Yasmin & Yaz Survivors

Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:23 pm

I was looking for a link between Yasmin and my low libido and I stumbled across this website and I'm so glad I did!

I'm 30 years old and I've been on Yasmin for about 17 months. I've been suffering from many of the symptoms you ladies have mentioned but never associated them with the use of Yasmin until now.

I've been suffering from IBS for about 15 years, but I was always able to manage it by diet. Since starting Yasmin, I've been to my GP and the ER multiple times for severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. No one has been able to give me any answers besides I should see a dietician and stay away from red meat, which I could always eat before this. Now red meat seems to make me violently ill. I constantly have severe abdominal pain or at least abdominal discomfort, I've gained weight and food has become the enemy because I never know if something is going to make me sick.

I've also been experiencing acid reflux, dry eyes (I can't wear contacts anymore), I have trouble regulating my body temperature (always too hot or cold), severe breast tenderness, headaches, lack of libido and tiredness. Sometimes I notice my heart is pounding so hard I feel like it's going to jump out of my chest. I'm sure there's more but that's all that's coming to me at the moment.

I found with other birth control pills I would get very angry and irrational around my period which is why I decided to try Yasmin. In that respect it's been great, the first 3 months were a little iffy but overall my period and moods are much better with the Yasmin.

It's hard to say about the depression and anxiety that other members are reporting as I have suffered from that for some time. I've been off antidepressants for 5 months and mentally I've been feeling great. I still take clonazepam at bedtime for anxiety but I also learned how to manage my anxiety and depression with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

I just thought my body was starting to fall apart but after reading this forum and finding other sites that talk of the side effects I realize that I am not alone and that there is a definite cause for my problems.

I have a doctor's appointment on Friday, my GP is out of town so I will be seeing a locum, hopefully they will be open minded about these problems. I would like to have my blood pressure, cholesterol levels, kidney and liver function checked. If the doc just shuts me down I plan on finding a naturopath who specializes in gastro issues and women's health.

I am planning on taking my last Yasmin tomorrow and I have no intention of using hormonal birth control for at least 6 months if ever again.

I have found this site to be very helpful, thanks for listening!

Laura

Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 96 : Location: Canada Items

My goodness, it's crazy how bad the side effects were on everyone, yet doctors still prescribe the pill. Geez.

My side effects on the pill were:
PANIC ATTACKS: I constantly thought (after a year of taking yasmin) that I was going to die every night and not wake up.
CRAZY MOOD SWINGS and MILD DEPRESSION: I would turn on and off with my bitchiness. My poor boyfriend got the worst end of it. This is obviously gone now Smile

EXTREME DRY EYES: This happened right out of the bat up until the last day I took the pill. I have gone back and forth with my optometrist and nothing worked except stopping the pill.
shortness of breath despite being super athletic .. as the gym is my witness, while on yasmin, no matter how much I trained, I could not run for longer than 10 minutes. After stopping, I can run 30 minutes or more without feeling like I'm going to suffocate.
SUPER dry skin nothing helped, not even drinking more water...
TMJ and Random bouts of facial numbness for days my raw would just kill, i'd have random headaches and my face would suddenly go numb for hours. I haven't had an episode since stopping
flesh coloured bumps on my skin my derm called it steatocystoma multiplex, but i noticed a huge decrease once I stopped taking the pill. I think its just worsened by the hormonal changes the pill created.
Bouts of insomnia experience first during the pill, and now, less so after the pill.

Pretty much the only thing the pill did for me was not get me pregnant, allow me to have nice skin and have less painful periods. In hindsight though, besides getting pregnant, I would pick having painful periods rather than all the crazy side effects and post-pill effects I've been having.
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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:08 am

Hi!
Megan and Hazel-- I am about 16 months off and had a blood test last month. My cholesterol is still high!!! And I too had normal levels before yasmin, have a low fat, low cholesterol diet, and exercise!!! I just hope this goes away and isn't permanent damage Crying or Very sad

In addition I have low protein levels all of a sudden....

