Yasmin and low sex drive

I have been on Yasmin for about 5 years. I have never had an issue. I am worried that everyone on this site is making Yasmin look bad. You all need to remember that not everything will work for every person, everyones hormones are different to begin with so when you add the pill to these different levels of hormones you will get different side effects. To the people with low sex drive, did you perhaps think that this could be due to depression or the aging process? Many women suffer from low sex drive, those on and off the pill. Your sex drive will not be consistent throughout life, mine dropped in my early 20s and now is rising again, it may drop again, it can also be due to stress. All that said if you're suffering side effects that you think are attributed to Yasmin, or any other pill, stop taking it! Not everyone's body will handle it.

I was prescribed YASMIN about 2 weeks ago now after seeing my GP about low sex drive and depression. It was a shock to me that the doctor decided to change my pill to Yasmin. I was advised to finish my old pack of pills and not take the week break and to just move straight onto the Yasmin. Obviously I followed these instructions thinking things would improve but to my surprise things are still the same if not worse. The very first day I started my first Yasmin pill I suffered from hot flushes and felt sweaty for no reason. I am not a hot person. I also noticed that all I do is yawn all day long which is really weird. My period has not yet stopped since a week and half ago. After asking my sister what her experience was like on Yasmin she said it gave her bad spots and her friend that took it before suffered from severe side affects and did not get on with it at all. Just like to say this has done nothing for my sex drive, if anything its pursponed it even longer! I thought I'd look the side affects up for myself and have read enough to make me think about having the injection. Can't be bothered with pills anymore......at least you don't have to worry about periods with the injection!

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.

One bad effect of Yasmin is low sex drive. It had already been scientifically proven that some pills can cause this. And sad to say Yasmin is one of them. I strongly suggest that you try Althea. It just cost around Php250. It seldom affect your moods. It also doesn't affect your weight. Although in my case, I craved for sweet stuffs more and loss appetite on other carbs. But overall, it's great. The libido wasn't affected, I'd say it even adds to your sexual appetite. It is actually very safe and reliable. Although I missed one day, I was still protected. So far it's the best pill I've encountered and it's well-commented by other people.

i was on Yasmin for 3 years - thankfully the worst side effects i had were low sex drive and dryness. i did have a couple scares where i thought i had a clot, but i got it checked out an it was nothing. i got off the pill a month ago. i feel fine. i've been a bit moody and i cry a lot over nothing, but i attribute that to my body readjusting. i haven't had a period yet. i'm a bit nervous about that. i do feel i've gained a small bit of weight.

for all of you who are reading this - there ARE alternatives that are safe and easy. i just bought a fertility computer called LadyComp. it's expensive, but when you think about the side effects it is saving as well as the monthly expenses for the pill, it will eventually save you a lot of money as well as your health. it's not sold in the states (cuz pharmeceuticals rule the country and won't allow something like this) but you can buy online from England or Canada. it's just as effective as the pill and SO much safer for you!!!!

Hi All! I am very excited that I came across this site because if I wouldn't have, I think I would have driven myself crazy. I was on Yasmin for about 8 months before I started feeling VERY anxious, suffering from panic attacks, always crying, very low sex drive, palpitations. I couldn't even go to the grocery store without having a panic attack. I went to see my doctor and he put me on anxiety medication (which is a concern for me because I do not want to be addicted to Xanax). I have now been off Yasmin for close to 3 months. I do feel somewhat better, but I have noticed that when I am close to getting my period and on it, my anxiety level increases. ITS DRIVING ME CRAZY! Does anyone know how long it takes for this awful medication to leave your system? I want to feel normal. If anyone has any idea…PLEASE HELP!!!!

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!!!

