead of dealing with this. I can't believe doctors do not discuss these possible symptoms with their patients. I never would have thought bc pills would cause anxiety, depression, etc. A huge thanks to all of you for your candid comments... and helping me find an answer to my life-altering side affects!!!

I've been yasmin for about 1 1/2 years now (I'm 21). Going to the doctor tomorrow to see if I can switch to something else. I feel horrible. I used to be pretty happy, pretty active. For the past 4 months I've been depressed. anxious, paranoid, upset, and it just keeps getting worse and worse. At first maybe I thought I was just having mental stress. But I feel bad for my boyfriend now. I've been very down and hard on myself, and I just can't stop. I thought I would be able to control it, but it doesn't work that way. I know it's yasmin because it was something that finally clicked. I also noticed that my hair as thinned out a lot in the past year.

I need some help if any of you can please tell me if its the pill that is doing this. I am a male 18 yrs old. My girlfriend broke up with me today.But it has been pretty awkward cause i was her first love and out of no where the past few days she was acting a bit strange. She got like depressed or something i cant even explain. she says its her not me but since she said she loved me out of nowhere she ends up breaking up with me and i could tell she was really depressed over nothing, she has gained a bit of weight
she didnt even take the pill for that long maybe 3 months the most. i refuse to believe its the pill but then i hope it is cause then it isn't my fault or hers just the pill. My sister insist it is cause she went thought the same thing. so if any one can help me out a bit and tell me if should tell her to stop using it or to just wait it out a bit and see if she gets better. she also gets numb feets and cramps on her feet is that normal?? I'd really appreciate the help thank you.

Well like some of you, I've had the really bad lower back pain, cramps and really heavy bleeding while on my period. I have been so tired and have no energy and been really irritable. I know it has to be Yasmin because prior to taking it I felt fine. I'm going to stop taking it tonight and see how I feel the rest of the week. It usually takes awhile to get out of your system right?

As for myself, i started taking Yasmin when i was 17, i took it for about a year, then i had a break and i started taking it again about 1 maybe 1,5 year ago. i knew there are many side effects connected with birth control, but i decided to give it a shot, and i liekd it. less cramps, lighter periods, perfect. but now that i read all those side effects posted here, i realized that even though i did not have any physical side effects i did in fact suffer mental side effects. i am easly aggrevated, i get hurt over little things and can cry for no real reason, i feel tired all the time, deacreased sex drive.. and all this time knowing about side effects i kept blaming myself for being weird and becoming hard to get along with, which i wasn't before. i am an optimist and rather sensitive, but what happens to me know is way out of proportions.
today i realized that birth control pills are great invetion for a high price of our mental and physical state. condoms work for some, for others they dont bring enough satisfaction, but whats the point of being on the pill, and not having to use some latex, when the sex drive is decreased because of al the hormones?
today was the last day i am taking my bc pill. perhaps i will have to ind another alternative, but for now i need to apologize to all the people i've been hurting without even realizing that it wasn't the real me.
it's good to experiment with birth control to find whats right for us, but we have to make note of not only our physical state but also if how we feel mentally.
good luck to all finding the right ways of protecting yourselves :))

I started on Yasmin about 3 years ago and about 4-6 months on it- I started experiencing ringing in my ears. The ringing started with just 6 hours at a time maybe every other month- very minor in the beginning. Gradually the ringing would last longer and would occur more frequently. I saw an ENT Dr., hearing tests, MRI, you name it... There was nothing that came up and then I started doing some investigating in trying to make connections with the pill and the ringing. The pamphlet that it came with said that you could experience a deficiency in Vitamin B, B12.. whatever. So, I thought that I could start taking the B Vitamin and perhaps that would help.. I haven't gone off of it yet, because this pill has been amazing for me.. I don't have mood swings, heavy periods, bad cramps on it.. I love it compared to Ortho and the generic.. I felt like I was going insane on those! I think I just need to get off Yasmin altogether because of this ringing in my ear.. I really am trying to search for some answers!! If anyone has experienced ringing in their ears with Yasmin and never had it before- please email me... My doctors say that there is no connection and if everything else is great with the pill to stay on it; they say I have Meniere's Disease.. Also, I started getting a rash on the front of both of my calf's.. nothing to serious.. they say that it shouldn't appeared right away, instead of half a year later.. I'm at a loss.. like I said this pill has been great...