Luna

Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 10:09 am

I need some urgent advice please!!! Have been on Yasmin for about 6 months and I'm experiencing similar side effects as the posts that I read:
Severe Nausea
Dizziness
Severe Exhaustion and Fatigue
Extreme Hair Loss
Skin Blotching
Migraines
Numbing of Face, Hands and Feet
Anxiety and Racing Heart
IBS and Food Allergies
Very poor memory
Low Libido if any
Mood Swings, Irritability, Feelings of Anger and Depression

Don't know if I remember everything now, but this is driving me insane. I thought I might be Vitamin B12 and Iron deficient but after reading the posts I'm almost sure that the birth control is the problem.
If I go off the Yasmin, what do I use then for birth control? Went on Diane 35 to control my acne problem, it really did sort out the acne but the side effects on that was even worse so I got switched to Yasmin. I'm worried that if I go off, my acne will come back and I don't want that. Plus when I'm off the birth control I really suffer from very heavy, painful and irregular periods that put me in bed for at least 2 days every time. The birth control sorted that out too. Just got married in December and without it sounding bad, I do not want a baby right now so whatever I go on after this MUST be effective.
Please send your advice and suggestions cause I can't cope with all these side effects anymore, I'm sure my poor husband can't either.

I'm so glad I found this forum, didn't want to go to the doctor with this stack of problems and sound like a real hypocondriac.

Joined: 18 Feb 2010 Posts: 1 : Items

I have had PCOS for about 7 years, and have always been on Ortho-Tri Cyclen to regulate my period (no side effects). My gyno took me off it in September to see if my periods would regulate themselves (they sort of did), but due to the PCOS, I also have high cholesterol. I am in my 20s, 5'6, 130pds, exercise regularly and eat well, and nothing has lowered my cholesterol.

My endocrinologist finally put me on Crestor (which I'm not crazy about), and said that because I am on it and of child-bearing age, I need to also be on a birth control because Crestor can cause major birth defects. I told her I am not in a relationship, and there is no chance I am going to get pregnant, but alas, she put me on Yaz in December.

Since then, I have had a TERRIBLE breakout of acne on my back (I don't have acne anywhere, ever, and have never had a problem with it other than the occasional random pimple). It will not go away. I've tried switching soaps, body washes, etc.

I have also had breast tenderness, vaginal dryness, and zero sex drive, and have been breaking out in a cold sweat at random times.

I am a pretty even keeled person, and have noticed lately that I have been VERY snappish, impatient and borderline rude.

The thing got me to start looking this up is I noticed I'm losing hair. I have fairly long, curly hair, so it's not unusual for me to lose some in the shower, but it's been more than normal. Even when I just take it out of a ponytail, there is a lot in the band.

So bottom line-I'm stopping taking Yaz today. I didn't want to be on it in the first place, and am curious to see if all of these symptoms go away when I stop.

How long does it usually take to see a change?

Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 96 : Location: Canada Items

Hi Megven22:

It depends on which side effect, when it comes to when it disappears.
I feel like for me, when I quit, the moods changed instantaneously. The sex drive is still not fully back yet, but since you've only been on it for a bit, it should show up faster than it did for me. I'm sure the acne will clear up as well once the hormones leave your body Smile

I hear that could take from 1-3 months... (not sure though). All I know is that for me, it was the opposite. I had no acne ever, even while on Yasmin and Yaz, and right after i stopped... BOOM.

Maria

Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Posts: 598 : Location: NJ Items

lolajane/Laura:
Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you found your way here. As you can see, many of us share your symptoms. I personally also had the IBS, acid reflux, always too hot or cold, weight gain (despite a healthy diet), dry eyes, headache, etc. It's great to hear that you are managing your anxiety and depression- good for you. That is a big accomplishment. I never went for cognitive behavioral therapy for the anxiety I developed on the pill, but I did read books on it and learned to do some on myself. I've found that it does work.

I'm glad to hear you'll be going for a blood test, and I'm glad to hear that you're prepared for your doc to shut you down, because unfortunately, it did happen to many of us. But I wish you the best of luck at your visit, and I hope you keep us updated! Very Happy

duffy2:
Welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry to hear of the side effects you've been experiencing, but please know that you're not alone. As you can see, we've all suffered through the side effects of this pill.

