Yasmin and time of the month

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?

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

It is so funny to read all of the negativity but nothing positive! I came here looking for side effects and get a bashing about how horrid Yasmin/Yaz is! Let me first start off by listing my side effects that I wanted to know about:

breast tenderness
change in appetite
tiredness
red spot in eye

Next, let me tell you that I researched BEFORE taking this medicine because 1. I have MS 2. I suffer from migraines and seizures and 3. I take a whole boat load of medications! My doc recommended Yasmin for PMDD coupled with Sarafem to help my mood right before and during my time of the month. I must say that I have only been on it for about 10 days so I do not know anything of how it works with my period.

I am APPALLED at the fact that there are few, if any, positive comments about this pill! I know for a FACT that it works because I know 7 people personally that are on it that have NO PROBLEMS! So, I ask you all that have negative comments, what is wrong with you, other than you HATE the pill? What OTHER meds were you on while taking it? I read a few comments about stopping for a month and then starting again and then wondering why they felt like crap?? Well HELLO?! You are effing with your body's hormones! And there is a difference between Yaz and Yasmin hormones. If you had a bad experience with Yaz, make sure you are not confusing it with Yasmin! Yaz is a 24 day hormone pill where Yasmin is only 21 days.

I am not a doctor, but like I said, I have done my research. I have suffered with adult acne and PMDD for years. It sucks. If Yasmin helps, I want to know. I don't want to read a bunch of bull about people who mess up their cycles by taking the pill and smoking or taking the pill with meds they shouldn't be taking them with. I know what I can and cannot take. Most of what I take is natural and what is not, well, it CAN be taken with Yasmin. Like the website for Yasmin says and like most of the informational, non-biased websites say, Yasmin and Yaz is not for everyone. Some people cannot handle this type of hormone.

I can guarantee you that some doctor or pharm company can tell you that whatever symptom you are having is from something completely unrelated to the BC you are taking. Warnings are clearly marked...read them and obey!

I am 25 and have been taking Yasmin for about a year and a half. I switched to it because it would help my acne breakouts (face and chest/back),
as well as "reduce bloating" according to my doctor.
It did indeed help with helping calm down the PMS mood swings around 'that time of the month'.
However, especially in the last few months, I have noticed a very dramatic decrease in my libido and bouts of being down or 'blue' aka depression-like symptoms, as well as breast tenderness. Also strangely enough, one of the side effects listed on the info sheet claims it can cause bloating. So who do I believe? This is my point exactly...

Ladies, take 5 minutes and CAREFULLY READ THE INSTRUCTIONS that come inside the box of your Yasmin pills. When you do, you might be surprised by what you find, like I was.
I have been on several types of birth control since I was about 17, from Tri-cyclen, to Diane-35 and others.

What the doctors and pharmaceutical companies DON'T tell us, is that female sex hormones can cause cancer. This is literally written in the fine print on the info you get with your pills. It's there you just have to look for it.
Think about it... these companies get paid masses of money to keep you ignorant and thinking that there is little to no risk of taking birth control pills. They won't get paid if millions of women stop taking their doses.

Even my mom, who was taking hormones to balance out her menopausal issues, has a increased risk of cancer now due to taking hormones.

Just research it a little bit, google it and you will see.
Birth control pills can have permanent effects, and even temporary effects that cause you to feel miserable.
This is your life, your health, and we have to be aware of what we are putting in our bodies!!!!!!
Is gaining 5 lbs or having a few pimples really worth the risk of depression and the possibility of cancer??

I am not extremest, that is, I am not saying that no females should take birthcontrol pills. I understand there will always be a demand.
But this forum is important because it let's us share our worries. I am worried for myself (will these hormones contribute to breast cancer issues later in life?), and I am worried for all the girls out there who want the benefits of a pill (clear skin, regular periods) don't know that the side effects can be life threatening.

Educate yourself!! , don't believe everything the drug companies tell you, and what the doctors DO NOT tell you.
Remember, YOU are the only expert on YOU!

I first started taking Yasmin about a year and a half ago. I was only on it for about 2 months. I got off because me and my husband decided to have a baby. I felt awkward for those 2 months I was on it, but I had also just moved to another country and just chalked it up to stress. I just started taking it again about 2 weeks ago and today was the last straw. My breasts are so sore, I'm nauseated, and I've had crazy cramping and it's not even that time of the month. I've also been very moody and sad. I cry at the drop of a hat and I got angry really fast. I yelled at my 9 month old today for not letting me wipe her nose! That's what made me get off the pill. I've never yelled at her before! I would not advise anyone to take this pill! It's not worth it!!!

