Yasmin Birth Control Pills

Contents

Quick Facts:

• Yasmin birth control pill is a combination birth control pill.

• It is made of two female hormones and is used to prevent pregnancy.

• It is prescribed as a 28-day or 21-day oral contraceptive pill.

• It works by inhibiting ovulation.

• One tablet has to be taken orally every day at the same time.

• Taking this tablet after dinner or during bedtime reduces some side effects.

• It will not protect you against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like HIV and syphilis.

• Smoking increases the risk of heart attacks from the use of combination contraceptive pills.

What Are Yasmin Birth Control Pills?

Yasmin pills are available as 28 or 21 film-coated tablets. The 28 tablets contain:

• 21 yellow tablets - These are the active pills which contain hormones.

• 7 white tablets - These 7 tablets are chemically inactive.

The 21 tablets pack do not have the 7 white pills.

What Is the Composition of Yasmin Birth Control Pills?

The 21 active yellow pills contain two hormones:

1. Ethinyl Estradiol (Estrogen).

2. Drospirenone (Progestin).

Both Ethinyl estradiol and Drospirenone are synthetic compounds of female hormones estrogen and progesterone respectively.

The 7 inactive white pills contain:

1. Lactose monohydrate.

2. Corn starch.

3. Povidone.

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4. Magnesium stearate.

5. Titanium dioxide.

6. Ferric oxide.

How Does Yasmin Pills Work?

These pills work by:

• Preventing the release of an egg, that is ovulation, during the menstrual cycle.

• Preventing the sperm from reaching the egg for fertilization by making the vaginal fluid thicker.

• Preventing a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall by changing the uterine lining.

How to Use Yasmin Birth Control Pills?

It is recommended to start taking the yellow pill either on the first day of the menstrual period or the first Sunday after the periods start. You should take one tablet preferably at the same time daily. The ideal time to take the tablet is after the evening meal or at bedtime

• Yasmin 28 - Take yellow pills from day 1 to 21, and from day 22 to 28, take the white pills. Start the new packet on the 29th day, irrespective of whether periods has occurred or is still in progress. You will most likely get your periods any day from day 22 to 28.

• Yasmin 21 - Take 1 yellow pill every day for 21 consecutive days, and do not take any pill from day 22 to 28. Start the new packet on the 29th day, irrespective of whether periods has occurred or is still in progress. You will most likely get your periods any day from day 22 to 28.

What If You Miss a Dose?

It is crucial that you take this medicine as prescribed by your gynecologist, and do not even miss a single pill, as the chances of becoming pregnant increases. But in case you missed a pill, read the instruction leaflet that came along the pill.

• If you miss one pill, then take the pill as soon as you remember, and take the next day pill at the usual time.

• During the first 2 weeks of your cycle, if you miss 2 pills, then take 2 pills as soon as you remember, and take 2 pills the next day. After that, continue taking 1 pill daily till the pack gets over.

• If you miss 2 pills in the 3rd week of your cycle or if you miss 3 or more pills at any time, then discard the pill pack and start a new pack the day you remember. You might miss your period that month.

• If you miss taking white pills from the pack of 28 pills, dispose of the pill you missed and continue taking 1 pill daily until the pack is empty.

If you do not get periods for two consecutive months, consult your gynecologist. There are chances of pregnancy for 7 days after missing a pill, so use other non-hormonal birth control methods, for example, condoms or spermicide, during that period.

Things to Remember While Taking Yasmin:

• Always read the patient information leaflet carefully before you start using the pills.

• Always take the pills on your gynecologist’s recommendations, do not self-medicate.

• Chances of pregnancy increases if you miss a pill, start the new packet late, or alter the time you take the pill.

• You should ideally get your period on the third day after taking the last yellow pill. If you miss two consecutive periods, consult your doctor.

• If this is the first time you are taking the pill, and if you started taking the pill on a Sunday, then for the first 7 days, use other non-hormonal birth control methods. This gives time for the medicine to work.

• If you are switching to Yasmin from another birth control pill, then Yasmin should be started on the day you would have started the previous packet of birth control.

• If you are switching to Yasmin from an intrauterine device or implant, then Yasmin should be started on the day of removal.

• If you vomit after 2 to 3 hours of taking a tablet, then it is considered as a missed pill and you might require additional contraceptive measures.

What Are the Side Effects?

The common side effects include:

• Nausea.

• Vomiting.

• Headache.

• Breast tenderness.

• Weight gain.

• Intermenstrual spotting.

• Abdominal discomfort.

• Bloating.

• Nipple discharge.

• Increased hair growth.

• Darkening of facial skin.

• Hormones alter how you contact lenses fit.

• Reduced libido.

• Vaginal discharge.

• Changes in your periods.

Some of the serious side effects include:

• High blood pressure.

• Blood clots.

• Stroke.

• Heart rhythm problems.

• Rarely, liver tumors.

• Depression.

• Gallbladder disease.

When to See a Doctor?

Stop taking the pill and get immediate medical attention if you have the symptoms of:

1. Stroke - sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, slurred speech, sudden headache, and vision problem.

2. Blood Clot - Stabbing chest pain, shortness of breath, and sudden vision loss.

3. Allergy - Skin rashes, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the face, lips, and tongue.

4. Heart Attack - Chest pain, sweating, nausea, and jaw pain.

5. Liver Problems - Jaundice, clay-colored stools, itching, dark urine, and loss of appetite.

6. Hypertension - Severe headache, shoulder and neck pain, and blurred vision.

What Are the Drugs That Yasmin Interacts With?

Yasmin can interact with some of the other medicines you take and can cause unwanted side effects or might prevent the drug from working well. Some of the drugs that can interact with Yasmin are:

• Rifampin - Antitubercular drug.

• Levothyroxine - Hypothyroid medication.

• Phenytoin, Carbamazepine - Antiepileptic drugs.

• Clarithromycin, Erythromycin - Antibiotics.

• Statins - Cholesterol drugs.

• Itraconazole, Fluconazole - Antifungal medicines.

• Morphine, Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen - Painkillers.

• Mycophenolate - Immunosuppressant drug.

• Enalapril, Losartan - Antihypertensives.

Tell your doctor if you are using any of these medicines, as you may need additional contraception or it might raise your potassium levels or cause intermenstrual bleeding.

Who Should Not Take Yasmin?

You should avoid taking this medicine in the following conditions:

• If you think you are pregnant.

• If you smoke.

• A history of blood clots, stroke, and heart attack.

• If you have heart valve or rhythm problems.

• High blood pressure.

• Diabetes.

• History of breast cancer.

• Liver, kidney, or adrenal diseases.

• If you are depressed.

Combination birth control pills are one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy. Yasmin is very effective, and only 1 woman out of 100 women gets pregnant while taking this pill correctly. Take this pill only after consulting your gynecologist. You can consult gynecologists online, as they will help you choose the best birth control method depending on your condition.