I understand your concerns about birth control, and I urge you to check out the "Natural Methods of Birth Control" thread on this forum. I know it's tempting to go back on the pill, but chances are, you will experience the same side effects until all synthetic hormones are out of your body. I was just married last year, and I've been doing charting, and it works great for us. Plus, it gets you reacquainted with your body and your cycles. You may find that your cycles are completely different now that you have been on the pill.

Regarding the acne- some minor acne will return. But you have to ask yourself if it's worth staying on synthetic hormones to have clear skin. There are so many treatments for acne nowadays, and I'm sure you could find one that works for you.

I understand your concern with taking these issues to your doctor, but please know that you wouldn't sound like a hypochondriac and you're not a hypochondriac- you are a woman who needs support and advice after having terrible side effects from this pill, and there is nothing wrong with that! Don't ever let your doctor (or anyone else) make you feel that way! You deserve to feel better!

Please keep us posted as to how you are feeling, and in the meantime I wish you the best of luck! Very Happy

megven22:
Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry to hear about your side effects- as you can see we've all experienced the same/similar symptoms. So know that you're not alone- we've all had the moodiness, zero sex drive, etc.

Regarding the breakout, as Maria said, I also got the breakouts after stopping the Yasmin. But everyone is different. It's obvious to me that your breakouts were caused by surging hormones from being on the Yaz, and since you are coming off, it will slowly go away. It does take some time for the synthetic hormones to leave your system, so it could take a few months, but again, it's different for everyone.

Regarding the hair loss, I wish I could give you better advice, but unfortunately, it's something I'm still struggling with in my fifth month off. But I was also on Yasmin for a much longer time. I found that Biotin supplements speed the process along a little bit, but hormones can definitely cause some hair loss, and so the best thing to do is just be patient and wait for your hormones to regulate, and then it will stop.

I hope this helps, and please keep us updated! I wish you the best of luck in the meantime! Very Happy

Love, luck, and hugs to all of you:
Meagan

Joined: 19 Feb 2010 Posts: 1 : Items

Hello Ladies,

I just wanted to thank all of you for the information you've posted. It helps me to know others have had problems with the pill too. After a decade of being on, off, then on again, I decided two weeks ago to stop all together taking hormone contraceptives. I haven't taken Yaz or Yasmin, but have taken Alesse, Aviane 28, Lutera, and Microgestin.

Symptoms on the pill:
1. No sex drive
2. Yeast infections

Symptoms coming off the pill:
1. Lightheadness
2. Headaches
3. Moodiness/depression
4. Racing heartbeat
5. Anxiety
6. Abdominal cramping

It has been two weeks and i still have no sex drive but I hope eventually my body will balance out. I have learned the pill isn't for everybody. It is appalling how physicians don't know the side effects and prescribe hormonal contraceptives so liberally. I encourage others not to feel ashamed or crazy if you have experienced side effects and that it is okay for one to chose a healthier alternative for one's own body. Especially anyone who has experienced an unplanned pregnancy as I have. There is this pressure and guilt one can feel that causes one to take the pill even though it may not feel good so that physicians and people in general won't judge you. Much thanks Smile

Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Posts: 598 : Location: NJ Items

Nikle8:

Even though you weren't on Yasmin or Yaz, welcome! Thank you for coming to the forum and sharing your side effects. I also took Microgestin, and had some side effects with that pill as well.

I completely agree with your closing paragraph- very well spoken. When women first come here, they feel extremely relieved (as I did) to know that they are not going crazy, etc. As you said so wonderfully, women should not feel pressured or guilty to stop taking hormonal contraceptives even if others may not understand.

