Yasmin Pill

Yasmin is a combined oral contraceptive pill that can be taken to prevent pregnancy. It has other benefits too, like improving acne and periods, so it can be a good choice for people who need a contraceptive pill for more than just stopping pregnancy.

Yasmin, like other combined pills, is commonly taken for 21 days in a row, with a 7-day break between pill packets. There are different ways to take Yasmin too if you don’t want monthly (or any) breaks.

The Yasmin pill works in 3 different ways to prevent pregnancy.

Prevents ovulation: Ovulation happens once a month when your ovaries release an egg to be fertilised. Yasmin stops ovulation from happening, so if you have unprotected sex, there is no egg to be fertilised.

Thickens cervical fluid: As Yasmin thickens the cervical fluid, this makes it much harder for sperm to pass through to your womb.

Changes the womb lining: Yasmin thins the lining of your womb, so even if an egg is fertilised, there’s less chance it could attach to the womb lining and grow.

Yasmin and other contraceptive pills can prevent pregnancy from unprotected sex but cannot prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It’s important to use another form of protection to protect against STIs with any sexual partner when you don’t know their sexual history. You can also take an STI test if you’ve had unprotected sex, even if you don’t have symptoms.

How long does Yasmin take to work?

It depends on when you start taking Yasmin. You can start the Yasmin pill at any time during your menstrual cycle.

If you choose to start it on the first 5 days of your period, Yasmin works straight away.

If you start it on any other day, Yasmin will take 7 days to work. For the first 7 days, if you have sex, you should use another form of contraception like condoms.

How effective is Yasmin?

Yasmin has proven to be over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when taken correctly and on time.

It is more likely to be around 92% effective if you miss pills, vomit , or get severe diarrhoea.

Yasmin active ingredients

The active ingredients in the Yasmin pill are man-made versions of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone. It’s a fourth-generation contraceptive pill, meaning the progesterone contained in each pill (drospirenone) was developed more recently than some other combined pills.

Yasmin can also be used to treat other conditions, such as:

• acne
• polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

The amount of oestrogen contained in the Yasmin pill is lower than some other combined pills too, making it a good choice for anyone suitable to take a combined pill but is concerned about oestrogen-related side effects.

You’ll take 1 pill every day, at around the same time. The pill is swallowed whole, with some water if needed. You can take it with or without food.

Each packet is printed with the days of the week. So, if you start taking Yasmin on a Wednesday, take the pill next to ‘WED’ and continue following the arrows. This can help if you’re not sure whether you took your pill and makes it easier to keep track.

The 21:7 method

This is the standard way to take Yasmin according to the manufacturer's instructions. You’ll take 1 Yasmin pill every day, at around the same time, for 21 days. Once your pill packet is finished, you’ll have a 7-day break. You’re protected from pregnancy during the break if you’ve taken your pills correctly.

You may get breakthrough bleeding during this time, but this is a withdrawal bleed from the hormones rather than a period. On the 8th day, you’ll do the same again, following this cycle for as long as you want to take Yasmin.

Tricycling

Another method of taking Yasmin, tricycling means taking 3 pill packets back-to-back. Once you’ve finished your third pack of Yasmin pills, you’ll have a 4-day break.

You’re protected from pregnancy during this break if you take your pills correctly. You may get withdrawal bleeding during this time. On the 5th day, start again with another 3 pill packets, even if you’re still bleeding.

Continuous

Continuous pill taking means taking the combined pill every day, without any breaks. Once you’ve finished your pill packet, go straight to the next one and so on. You only need to take a break if you get breakthrough bleeding while taking the pill this way.

If you bleed for more than 3 days, take a 4-day break. You’ll still be protected from pregnancy as long as you take your pill correctly before starting the break. Restart the pill on day 5. You can take another 4-day break if this happens again, but you must have taken your pill every day for at least 21 days before taking another break.

If you need to take 4-day breaks regularly, speak with your doctor, as this method may not be suitable for you or there may be an underlying medical condition causing these bleeds.

“Tricycling and continuous pill taking can be more convenient as you avoid monthly bleeding and there is no medical benefit of having a monthly withdrawal bleed. It can also make the pill more reliable and may reduce problems like period pain, migraine, or headaches. You may be able to switch to these methods of pill taking after speaking with your doctor.” – Dr Zoe Miller, Medical Editor.

How long is it safe to take Yasmin for?

It’s safe to take Yasmin for as long as you need it, but you must have annual pill checks with your doctor. They will check your height, weight, and blood pressure to make sure Yasmin is still safe for you.