I'm so glad I googled side effects of Yasmin and found this site. All of the sudden my mood swings for the past almost YEAR make sense. I started out fine. The pill was great, and I haven't had to worry about acne at all. Of course I gained a few pounds, but not too much. However, I'm a pre medical student trying to study for the MCAT this summer. I've been SO tired and drained and majorly depressed that I just can't seem to concentrate. I feel like I'm always crying over the stupidest stuff (AKA: no reason at ALL), and my grades are starting to suffer. Hopefully now that I've read this, I can stop taking this pill and see an improvement. It's just not worth the depression. I'm 22 right now, and until recently had never had a suicidal thought. I was starting to panic, because I couldn't identify the cause of my depression. I'm a good student, have lots of friends, and have the most amazing boyfriend and family. Life is good, I shouldn't feel this bad. Now that I have a clue as to what this may be, I can fix it.

I like it so far... but it's only been 4 days. Does anyone have anything positive to say to get my hopes up? I've tried ovcon35 and ortho-low and both made me really naucious from the start but this one only a little bit. I also lost weight on the other ones because I was always naucious and didn't eat but my appetite so far seems normal. I feel slightly lethargic but that's minor to me. My breasts feel a little tender but I'm an A so if it makes me a B I'll take the pain! haha...... I'll post again in a month once it's been in my system awhile.

hi bitterrn and everyone else here you are all great women i am not throwing up but it feels just like morning sickness i was on this pill for almost 2 years and did not notice any symptoms untill sept of 06 but when i think back i can think of little odd things like i was never feeling good. i run a business and everyday is a complete struggle its hard because alot of women here complain alot even after being off of this poison a full year how can i avoid not fully breaking down when i know i have such a long road ahead of me this pill has completely destroyed my life. my doctor ordered some blood tests fsh, cortisol, LH, a bunch of other things im not sure what time of the month of my cycle would be the best time to have my blood drawn. i feel the best when i am bleeding is that weird or what. anyway i come here everyday and read these posts all of you women are so wonderful i wish everyone a fast recovery
foggyhead

Hello Flowerbabies, thank you for getting back to me so soon and for your kind words of encouragement it helps alot. Its a bit easier this month but the anxiety I hate, It seems to affect me in a strange way, the week I get my period it starts, i just start worrying and thinking about silly stuff that happened in the past, thinking it over and over until it has me worried sick. its so ridiculous because at any other time of the month i wouldnt give this rubbish a second thought, . Im on vit b6 and bcomplex i really hope this helps. Im trying to focus on all the positives in my life and not the past negatives, I guess you realise how strong you really are. I just want the anxiety to go away, and in time im sure it will. Thank you so much for getting back to me, hope to speak with you soon
sweetcheeks (:

Hello Flowerbabies, thank you for getting back to me so soon and for your kind words of encouragement it helps alot. Its a bit easier this month but the anxiety I hate, It seems to affect me in a strange way, the week I get my period it starts, i just start worrying and thinking about silly stuff that happened in the past, thinking it over and over until it has me worried sick. its so ridiculous because at any other time of the month i wouldnt give this rubbish a second thought, My doctor said the anxiety was from the pill, he was very kind indeed. Im on vit b6 and bcomplex i really hope this helps. Im trying to focus on all the positives in my life and not the past negatives, I guess you realise how strong you really are. I just want the anxiety to go away, and in time im sure it will. Thank you so much for getting back to me, hope to speak with you soon
sweetcheeks (:

Hi Flowerbabies, I posted here before about a couple of weeks ago and you were very kind to respond. I am off Yasmin 2 months now and I got my second period there on saturday and the anxiety came back with a bang, The horrible thoughts I had back when Yasmin really effected me started up again over the weekend, it wasnt as bad this time because I think I am able to handle it better. But it really is not a nice thing at all, is this normal for it to come and go around that time of the month, please help I would be very grateful from anyone on this site if they had any advice. Talk to you soon. Does it ever go away for good, I feel so weak for lettting this get to me.
Marie x

Okay, been off Yasmin since Sept 20, so I know I'm coming up on my first period since stopping it. I've been doing pretty well for the most part, feeling better overall; but then last night the anxiety started up again. I was up all night with it!! I think I've read previous posts about anxiety popping up again around that time of the month, but does that eventually ease?? Out of all of the crappy side effects - anxiety is the ABSOLUTE WORST! I have NEVER felt anything so uncomfortable... I've been taking vitamins and extra calcium so I hope that this just means my body is adjusting. Still haven't decided if I'm going to try a different pill or go without. (I don't use it for BC 'cause I'm spayed.)