OMG AFTER READING THIS SITE THE OTHER DAY I DECIDED TO SPEAK TO MY DOCTOR . I SUFFER FROM (PCOS) Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome . MY DOCTOR PRESCRIBE ME TO DRINK YASMIN + METFORMIN 500 MG TO HELP ME LOSE WEIGHT AS WELL AS RESTORE MY REGULAR PERIODS. I TOLD HER ABOUT TI SHE TOLD ME TO STILL TRY IT THAT WITH BOTH MEDICINE IT WILL HELP ME. BUT I'M SCARED TO TRY IT =( ANYONE HAS THIS PCOS? I RATHER TAKE PROVERA SINCE I TRY IT BEFORE ... ANY SUGGESTIONS?

I have been taking the pill for 7 days. Yesterday I woke up at 3 am feeling very nauseous. I decided to just try and go back to sleep, and slept until about 9 am afterwards. Upon waking up I had to run to the bathroom and I threw up bile for several hours. I also have severe lower abdominal pain, I don't ever get cramps so I don't know if thats what it is, and no, it is not muscular pain from throwing up. My moods are out of control, and have been since the third day on it, I cry at everything. I have bad heartburn, and I am exhausted. My breasts are also extremely sore, and my skin is absolutely terrible. Is this normal, or is it possible I am pregnant?

I started the pill when i was 14, trying to control my cramps and acne. I have now been on the pill for 4 years. I constantly felt depressed and "blocked" in everything in my life. I gained over 40 pounds in my adolescence and never knew why. I'm taking control of my life now and have lost about 20. I went off the pill about a month ago and I can say with all of my being it was the best move i ever made. Then the acne came. I was devastated. I went back on and feel blocked again. My weight loss has come to a fault and my cravings are out of control. I am going back off of the pill again immediately. However, i don't want my acne to come back. Does anyone know of a great way to control it? creams don't really work for me so I'm not sure what to try. Mabye an herbal remedy? Any suggestions??

Hi all
I am a 24 year old, quite anxious person and have had problems with panic attacks and anxiety on and off for the last 5 years, although I generally stay on top of it, manage a good job and I have a successful long term with my boyfriend who I live with and love very much.
I was on Yasmin for three years and never thought I had any problems with it - although looking back maybe some of the anxiety that I experienced then was linked to it. The numerous GPs I spoke never made this connection so I would never have suspected it.
Anyway I came off Yasmin a year ago, as I decided I wanted a break from medication but any changes would have been disguised by another medication I was coming off at the time which gave me really bad withdrawal symptoms.
I went back on Yasmin ten days ago and today I feel terrible. I have been waking up at about 5am, wide awake and anxious and this morning had a very upset stomach due to the severe anxiety. I tried to go to work but on the bus I had the most awful depressing, dark anxious thoughts and could NOT get them out of my head. I felt terrible and came straight back home.

There is no way I am taking the pill tonight, but I am a bit worried about stopping it mid cycle - does anyone have any experience of doing this and what happened?
I also really want to know how long it will take for me to feel back to normal - can anyone give me an idea?

Thanks for your posts,
Really think they need to warn people more clearly on packaging...