You can come off the pill whenever you want, but it may take a few months for your periods to go back to normal.

Long-term Yasmin use

Using a combined pill like Yasmin slightly increases your risk of a blood clot, so your doctor won’t prescribe it in certain circumstances. That is also why you need an annual blood pressure check, as high blood pressure can increase the risk of blood clots.

Although there’s still not a firm link between the two, cancers of the breast and cervix have been reported slightly more often in combined pill users compared to those not using a combination pill. This risk goes back to normal after 10 years of stopping the pill. On the other hand, taking a combined pill can lower your risk of womb, bowel, and ovarian cancer.

If there are any changes to your medical or family history, you have any new symptoms, or you’re prescribed a new medication while taking Yasmin, speak to your doctor.

If it’s less than 12 hours since your Yasmin pill was due

Protection against pregnancy is not reduced. Take the pill within 12 hours and then continue your usual schedule.

If it’s been longer than 12 hours since your Yasmin pill was due

Protection against pregnancy may be reduced. The pill becomes less effective with more than 1 forgotten pill or if you forget a pill at the start or end of the strip. What to do next depends on which pill you’ve forgotten:

If you vomit or have severe diarrhoea within 3 to 4 hours of taking Yasmin, there’s a chance the active ingredients will not have fully absorbed into your body. Take another within 12 hours to stay protected from pregnancy. If you’re ill for longer than 12 hours, follow the instructions for missing a pill depending on which days you missed.

You can buy Yasmin online from ZAVA or other regulated online doctor services. You’ll need a prescription, so you can’t get it over the counter. NHS services can prescribe Yasmin after a face-to-face appointment.

Can I buy Yasmin online?

Yes, you can buy Yasmin online. Yasmin is a prescription-only medication, so you'll need a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional before you can buy it. It’s important to only request Yasmin online from trusted online services like ZAVA, that are monitored and regulated to ensure you receive safe and genuine medication.

Getting Yasmin with a prescription online from ZAVA is quick and convenient, with no need for a face-to-face appointment:

• Complete a short online medical questionnaire - Share details about your health so our doctors can ensure Yasmin is right for you.
• Order and pay online - Sign in or create your ZAVA account, select Yasmin, and securely make your payment.
• Doctor review and approval - A UK-licensed doctor will check your health information and approve your prescription request if Yasmin is safe and appropriate for you.
• Fast and discreet delivery - If approved, Yasmin will be delivered discreetly to your home or a local post office for collection.

Can I buy Yasmin over the counter?

Yasmin is prescription-only, so it is not currently available over the counter. The only over-the-counter contraceptive pill available from ZAVA is Hana but this is a ‘mini pill’, so only contains progesterone.

The Yasmin pill, like all contraceptive pills, comes with a risk of side effects but not everyone will get them. Most side effects happen within the first few months until your body gets used to the change in hormones. Any persistent or severe side effects must be discussed with a doctor, or by calling 111 or 999 in an emergency.

Common Yasmin side effects (affecting between 1 and 10 in every 100 people) include:

• menstrual disorders, such as bleeding between periods
• breast pain or tenderness
• headache
• depressive mood
• migraine
• nausea (feeling sick)
• thick white-ish vaginal discharge which may indicate a vaginal yeast infection

Uncommon Yasmin side effects (affecting between 1 and 10 in every 1,000 people) include:

• breast enlargement
• changes in interest in sex (decreased or increased libido)
• high or low blood pressure
• vomiting (being sick)
• diarrhoea
• skin conditions, such as acne, severe itching, or skin rash
• hair loss (alopecia)
• infection of the vagina
• fluid retention linked to body weight changes

Rare Yasmin side effects (affecting between 1 and 10 in every 10,000 people) include:

• allergic reactions
• breast secretion
• hearing impairment
• asthma
• erythema nodosum (painful reddish skin nodules)
• erythema multiforme (rash with target-shaped reddening or sores)

Serious Yasmin side effects

Yasmin can slightly increase the risk of blood clots in your veins and arteries. Out of 10,000 people taking Yasmin (or another combined pill containing drospirenone), 9 to 12 will develop a blood clot each year. This is compared to 2 out of 10,000 people not taking a combined pill.