Thank you to all that have posted. I have been on Yasmin for over five years and have never considered going off it. I asked my OB/GYN whether my body needed a 'break' like I had heard about girls taking, and he said 'take a break if you want to get pregnant.' I was having no problems with it (that I could discern) and I didn't want to get pregnant so I agreed. That was about three years ago. I have ZERO interest in sex and I have no idea whether it is because it has become too painful because of vaginal dryness or if it is because of the drug in the Yasmin that decreases sex drive. These symptoms have kind of snuck up on me because I never thought to connect them to them bc I was taking. So, withdrawal symptoms or not I am going off them. that is the only way to find out whether they are from Yasmin or not.

I have been taking Yasmin for over a year. Since taking this particular pill I have been getting awful ear pain and ringing in my ears- as well as the usual it seems- low sex drive, anxiety, depression, snapping at people for no reason etc.
I went to the doctors so many times for the ear pain until they decided to put me through an operation to sort out the inner ear canal.
I heard randomly through a friend that someone she knew was going deaf and they found it was due to the pill.
Bingo!
Sure enough I came off Yasmin two weeks ago and haven't had this ear pain since. It went from everyday- bearly being able to hear and having terrible difficulty at client meetings etc- to having no pain and perfect hearing.
I am never taking that stuff ever again.
Has anyone else experienced this ear trouble due to Yasmin??

I need some help. I have been on Yasmin for almost 4 years. Previously I was on ortho and was taken off of it due to an alarming weight gain and emotional side effects. Yasmin seemed GREAT until now... I am experiencing severe anxiety, shaking, headaches, blurred vision, hair loss, low sex drive and depression. I assumed this was all due to stress from graduating and entering the working world, but I have nothing to be upset or stressed about... I have such nervous thoughts and can sometimes say things that are just so unlike me.. I just don't feel myself. I am afraid to go off Yasmin and onto another pill in fear that things could get even worse... My previous experience with ortho was short but definitely not sweet. I am scared and afraid because I am only 22... Has anyone experienced anything like this that can give me some piece of mind?

I got married in May and started taking Yasmin just before and it has been HELL ever since! It has cost my husband and I money and quite a bit of unnecessary turmoil!

Currently, I'm still on Yasmin and after reading all this am I definitely getting off of it! Everything that I have read is TOO faniliar! My agony includes:

-Insomnia (I was up until 3am last night)
-lathargic all day (very unmotivated and sleepy)
-a VERY low sex drive (my husband just LOVES this one)
-high irritability & mood swings
-frequent dizziness & light headedness
-had my 1st migraine ever (thank GOD I've only had 1)
-mild depression-want to cry all the time (& do) for no reason
-breasts are hard with knots (he loves that too)
-i pee all the time
-back pain in the morning (After sleeping in our guest room for a month, we have actually started shopping around for a new mattress-didn't even cross my mind that it may be the pill)

I'm on my 7th pack and can't wait to get to my doc to switch to something better. Anyway, my question is...for all of you who have already switched...what did you switgh to? Are your side effects less? (Off the pill, my periods are normal, short, and for the most part cramp free (Don't hate me!) My husband and I just want to enjoy being married a little longer before having any little ones!) Any suggestions?

I went on Yasmin a few months ago. I too had the anxiety/mood swings/low sex drive. It is so good to read what everyone has said b/c I now know that I wasn't crazy.I have a husband at home who wasn't helpful and a very active wonderful 2-year old that wasn't getting my full attention b/c I was fatigued all the time (This past month I filed for divorce). I saw a therapist in May b/c I felt angry, sad and hopeless all the time and didn't know how to deal with it. He wanted me to see a psychiatrist and possibly go back on anti-depressents. I was totally against that b/c of the horrible experience I had with Zoloft and with getting off of Zoloft (nightmare!) this past January. The other major side effects I had were night sweats, headaches, backaches every morning and leg cramps. You can imagine what the night sweats did to my sex life! One week after stopping Yasmin the nightsweats, headaches, backaches and leg cramps went away and I started enjoying my time with my daughter. I had been on another birth control pill before the yasmin. It was a progesterone only pill and I'm now wondering if that is what caused a lot of my problems as well (have had the night sweats since I went on the pill in 2004). I can't get the past 2 years back, but I'm wondering how life could have been without being on birth control pills.