Thanks again for your post, Nikle8, and keep us posted as to how you are doing! Very Happy

Love, luck, and hugs:
Meagan

Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 16 : Items

dear ladies, i just stumbled upon this forum today and i want to tell you, i feel such a huge sense of relief. all this while i've alternated between thinking something was seriously wrong with me and chastising myself for being a hypochondriac - but after reading about the side effects of this pill, it's all making sense now.

the worst symptom i had/have on yasmin is vaginal dryness, which makes sex excruciating, not to mention the low libido. i've been married just over a year and my husband and i have been able to have penetrative sex something like 8 times in total. i knew in my mind and my body that i felt turned on but it wasn't translating 'down there', even lubricants aren't/weren't working after a point - my poor husband has been blaming himself all this time when in reality it was the pill.

of course they can call it an oral contraceptive/method of birth control - anything that stops you from wanting/being able to have sex deserves that label. when i went on the pill i thought i was gaining freedom but it has ended up severely restricting my life.

i've made the decision to go off yasmin immediately, and i pray my body (and all of yours) recovers sufficiently to live a normal life again.

may you all have peace within :)

Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Posts: 35 : Items

Hey, as far as sex drive is concerned, don't despair! I've been off Yasmin for a little over a week now and I feel like a teenager again. Granted, my sex drive didn't suffer THAT badly on the pill, because it's not like sex was unenjoyable or that I could not orgasm. The only time I could have honestly done without it was a few days before my off week/period. Now though, I am thinking about it a lot more (like my old usual self Twisted Evil

) and find myself really CRAVING it. I also notice that I am capable of feeling happier than before, which could be resulting in this too.

Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 22 : Location: Florida Items

@ SugarNSpikes, I am glad to read your post about your reversal of the low libido! Going off Yasmin very soon, so I am hoping for similar results.

I am 33 years old, and have taken various BC Pills over the years. My original GP put me on Depo Provera shots when I was 17. Later I took Orthocyclen for a few years. Most recently I was on Yaz and then Yasmin. I switched from Yaz to Yasmin because I was getting a day of very bad depression at least once per month, usually mid-cycle. However, the other side effects (and my subsequent research) have led me to decide that leaving hormones behind are the best choice, especially now that I am married.

I posted this elsewhere, but for the record on this thread, my symptoms have been:

1) dramatic weight gain (25lbs in 4 months on Yasmin, much less dramatic on Yaz, my previous pill for about 1 year)
2) decreased libido
3) acid reflux
4) mood fluctuations (real depression for 24 hours or so, and also silly emotional bouts, like crying at commercials)
5) I did have an ovarian cyst last year on Yaz. Never had one before, but my GP and Gyno both said they are fairly common. They said to come back in 3 months if the pain remained or increased, but it did get better.
6) tiredness, fatigue
7) I feel like I have poor circulation, especially in my legs.
Cool

increased cellulite, but I attribute that to the weight gain in general.

To be fair and balanced, I'll name some more positive effects I've experienced:
1) increased bust size (but I did gain weight so that's expected)
2) very reduced cramps. Off the pill I can have one day of horrible cramps, but I'll be happy to deal with that with an Aleve and a heating pad!
3) lighter periods
4) better skin (I tend to get deep cysts that emerge on either side of my chin when I am not on BC, right at the time of my period... ugh!).

I am going to stop in less than one week --- I have 5 pills left! I may stop a few days earlier, not sure yet. I am looking forward to documenting any changes I experience being off the pill.

Best of luck to everyone!

Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Posts: 598 : Location: NJ Items

twistersister:
Welcome to the forum. I'm glad that we could provide that relief for you, and I hope that this site continues to provide you that relief.

As you can see, all of us experienced the low sex drive and vaginal dryness. I couldn't believe how much natural lubrication increased when coming off the pill- it was unbelievable. And now, in my fifth month off, it has stayed that way. And, as sugarnspikes mentioned, sex drive certainly increases as well. So do not despair- you will be back to your own personal "normal" soon enough.

Out of curiosity and for the sake of other new members visiting, were there any other side effects that you experienced?

Thank you for your wishes of recovery and peace within- all of us are in need of that! Best of luck to you as well, and hopes for improved health and happiness. I hope you continue to post and share your experiences!

anna_nomus:
Welcome to the forum. I'm glad that you chose to come off of synthetic hormones altogether and I'm sure you will find its the right choice for your health and well-being.

As you can see, we have all experienced lots of terrible side effects from this pill. I can also say that I did have clear skin, etc. while on the pill, but I personally don't even really count those things as "positives" considering what a toll it took on my health in other, more important ways.

