Yasmine and Yaz

During my experiences with both Yasmine and Yaz, I frequently searched for forums such as this one to see if other women were dealing with the side effects that I too was feeling. First of all, I was put on Yasmine two years ago to regulate a two-week period. For the most part I adjusted well with little weight gain, my face cleared nicely and I thought I made a nice transition. After 12 months - it was winter time- I developed this extreme intolerance to cold. I would get chilled and not be able to warm up for hours. My hands started having this Reynaud's type reaction where I would lose circulation to fingers (they turned a waxy whitish-yellow) and they would go completely numb). That never happened to me before being on the pill. I also experienced two extreme anxiety attacks while on Yasmine which were very uncharacteristic of me.

The deciding factor for me to suddenly stop Yasmine was when I felt my tongue was swollen on several occasions, I lost my ability to taste two different times, and my legs felt crampy far too often (I was also training for a marathon while taking it). I stopped mid-month, had a short period a few days after, and did not get a period until chemically induced over 7 months later. It just never came, so my OB first tried a progesterone challenge for 10 days, and then put me on a month of Premarin (estrogen 1.25 mg) and progesterone again for the last two weeks of those 4. After finally getting a period she put me on a generic form of Ovcon which gave me awful nausea, headaches, bloating and I gained 6 lbs of water weight over a weekend. I hated that pill but still finished out the month.

A friend of mine had some samples of Yaz and I decided to switch to that after the Ovcon pill figuring it was similar to Yasmine. The first two months seemed to go pretty well, no weight gain, clear skin and no PMS. Towards the end of the second month and into the third I started noticing a metallic taste in my mouth that never went away and my teeth felt just "weak". I noticed not to long after a corner of one of my teeth had chipped somehow- probably on just food. The sore, weak teeth sensation was very strange - also to note, my breasts went up an entire bra size. Then all hell broke loose with an increased number of headaches, my vision was blurry, I felt I couldn't focus, and my face broke out with these painful blemishes around my mouth and chin. After having difficulty driving one rainy night and pain in my face for an entire day from the breakouts, I decided to just stop Yaz mid-month. I also started taking evening primrose oil capsules hoping to help my body transition to a more regular estrogen cycle. I think the low levels of Yaz were ultimately too low for me, and it caused horrible effects. I noticed a change for the better in a matter of days (thank goodness because I left for a beach vacation and didn't want to have horrible acne for it)...and ultimately I've been off Yaz for about 3 weeks and I'm feeling so much better.

I would like to not be on any sort of oral contraceptive, and I hope my cycle is able to adjust on it's own. Both Yasmine and Yaz created horrible side effects on my system, and my teeth still have this weakened sensation. Luckily my skin made a dramatic improvement, but my breasts also returned to their original size (oh well...that was probably the only plus about the pill). I hope this helps other women who are questioning their own experiences on Yasmine or Yaz! If I find I do not get a period again after several months, I have heard great things about Estrostep, and I plan to ask my OB about trying that pill. Good luck and God Bless. Christine.