I'm so glad to have found this site. I have been on Yasmin for about 3 years. I was on Alesse previously, and switched to Yasmin due to migraines. At first I had no problems with Yasmin, and I felt great. Over the past year I have noticed an EXTREME decrease in sex drive, to the point where I could hit my husband if he touched me, or I would want to cry and feel angry during sex. I have become very depressed for no apparent reason, and I would blame the low sex drive on the depression (not thinking it could be the Yasmin!!). I feel like crying daily. I have had my very first panic attack, and I have gained 10 lbs in the past year. Recently, within the past few months, I have noticed a lot of vision problems, which feels like I can't focus and have to keep blinking to try to get things to come in clear. I never heard of that effect with BC pills until reading excerpts on this site today. I am stopping these horrible pills today. THEY ARE NOT WORTH IT!! My entire personality has changed - this is not me.

This is my first month on Yasmin - I just started taking my inactive pills so expecting my period any day now. Anyway, last week I spent one day vomiting and couldnt even hold my head up (figured it was a 24-hour stomach bug), but now I have unexplainable hives/rash on my arms, back and stomach. I too have low sex-drive and hot flashes now and often feel like there are bricks being piled on top of my chest. Calling my gyno tomorrow to see what she says about it.

After reading about the side effects posted I am certain its not just me suffering from side effects from yasmin. I can relate to alot of other peoples side effects they have suffered. I have been on Yasmin for about 1 year now. I have always had really thick and really curly hair untill i started taking this pill, it started with Dianette, my hair went really thin and i hardely had any curls left. so i came off that pill and was switched to another pill, my hair got back to normal but i suffered terrible migraines, so my doctor switched me to yasmin. I have not suffered any weight gain but i have suffered from hair loss, and depression. I can get really low on this pill, another undesired side effects i am now suffering from it is a low sex drive. I have decided to get off this pill and switch to the mini pill. My doctor has pescribed me to Cerazette. I am afraid to go on to this pill after reading about the side effects, about hair loss. If anyone has experience in taking Cerazette please could you let me know.

antiyasmin-

I took Yasmin in October, Nuvaring in November, then switched back to Yasmin because of all the awful side effects I had with the nuvaring. The first week on it was ok, then I got this headache that was pretty severe, almost to the point it was hard to function. Nothing at all would take the headache away. It lasted for 3 full weeks. In that time I also had dizzy spells and chest pains. I took myself off it and decided to go on yasmin because the only side effect at the time was that I was more emotional than usual, I did not have any headaches with Yasmin and that was a plus for me!
after just two more months on Yasmin it felt like all hell broke loose. I felt I was losing my mind. Every moment of every day I felt like something was wrong with me (tumor, cancer, etc...) I also had these syptoms:

severe pain on the left side of my back below my ribcage
tender stomach with everything I ate
abdominal cramps
headaches
blurry vision
constant need to urinate, with slight occasional burning
shakiness
lightheadedness
extreme night sweats (had to change clothes once or twice)
muscle weakness
earaches
tight chest
when breathing it felt like I was in the cold and had to cough
mood swings, feeling in a numb state of mind with a low sex drive then switching to being very hyper with a high sex drive
the list goes on....

I went of Yasmin January 21st and so far things are good, I have a mild headache in the mornings but after working out it goes away, I get little dizzy spells once and a while, and really short panic attacks like I am forgetting to do something. Overall everything seems to be going back to normal. I'm going to the gyno tomorrow to see what other options I have for BC. I may just have to stick with the rubbers!

