Side Effects of Yasmin

There is a chance that you will experience side effects from taking Yasmin. These usually do not occur and if they do, they usually disappear after the first few months of usage. If the side effects are adversely affecting you or you experience any of the serious side effects, you need to contact your doctor immediately.

Some common side effects that women have reported include depression, mood swings, irregular bleeding, thickened discharge, nausea, headaches and tender breasts. Less common side effects include changes in sex drive, vomiting, fluid retention, thrush, acne, high blood pressure or weight gain. There are some rare side effects that have been reported and you may experience asthma, allergic reactions to the medication, breast discharge or hearing problems.

If you have a severe headache or heavy bleeding, you need to seek medical attention. You should also get medical help if you experience any of the following side effects because they are indicative of dangerous health conditions and you will need immediate attention.  If you experience chest pains, pains in your leg, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, swelling of limbs, blurred vision, impairment of speech, numbness or dizziness seek medical help. You should also report to your doctor if you notice changes in your breast such as dimpling of the skin or lumps, severe abdominal pain or jaundice.

Risks of Yasmin

There are a few risks that are associated with all combined contraceptive pills, including Yasmin. These are rare but it has been found that the pill can increase the risk of some cancers, blood clots and liver disease.

Blood clots are more common amongst women who use the contraceptive pill because the oestrogen in the pill can cause the blood to clot more easily. If a blood clot forms in the lower leg, it can break off and travel to the lungs where it will cause a pulmonary embolism. Blood clots are also dangerous if they occur in the blood vessels that supply the brain and the heart because if there is no blood flowing to these organs, you will have a heart attack or a stroke. You are more at risk of a blood clot if you use the pill and you are older, smoke, are immobile, have just had a baby, have high blood pressure, have high cholesterol, are overweight or have heart problems.

There is a risk of breast cancer if you use the contraceptive pill as the risk slightly increases if you use the pill compared to women who don’t. In Yasmin, the numbers of women who have breast cancer has increased if they use the pill compared to the normal population bur it is unsure whether this is the case or whether tumours are found more often because women are examined by doctors more often through regular checkups. There is a chance that it can also increase the risk of liver tumours although this is very rare.

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