Chris

Hi everyone,
It's exactly 7 weeks today post yasmin. I have to say I have been feeliing really great. My anxiety has been pretty much non existant. Except for last fri. I started to get some of the beginning signs of an attack, but I just turned the radio up breathed deeply and focused on something else, and sure enough it never came on.

I had been keeping a diary of my progress day by day, and sure enough the last anxiety attack I had was exactly the same time of the month as the slight one last fri. to the day and actually to the hr. It's quite interesting, so I'm sure it all has to do with hormone levels.

As for the weight gain, it's still not budging, however I feel less heavy, if that makes sense. I'm still swollen. It's on and off, where my hands are huge and my ankles are huge, but it's starting to be a little bit less frequent. I have found that If I have a glass of wine or something normally the next day it's really bad. I'm thinking it's going to take a few months to get regulated.

I have so much more engerty. I'm still taking Bikram Yoga 2 times a week which I think really helps with no anxiety and stress. It's an hr. and a half of focusing on yourself and your body nothing else. I strongly suggest yoga. I never did it before this but I don't know why because it's really great. I'm also running or walking as well, which a few months ago, was a huge struggle to just get up and move my legs.

So I guess I'm a work in progress, I just can't wait for the day that I'm 100% myself and back to my normal weight. If anyone has any other tips in dropping the weight gain that would be great. Just a reminder I gained 30 lbs very quickly in about 4 months.

Thanks,
Hill

Hello,
I have been reading the forum for a couple weeks now. I am a former Yasmin user. I was on the birth control pill for 2-3 years and stopped it 3 months ago.
While on the pill I started experiencing horrible anxiety and panic attacks. I had dizzy spells and was always tired. My ankles and wrists would swell for no reason, it didn't matter what time of the month it was. I also had high cholesterol and I have never had high cholesterol before in my life. I am a dedicated runner with a petite figure, no family history of high cholesterol, and maintain a healthy diet low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables.
Now since I have stopped the pill I have a bit more energy and no more dizzy spells. I am still experiencing anxiety and panic attacks, sometimes worse. And happy to say that I just got my cholesterol checked and it is within normal limits.
But my questions to you all:
-Did anyone have any issues with hair loss after they stopped the pill? I seem to be having a moderate amount of hair loss, can anyone agree?
-Since I have stopped the pill I have failed in getting my period and I'm not pregnant, can anyone relate?
-How long does it take to get my body back to normal?
Thanks for your time
Desperate for Answers

Hi, Twogirlsmom, Lisa, Silke, Chrissy and everyone out there it's Hill.
I am on day 34 post Yasmin. If you read some of my earlier posts, I too got a cold, felt horrible and got some of my symptoms back during the cold. I also had/have the bloating/swelling. I should get my period very soon. If I was still on Yasmin I should have gotten my period last thursday, however, when I stopped my pills, even though I had just menstrated, I got my period again about 4 days after stopping for a few days so it should be here soon.

As for the swelling, yesterday my ankles were the size of my thighs, as well as my hands. My fingers were huge, none of my rings fit. And while I was on Yasmin, my face was rather enlarged, around my cheeks. Right now everything is bloated. I am assuming it is due to almost that time of the month and first real cycle off pills.

Driving to work I almost had an anxiety attack, but I some how controled it. So what I'm assuming is it's just because my little ole friend is due, and he doesn't know how to act with out that horrible drug or something.

So keep sharing your experiences I know they helped me so much,
Hill

Hi Everyone it's Hill, here is my weekly update. It's has been officially one month post Yasmin He*l. I have had 2 or 3 pretty good days in a row. Very very slight numbing and tingling, but I mean slight. I felt really good today, however, I'm starting to feel bit week and groggy. I'm assuming this is b/c when on Yasmin I would normally be starting my period tomorrow like clock work. I'm not sure if it is actually going to come or not. So I'm just writing it off as that time of the month. Did most of you experience a timely menstral cycle, or was it delayed?

I was also wondering if anyone has felt completely starving after stopping Yasmin. I am trying to lose the weight I gained while on Yasmin, however I am always hungry. I can eat a full dinner, not like huge pasta dish, but fish, vegetable and piece of breat and not be satisfied. I'll want something else. It's like this constant empty stomach feeling. Has anyone else experience this.
Thanks,
Hill

Ack - forgot one more possible negative side effect: foot cramps, not calf cramps, whenEVER (not just nighttime). Never gotten foot cramps like this before. I just posted the long-winded effects immediately before this one. Positive side effects: there aren't many cramps at all, but sometimes it feels faintly like I have them--when it's not that time of the month. Good luck, everyone!