Published on Apr 22, 2019 and last reviewed on Nov 15, 2022 - 6 min read
Abstract
Yasmin birth control pill is a combination birth control pill made of two female hormones and is used to prevent pregnancy. Read the article to know more.
Introduction:
Yasmin birth control pill is a combination birth control pill. It is made up 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 should be kept in mind that birth control pills act as contraceptives and will not protect people against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis. Smoking increases the risk of heart attacks when used along with contraceptive pills.
Yasmin pills are available as 28 or 21 film-coated tablets.
1. The 28 tablets contain the following:
21 Yellow Tablets - These are active pills that contain hormones.
7 White Tablets - These seven tablets are chemically inactive.
2. The 21 tablets pack does not have the seven white pills.
The 21 active yellow pills contain two hormones:
Ethinyl Estradiol (Estrogen).
Drospirenone (Progestin).
Both Ethinyl estradiol and Drospirenone are synthetic compounds of female hormones estrogen and progesterone, respectively.
The seven inactive white pills contain:
Lactose monohydrate.
Corn starch.
Povidone.
Magnesium stearate.
Titanium dioxide.
Ferric oxide.
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.
It is recommended to take the yellow pill on the first day of the menstrual period or the first Sunday after the periods start. One 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 take the white pills from day 22 to 28. Start the new packet on the 29th day, irrespective of whether the period has occurred or is still in progress. One is most likely to get their period any day from day 22 to 28.
Yasmin 21 - Take one 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 the period has occurred or is still in progress. One is most likely to get their period any day from day 22 to 28.
It is crucial to take this medicine as prescribed by the gynecologist and not even miss a single pill, as the chances of becoming pregnant increase. But in case someone has missed taking a pill, read the instruction leaflet that comes along with the pill.
If someone misses one pill, then take the pill as soon as remembered, and take the next day's pill at the usual time.
During the first two weeks of the cycle, if you missed two pills, take two as soon as possible, and take two pills the next day. After that, continue taking one pill daily till the pack gets over.
If someone misses two pills in the 3rd week of their cycle or if they miss three or more pills at any time, discard the pill pack and start a new one the day they remember. They might miss their period that month.
If someone misses taking white pills from the pack of 28 pills, dispose of the pill they missed and continue taking one daily until the pack is empty.
Consult the gynecologist in case of not getting periods for two consecutive months. There are chances of pregnancy for seven days after missing a pill, so use other non-hormonal birth control methods, for example, condoms or spermicide, during that period.
Always read the patient information leaflet carefully before using the pills.
Always take the pills on the gynecologist’s recommendation, and do not self-medicate.
Chances of pregnancy increase if a pill is missed. Start the new packet late, or alter the time to take the pill.
One should ideally get their period on the third day after taking the last yellow pill. If two consecutive periods have missed, consult the doctor.
If this is the first time someone is taking the pill, and have started taking the pill on a Sunday, then for the first seven days, use other non-hormonal birth control methods. This gives time for the medicine to work.
If switching to Yasmin from another birth control pill, then Yasmin should be started on the day they would have started the previous packet of birth control.
If switching to Yasmin from an intrauterine device or implant, Yasmin should be started on the day of removal.
If someone vomits after two to three hours of taking a tablet, it is considered a missed pill and might require additional contraceptive measures.
The common side effects include:
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Breast tenderness.
Weight gain.
Intermenstrual spotting.
Abdominal discomfort.
Bloating.
Nipple discharge.
Increased hair growth.
Darkening of facial skin.
Hormones alter how contact lenses fit.
Reduced libido.
Vaginal discharge.
Changes in periods.
Some of the serious side effects include:
Blood clots.
Stroke.
Heart rhythm problems.
Liver tumors (rare).
Depression.
Gallbladder disease.
Stop taking the pill and get immediate medical attention if experiencing any of the following symptoms:
Stroke - Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, slurred speech, sudden headache, and vision problems.
Blood Clot - Stabbing chest pain, shortness of breath, and sudden vision loss.
Allergy - Skin rashes, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the face, lips, and tongue.
Heart Attack - Chest pain, sweating, nausea, and jaw pain.