Well this site helped me make my decision. Today is my first day off Yasmin. And now I can look forward to all the post-Yasmin symptoms.
In the 4 months I have taken Yasmin, I have suffered from many side effects, including: depression, anxiety, mood swings, very low sex-drive. headaches, lethargy, frequent yeast infections, nausia, among others.
I don't know why it took me so long to connect it. I recognized the severe mood swings right off during the first week when I had severe mood swings and crying fits for no logical reason. I also experienced intense feelings of anger and irritability that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. However, i know my body was adjusting and decided to hold out for at least a month to give my body time to adjust.
After a few weeks the intense feelings subsided but I continued to experience reclusiveness, inability to cope with stress, depression, headaches, and low sex drive. The only time I felt slightly sexy was during my period.
I feel very jaded by the oral contraceptive industry and have developed a bad attitude towards birth control in general.
Now I only hope the post-Yasmin side-effects aren't as bad for me as for others who have posted here. And I hope for all of us that these symptoms are temporary and we will all return to our normal states.
Women should be informed about these things. This drug has caused me alot of emotional and physical trauma.
S

Wow, It's really not inspiring to read all these after effects of taking yasmin. I am on my fourth awful month and am thinking about quitting after experiencing depression, lethargy, low sex drive, and bacterial vaginosis. But the side effects to quitting sounds disturbing too.

I am new to this site and thank God I found it. Now I don't feel like I am alone anymore. I have been taking Yasmin for 2 1/2 years now and dealing with this "new self". I stopped taking Yasmin 2 days ago (before I found this site) and last night I woke up to a pool of blood in my bed. I stopped taking Yasim in the middle of the pack because I was having severe headaches and had practically ruled out everything except my birth control. So, once I saw the blood, I was scared - but I assumed it was my 2nd period since I stopped in the middle of the pack. Did anyone have this happen to them when they stopped Yasmin???
My side effects have pretty much been the same as everyone else's - severe headaches, depression, not feeling like I am worth very much, I haven't been able to keep focused, very low sex drive, bitchy, bitchy, bitchy - and I could go on. It has been a terrible 2 1/2 years and I can't believe it has taken me this long to figure out what was wrong with me. I am dumbfounded... But I am finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel - as long as these symptoms go away.
Has there not been any lawsuits or action with Yasmin to make other women aware of what this can do to them? I am willing to make an effort if someone could lead me in the right direction. Yasmin is scary and has terrible side effects. No one should have to go through what we all have been through.
Please reply and I will keep you updated on my progress.
Amanda

Hi Girls,
I've been on Yasmin for 2 weeks and have been experiencing some new changes since taking this pill that have caused me to look online for some advice on side effects. Basically I have been reading through some of the horror stories here and just want to know if I should stop taking this stuff now before its too late! I have had a coil (hormone free) for 2 1/2 years which has been fine , just a couple of painful heavy days during the cycle but otherwise love it. The reason I decided to go on Yasmin was to hopefully help me with PMS symptoms of mild depression, low sex drive, and bloatedness for the 10 days before my period starts. So far it is hard to see whether these symptoms will improve as it is early days. So far I have been bleeding , painfully but not too heavy since I started this pill, I have lost about 10 pounds in weight which is probably the only positive thing and also a very tempting reason for me to stay on it, but the last few days I have felt a bit depressed again and low sex drive and super sensitive about everything, v needy and insecure , plus weak and tired ,not good!
Do you think I should stop now or give it till the end of month?
I did try prozac fo PMT for 6 months last year which really helped but don't want to be hooked on anti depressants for life, even though they kept my weight down too I gained 15 pounds when I came off them.
I have just bought agnus cactus, but is it enough?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!!
P.S. Anyone thinking of trying the coil to stop babies, I highly recommend it!!

I really didn't want to go on the pill, but I needed too. So Yasmin was what was prescribed to me. In a week and a half, my energy level has lowered, I had my first dramatic mood swing, cried my ass off, get nauseous every time I eat something and low sex drive! I'm off this crap!