Jem

I am 17 years old and before I started taking Yaz my periods were heavy and my cramps were so painful I could barely move, but it only lasted 3-4 days. I am on my second pack of Yaz and my period was a week late, when it did finally start I was glad that it was light, and my cramps are not as painful, but it has lasted 12 days and is still going. ( I am going to ask my doctor about that at my next appointment.) I don't know about loss of sex drive cause I am still a virgin and am only taking Yaz for fewer and lighter periods. I haven't smelled anything odd yet and I hope I never do. But I did get headaches when on my period and I was hoping Yaz would help that too, but it hasn't worked so far. Reading what other people have wrote has scared me a little cause right now my only problem is the length of my period. I hope I don't get anymore bad symptoms. Is there another kind of BCP I can take that doesn't cause so many problems? Cause I don't want to wait for these problems to happen to me, I want to prevent them!

I'm glad I found this site. My OBGYN put me on Yasmin.. This is my first pack. I stated it on the first day of my period, that was more than a week ago and I'm still bleeding. The bleeding is also irregular, I used to have 3 sometime 4 day periods. Now I don't bleed at all at night, I have cramps all day and massive clots with sometimes no bleeding in between (never happened before). Should I wait and see if things will change? or should I get off this pill asap. I've been on other birth controls before (marvelon) and that was two of the worst months I had ever experienced...

I am soooo glad I found this site! I just started Yaz - I am supposed to start my first inactive pill tomorrow - and I have had a terrible month! The first week wasn't so bad, just a tremendous drop in libido. But I thought that maybe that would pass with time. Then the second week, there was still no libido and lots and lots of cramps. By the middle of that week I had very heavy bleeding that still has not stopped. I have been working out 2-3 times a week and been following a healthy diet for about 6 months, and up until now I have steadily maintained a healthy weight. Yet after starting BC, I have gained 10 lbs and I have horrible breakouts on my face and chest area. And every day, the cramps just get worse. I take my pil at night, as per my OBs instructions, but about 1 pm every single day the cramps start and I can't do anything but lay in bed for hours. I am stopping my pills today!!!!!!!!

I was on it for five months and stopped to prepare for pregnancy. I started immediately experiencing the following: vaginal dryness, loss of sex drive, nausea, depression, hair loss, weight gain, heavy periods, stomach cramps, vaginal odor, mood swings, panic attacks, heart palpitations, neck pain. I am so blessed that my husband did not leave me!

I used YAZ for one moth last July and it really helped with my mood swings. My period has always been light and I only have cramps the first day of my period and they are bearable by most standards. However, i stopped using YAZ after a month and a half and decided to get back on a few weeks ago (in time for the New Year) and within ONE WEEK I FEEL TERRIBLE!!! Like many of you I kept worrying that I was pregnant, took a test which turned out to be negative but still experiencing the NAUSEA, TIREDNESS even after a full night's rest, back pain and I am emotional!!!
I am VERY in-tune with my body so this is soo bizarre to me especially since I've only a taken 8 pills so far. My boyfriend says to get off it ...for all the bad side effects it just doesn't seem worth it!!!! I was thinking that the symptoms would subside as my body adjusts in the first month. I am still debating if it's worth finding out! ~ Still looking for the right pill for me! :o(

I can't even describe how this website is making me feel. How could I be so stupid as not to consider my birth control as having large effects on my body. I was on Ortho Cyclen before and it was fine but I wanted to switch to something else because I gained weight on it. I switched to Yasmin and didn't notice much of a difference besides the annoying thing that I still get severe cramps and back pain during my period. In probably the last almost 2 years I have been suffering from depression and OCD symptoms that are very bad. I was not sure what was wrong with me! I have also developed IBS symptoms to the point that I can't even go out and eat dinner with my boyfriend or family without being anxious about having stomach pain, nausea, and having to run to the bathroom. I was tested for an ulcer (it's genetic in my family) but it has been confirmed otherwise. I am on Omeprazole (to decrease stomach acid) and feel at lest functional on it but still get severe stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea. No one seems to understand!!! I also get dizzy spells and feel faint and weak frequently. I was diagnosed with a thyroid disease but have been on medication for that and never really felt many side-effects from that anyway. I am going to request a different medication the next time I see my gyno and hopefully I'll be back to the fun-loving spontaneous person I once was.