I also had the weight gain, acid reflux, and mood fluctuations, including anxiety. I actually had worse periods and cramping on the pill that I have now after being off for the fifth month, but everyone is different, and of course this may change after being off for a longer period of time.

I wish you the best of luck, and improved health, and I hope you will continue to post and share your experiences!

Love, luck, and hugs to both of you!
Meagan

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:08 pm

Dear Hazel, Luna, and Megven22

From reading your issues regarding cholesterol and triglycerides levels I really need to post a little upgrade on what is causing cholesterol in our blood in the first place. Please read it once it comes up here on the forum, and if you have any questions please let me know. But in short - Fat in our diet DOES NOT CAUSE CHOLESTEROL IN OUR BLOOD - it is all due to sugar in our diet... so by stopping eating fat you not only are removing something the body needs in order to survive - you also are filling up on something else I am sure... how natural is it, I don't know, but it is not as healthy for you as the fat you will get from meat, egg, cream and things like it...

Hazel,
I know what you mean with going crazy thinking you are pregnant. I think you just kind of have to get into a state of mind where you trust your method of bc or you will go nutz every month. I wish you luck!!!

Laura,
I had the exact same heart beats as you are describing - it felt like the heart was going to explode out of my chest.. and then it would hurt, like it was all bruised for a few days after. It did became a lot better after just a few weeks, and after 2-3 months I have only had it a few times since. I am confident that you will have the same success!!!

You said you were going to go to the doctor. I feel that it is important to take some blood tests, but I want you to remember that some of your issues might be just the pills changing your normal self. So if a test comes back abnormal they are going to want to put you on something, for sure. I would suggest that you start taking supplements as soon as possible to get a good start on your recovery process and if something is wrong we can address it then. Don't let them give you anything you do not need!

Duffy,
I did developed acne when I stopped the pill. And I was conderned about this too before I stopped. But for some reason the acne does not bother me as much as I feared. I am just so happy that I feel so much better. Having acne is not fun, but it can't even be compared to everything else I was going through while taking yasmin... I don't know if that made sense for you at the moment... but maybe later down the road you will see it too.

As far as birth control methods. Read the thread that Meagan started, it might help you a little.

Good luck!!!

Twistersister,
I know what you are talking about with the libido. I was lucky and got mine back very fast! I hope that will happen to you too. Taking supplements will absolutely help speed up your recovery!

Many hugs!!

xoxoox
~Helena

Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 16 : Items

thank you meagenj & misspkm for your reassurances and kind words. i definitely feel like i'm on the road to recovery, thanks to this site.

the symptoms i have experienced are:

- hairloss and visible thinning of hair
- headaches, often concentrated in the eye and back of the head
- dry eyes, can barely wear contact lenses for a few hours before they have to be taken off
- bumps on skin below lower lip, around chin and most recently acne on my cheeks
- gastric reflux/GERD
- nausea and dry retching, usually in the morning (which made me wonder if i'm pregnant, but i told myself i can't be when i'm on the pill AND not having sex!)
- IBS, 'nuff said
- food allergies which make my skin itch uncontrollably
- yeast infections
- low libido and vaginal dryness sometimes to a point where there are tears in the vaginal skin
- extreme moodiness/irritability

i'm not going to say every single one of these symptoms have been caused by yasmin, but the likelihood is high considering i never had any of these issues before.

i've used yasmin on and off for 10 years now, usually to "control" my period so that it didn't get in the way of holidays/sports/significant events. the most recent time i went on it (august 2008) i was about to get married and didn't want my honeymoon ruined by my period - well it was ruined by yasmin anyway cos my body wasn't responding to any of the love my darling husband showered on it.

i realise now that regarding my period as a bother or a nuisance was the very mindset that got me into trouble in the first place, and took me down the path of "the pill". i realise now that i should have been more respectful of my body and not try to control or manipulate nature with artificial hormones. i hope more women put effort into learning about and understanding their bodies better, not trying to control it into being something it's not. this attitude not only applies to periods but body image as well. we have to learn to accept what we've been blessed with and work with it. but i digress.

i have been "off the poison" for 3 days now, and i feel better, more positive and looking forward to a life without restrictions and side effects. and again i wish you all continued healing and fulfillment in your daily lives.