Thank you so much for sharing all your stories! I had been on Ortho-tri for 13 years. (With headaches, low sex drive, crazy moods). Went of 3 years ago to have children. Within a month or so ALL symptoms were gone. Sex was wonderful again and i was not crazy.
So 3 weeks ago i get on Yasmin. Since i've had the joint pain mentioned (figured it was something else i guess), NO sex drive at all, blurred vision (had this before due to anemia), i'm so tired and sad it seems. I couldn't figure it out. Yesterday i started thinking it might be the pill. So i'm stopping the pill today and going back to condoms until my husband gets his vacetomey. I'd rather feel good and use a condom i guess.
I wonder if the low sex drive is due to the fact that the pill keeps us from ovulating?? I know i get really in the mood for about a week around the time i normally ovulate. Any thoughts on that?

Hang in there ladies! I guess having control over our bodies is not always easy..... :)
CB

I switched from Solia (a generic brand of Ortho-Cept) and started Yasmin last sunday because I had terrible side effects on my last BCP. First off, I am on Birth Control because of Polycycstic Ovarian Disease, so I'm also on Aldactone, which can have a problem with Yasmin. *Sigh*

I was so happy to get off Solia and get away from the side effects that I endured for 3 months! But since starting yasmin (just 7 days ago) I have had just about the same side effects as the last pill... and then some!

Old ones that came back when starting yasmin:
Bloating
Breast Tenderness and swelling (to the point where I'm getting nasty STRETCH MARKS)
Acne all over my chest
Low Sex Drive

Now I'm noticing some new things as well as the old:
Severe Daily Headaches (some of them turn into migranes)
nausea
fatigue, Ive yet to spend a full day awake since starting.
Acne on my face in ODD places (around my eyes???!)
NO sex drive

My gyn told me that I would know if this pill was right for me after a week or so... and it's been a week and I KNOW that Yasmin just ISN'T right for me. I'd rather be on the other one I was on! It was MUCH better! (And in actuality it was TERRIBLE)
I'm calling my doctor on monday and requesting something different to start at the end of my next period. Perhaps Ortho-Low or something...

So glad to see that a lot of people are posting here and talking about what happened to them while on Yasmin!! Its very helpful for those of us who are just starting to experience these problems!

clotty breakthrough bleeding, chunky discharge (not thrush), headaches, nausea some months, slight weight gain, breast increase (at least there's one bonus), more recently I'm getting lots of cramps and low sex drive - who wouldn't have low sex drive with all of the above? I'm sure Yasmin is fine for some people, just not me.

The trouble is, I've tried about 10 pills in 14 years, none of which suit me. All of them result in some or all of the above side effects. And I too, object to having to go through this in order to prevent pregnancy. However, when I stopped taking the pill, I scored myself the most delightful son in the world. But I'm not ready for another. What can I do?

I have been on Yasmin for three days. I switched to it from Lo/Ovral because i tend to have low sex drive on most pills and my NP thought maybe because Yasmin's progestin was so different that it might help. Well, not yet. But I will tell you this: I feel like crap, no matter how much water I drink, I am dehydrated. I pee all the time. I have headaches, and all I want to do is sleep. Which is not good because the MCAT is in 11 days and I need to be on top of my game right now.

This pill was my last option, next step is an IUD. I can't take this anymore.

Hello.. I just did a search on Yahoo and I found this website. I have been taking Yasmin for NOT EVEN a WEEK and I'm already feeling like another person. I am very moody, depressed and today I just started crying. I am usually very happy and energized a week or 2 after my period and now I just feel horrible. I have also experienced TROUBLE SLEEPING. I have been NAUSEUS too every day. Not enough to where I throw up, but enough to where it bothers me. I am also experiencing Low sex drive. I am thinking of switching to Alesse, has anyone here taken that? I used to take Ortho Tricyclen for 2 years but it gave me horrible migraines and moodiness along with no sex drive. If anyone has similar problems, please email me, or if u have taken Alesse, any info would really help! I want to stop taking Yasmin after I finish my first pack.. Bluextacie@msn.com