The risk of blood clots returns to normal within a few weeks after you stop Yasmin.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, call 999 straight away:

• swelling, pain, tenderness, warmth, or a change of colour in the skin of the leg (deep vein thrombosis)
• breathlessness, coughing without a cause, sharp chest pain, severe dizziness or lightheadedness, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, or severe pain in your stomach (pulmonary embolism)
• loss of vision, or painless blurring of vision (retinal vein thrombosis)
• chest pain, squeezing or fullness in your chest, discomfort in the upper body, sweating, weakness, shortness of breath, rapid or irregular heartbeat, and dizziness (heart attack)
• sudden weakness or numbness in one side of your body, confusion, dizziness, loss of coordination, sudden and severe headache, or loss of consciousness (stroke)
• swelling, blue discolouration of the extremities, or severe stomach pain (blood clots blocking another blood vessel)

Yasmin also has a rare chance of causing a severe allergic reaction. Get someone to call 999 if you have:

• swelling in your face, mouth, or tongue
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• skin rash (hives)

Some people using the pill report feelings of depression or depressed mood. If you have mood changes or suicidal thoughts while taking Yasmin, speak to a medical professional straight away.

How long do Yasmin side effects last?

Most Yasmin side effects last between a few weeks to a few months and are most likely when you first start taking the pill. If you can, keep taking Yasmin and see if your side effects get better on their own. Your body usually needs time to get used to the different hormone levels.

What to do if you get Yasmin side effects

You can treat mild side effects at home, such as taking over-the-counter painkillers for headaches. Nausea can be treated by getting some fresh air or may be improved by taking your pill with food.

Any side effects not going away or that are affecting your life should be discussed with your doctor.

The Yasmin pill is not right for everyone, as certain medical conditions and medications can make it less effective, or potentially unsafe. Your doctor will review your medical history before prescribing Yasmin.

Who should not take Yasmin?

You should not take Yasmin if any of the following apply to you:

• you have (or have ever had) a blood clot or a disorder that affects your blood clotting
• you need an operation or are off your feet for long periods
• you have had a heart attack or stroke in the past
• you have (or have ever had) angina pectoris or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• you have a disease that may increase your risk of a clot in the arteries, such as severe diabetes with blood vessel damage, very high blood pressure, a very high level of fat in the blood, or hyperhomocysteinaemia
• you have (or have ever had) a ‘migraine with aura’
• you have (or have ever had) liver disease and your liver function has not returned to normal
• your kidneys are not working well (renal failure)
• you have (or have ever had) a liver tumour
• you have, have ever had, or are suspected of having, breast cancer or cancer of the genital organs
• you have unexplained vaginal bleeding
• you are allergic to ethinylestradiol, drospirenone, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• you have gone through menopause
• your periods haven’t started

In some situations, you may be able to take Yasmin but this depends on the condition. Speak to your doctor before taking Yasmin if you have:

• a close relative that has, or has ever had, breast cancer
• a disease of the liver or gallbladder
• diabetes
• depression
• Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• haemolytic uraemic syndrome (a disorder of blood clotting causing failure of the kidneys)
• sickle cell anaemia (an inherited disease of the red blood cells)
• elevated levels of fat in the blood or a positive family history of this condition
• just given birth – your risk of a blood clot may be higher, so check with your doctor when it’s safe to start a combined pill
• inflammation in the veins under the skin (superficial thrombophlebitis)
• varicose veins
• epilepsy
• systemic lupus erythematosus (a disease affecting your natural defence system)
• a disease that first happened during pregnancy or with earlier use of hormonal contraception, such as hearing loss, a blood disease called porphyria, a skin rash with blisters during pregnancy (gestational herpes), or a disease of the nerves (Sydenham’s chorea)
• or have ever had chloasma (discolouration of the skin especially on the face or neck)
• angioedema – products containing oestrogens may cause or worsen hereditary and acquired angioedema

Yasmin contains lactose, so may not be suitable if you have lactose intolerance.

Medications that interact with Yasmin

Some medicines can make Yasmin less effective, affect your blood levels, or cause unexpected bleeding. These include medications used to treat:

• epilepsy, such as primidone, phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, or oxcarbazepine
• tuberculosis, such as rifampicin
• HIV and Hepatitis C (protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, such as ritonavir, nevirapine, or efavirenz)
• fungal infections, such as griseofulvin, or ketoconazole
• arthritis
• arthrosis, such as etoricoxib
• high blood pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs, like bosentan
• depression, such as the herbal remedy St John’s wort

Yasmin can also influence the effect of other medicines, such as:

• ciclosporin
• lamotrigine, an anti-epileptic, which can lead to an increased frequency of seizures
• theophylline (for breathing problems)
• tizanidine (for muscle pain and cramps)

If you’re due to have a blood test, let your doctor know you’re taking the pill as hormonal contraceptives can affect some results.

