Yasmin

What is Yasmin?

Yasmin is a combined birth control pill, which means it carries a combination of two hormones, progesterone and oestrogen. It’s got two active ingredients in it: drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol.

It’s a pill that prevents pregnancy in three ways. Progesterone and oestrogen help to control the menstrual cycle. When you take it your hormone levels are altered, which changes how the body deals with reproduction. This includes the release of an egg for fertilisation (also known as ovulation).

Yasmin helps to prevent ovulation by changing the levels of these hormones in the body. It can also thicken the mucus in your cervix, which blocks sperm from reaching the egg if it has been produced. It keeps the lining of the womb thin too, making it hard for an egg to embed itself there. A thin lining is also the reason why periods are shorter and lighter and in some cases stop altogether (so added benefits then).

What are the other benefits of taking Yasmin?

You can take Yasmin for acne, with many women finding it can really help, although it might not work for everyone. You can also use Yasmin for PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), which is a more severe form of PMS.

Because everyone reacts to birth control in a different way though, there is no guarantee that you’ll experience these benefits.

How effective is Yasmin?

Hormonal birth control is 99% effective when taken perfectly. That means taking it at the same time day in, day out. With typical use, which is when you miss the odd pill or don’t take it at the same time each day, this drops a little to 91%.

If you’re taking a birth control pill and finding it difficult to remember it every day, a different contraceptive might be a better fit for your lifestyle. Alternatives include the patch, which is changed once a week, and the ring, which is replaced once a month. Our clinician can talk you through other birth control options.

How to take Yasmin

Each pack of Yasmin comes with 21 pills in a blister strip. Take the pills containing hormones for three weeks and then have a seven day break, which is when you’ll have your period. Bleeding might be spotty and light compared to your normal period.

You can take it with a small meal or snack if you experience nausea when taking it on an empty stomach.

When can I start taking Yasmin?

If you haven’t used hormonal birth control in the last month, you should take your first Yasmin tablet on the first day of your period. You’ll be immediately protected against pregnancy. You can also start taking it on days two to five of your period, but you should use a condom for the first seven days whilst the treatment becomes effective.

What should I do if I miss a Yasmin pill?

If you’ve forgotten to take your pill, and less than 12 hours have passed, just take the missed pill as soon as you remember it. You shouldn’t see any reduction in its effectiveness. If it’s been more than 12 hours, your protection against pregnancy might be reduced.

If you forget a pill during the first week, take it as soon as you remember (even if that means taking two at the same time). You should then use a condom for the next seven days to remain fully protected. If you forget a pill during the second week, take it as soon as you remember (even if that means taking two at the same time).

If you forget a pill during the second week, take it as soon as you remember, even if you have two pills on the same day or at the same time, then carry on taking them as normal. In this instance, your protection shouldn’t be reduced if you’ve only missed one pill.

If you forget a pill during the third week, either:

• take the pill as soon as you remember and start a new pack (instead of having seven pill-free days); or:
• start your seven day pill free break right away. If you want to start your next pack on the specific day you normally start it, do this so that your pill free break is less than seven days.

If you’ve forgotten more than one pill in your pack, we recommend getting in touch with our clinician, who will be able to advise you on the best course of action.