Liver Problems - Jaundice, clay-colored stools, itching, dark urine, and loss of appetite.
Hypertension - Severe headache, shoulder and neck pain, and blurred vision.
Yasmin can interact with some of the other medicines 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 the doctor if using any of these medicines, as they may need additional contraception, or it might raise potassium levels or cause intermenstrual bleeding.
One should avoid taking this medicine under the following conditions:
If they think they are pregnant.
If they smoke.
A history of blood clots, stroke, and heart attack.
If they have heart valve or rhythm problems.
High blood pressure.
History of breast cancer.
Liver, kidney, or adrenal diseases.
If they are depressed.
Conclusion:
Combination birth control pills are one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy. Yasmin is very effective; only one woman out of 100 gets pregnant while taking this pill correctly. Take this pill only after consulting the gynecologist. One can consult gynecologists online, as they will help to choose the best birth control method depending on the person’s condition.
Yasmin pills are oral birth control tablets taken by mouth with water. They come in a strip of 21 tablets with markings on the strip.
- Take one tablet each day corresponding to the markings on the strip.
- Take it with or without food as advised by your doctor.
- Take it at the same time every day.
- Do not crush or chew the pill; take it as a whole.
- Make sure the time between two consecutive pills does not exceed 24 hours.
- If you forgot to take the pill and not more than 12 hours have passed, you can take it as soon as you remember and continue the next day’s dose at the usual time.
- If you are taking Yasmin-21 for the first time, take the first pill (yellow pill) on the first day of your period for 21 days. After that, you have pill-free 7 days. Again start the next pack on the 29th day.
- If you are taking Yasmin-28 for the first time, take the first pill (yellow pill) on the first day of your period for 21 days. Continue with the white pill from 22nd to 28th day. Continue with the next pack from the 29th day.
- Otherwise, it is also good to start on the first Sunday after your period starts. This is only to ease your pill schedule.
Yasmin can be started on any day of your menstrual cycle. However, starting on the first day of your period establishes increased effects of contraception. You can start as soon as you get the tablets.
It is always better to take Yasmin on the first day of your period for immediate protection against pregnancy.
Yasmin, taken on the first day of the period, becomes effective immediately. If you start Yasmin any other day apart from the period days or within 2 to 5 days of starting your period, you will have to wait for 7 days for the Yasmin to be fully effective. Meantime you must use other contraceptive barriers to prevent pregnancy.
Yasmin is a reliable combined contraceptive pill consisting of progestin and estrogen. It prevents pregnancy without interrupting your sexual perceptions.
Yasmin prevents ovulation by preventing the release of eggs. It also affects the sperm movement within the womb and makes the uterine wall unsuitable for pregnancy.
Birth control pills are hormone-based, and hence altered levels of hormones in a woman’s body make the breasts swell and enlarge. Such changes are temporary and revert within a few months of drug discontinuation.
According to the manufacturer, Yasmin is more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy in clinical trials, but it is only 92% effective in preventing pregnancy in the real population due to some daily-life conditions like taking other medicines, vomiting, diarrhea, missed pills, etc. Such conditions decrease the efficacy of the pill.
Depression is one of the side effects of Yasmin. Not all taking Yasmin experience depression. How hormone-based birth control pills cause mood changes or depression is unclear. However, if you use birth control pills and experience depression or anxiety, consult your doctor for a change of medicine or other alternative birth control methods.
Skipping the seven pills to be taken from the 22nd to the 28th day and continuing with the next pack of Yasmin-28 pack stops the withdrawal bleeding that occurs after 21 days of Yasmin.
The time taken for getting pregnant is not the same with every woman. It differs. While some conceive after a month of stopping Yasmin, some take 2 to 6 months, and some at least a year.
Mild loss of weight is noted in women taking Yasmin. This is linked to the diuretic-like effect of Yasmin.
Combined hormonal oral contraceptives help reduce the symptoms of endometriosis. They suppress ovulation and keep the woman in a menopause-like state. However, birth control pills high in progestin only solve the purpose.
Last reviewed at:
15 Nov 2022 - 6 min read
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