More information on Yasmin warnings can be found in the patient information leaflet.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Yasmin should not be taken during pregnancy. If you become pregnant, stop taking the pill and speak with your doctor.

Yasmin isn’t advised if you’re breastfeeding, but there are alternative contraceptive options available.

There are lots of Yasmin pill alternatives, including other combined pills, progesterone-only pills (also known as ‘mini pills’), and non-hormonal contraception like the copper coil.

Your doctor can help you find the best contraceptive pill or another type of contraception for your needs.

Combined pills

Combined pills all work in the same way to prevent pregnancy but may contain different types of oestrogen and progesterone, or a higher or lower dose. There may also be a difference in the non-active ingredients contained in the pill. Some are almost identical except for the pill’s brand name.

Everyone reacts differently to the pill and you may tolerate one better than another. You can always switch from one combined pill to another if you need to.

Rigevidon is one of the most commonly prescribed combined pills. It contains a different type of progesterone called levonorgestrel, making it a second-generation pill. This means levonorgestrel was discovered longer ago but is still widely used.

You might find that a second-generation or fourth-generation pill reacts differently with your body. For instance, you may get on better with Yasmin if you get side effects on Rigevidon or vice versa.

Microgynon 30 contains the same active ingredients as Rigevidon and is an older style of combined pill (second-generation) compared to Yasmin (fourth-generation).

Microgynon contains lactose and sucrose while Yasmin contains lactose, meaning they are both unsuitable if you are lactose intolerant.

Dianette is a pill used to treat severe acne. Each pill contains 2mg of cyproterone acetate (a highly potent progesterone) and 35 micrograms (mcg) of ethinylestradiol.

Although it can prevent pregnancy, it’s not recommended solely for this purpose. It’s usually prescribed when other acne treatments haven’t worked and it’s got more side effects than other contraceptive pills.

Dianette is not currently offered by ZAVA.

Yasmin and Lucette are almost identical pills. They contain the same active ingredients in the same amounts but are made by different manufacturers.

The main difference between Yasmin and Lucette is that Yasmin contains lactose (so is not suitable for lactose intolerant people) while Lucette contains soy lecithin (so is not suitable for people with a soya or peanut allergy). This means if one isn’t suitable because of an allergy or intolerance, the other might be.

Mini pills only contain progesterone, not oestrogen. They’re taken every day, without a break. This type of pill may be recommended if you can’t take oestrogen for any reason or are worried about oestrogen-related side effects, such as blood clots. The mini pill can also be taken when breastfeeding.

Mini pills available at ZAVA include:

• Cerelle
• Cerazette
• Hana
• Norgeston
• Noriday

If you find it difficult to remember to take a pill every day, there are other non-pill options. These include:

The contraceptive patch

Such as Evra, which is just as effective as the combined pill and also contains oestrogen and progesterone. Instead of taking a pill every day, Evra is applied once a week.

The contraceptive injection

The contraceptive injection contains a type of progesterone and must be given by a healthcare professional, so you’ll need to attend a clinic or your GP practice every 8 to 13 weeks.

The contraceptive implant

Contraceptive implants are a type of long-term birth control placed under the skin by a nurse or doctor. They contain progesterone and release the hormone slowly for up to 3 years.

An intrauterine system (IUS) coil

This type of coil releases the hormone progesterone and is also called the ‘hormonal coil’. It usually lasts for 3 to 5 years once fitted into the vagina but some last even longer than this.

The copper coil

An intrauterine device (IUD) coated with copper, also called a ‘copper coil’. The copper stops sperm from surviving very long in the womb and changes your cervical mucus by the womb entrance, stopping sperm from getting in. It lasts for 5 to 10 years, or longer if you’re over 40.

Condoms

Condoms prevent sperm from reaching an egg but aren’t 100% effective. They may break or split during sex, which means there’s a chance you could get pregnant. If this happens, you should speak with your doctor about getting an emergency contraceptive pill.

Condoms can protect against STIs, so you may want to use condoms alongside another form of contraception for the best protection. There are 2 types of condoms: male (external) and female (internal).

Contraceptive diaphragm

The contraceptive diaphragm is a small device that looks like a cup and is inserted into the vagina up to 3 hours before sex. You’ll need to keep it in for at least 6 hours after sex to make sure no sperm reaches your womb.

The diaphragm stops sperm from reaching your cervix by covering the entrance and is usually used alongside spermicide.