With so many variations of birth control methods available ranging from birth control pills, patches to even insertable rings, it might be an overwhelming experience to even research for a primary form of birth control that is best for you.

We at Zoey have got you covered and can give you the 411 on Yasmin, a popular form of birth control pills.

In this article, we will be explaining what Yasmin is, how it works, how to take Yasmin-21 and Yasmin-28, what to do if you miss a dose and the potential side effects that could occur while taking the birth control medication.

What Is Yasmin And How Does It Work?

Yasmin is a combination birth control pill that contains both progestogen and oestrogen. Besides preventing unwanted pregnancies, Yasmin can also be prescribed for women who experience irregular, heavy or painful periods. Taking Yasmin will usually result in more regular, lighter and less painful periods.

So how does Yasmin work?

Yasmin contains 2 hormones (a progestin hormone called drospirenone and a estrogen hormone called ethinyl estradiol) and prevents unwanted pregnancies by preventing ovulation from occurring during your menstrual cycle. Besides preventing ovulation, Yasmin also causes the fluids in your vagina to thicken which prevents the sperm from reaching the egg and fertilizing it, as well as thinning the uterine lining to prevent a fertilized egg from attaching itself to it. By preventing a fertilized egg from attaching itself to the uterus, the fertilized egg will then pass out of the body.

It is important to note that taking Yasmin will not prevent or protect you and your partner from sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, chlamydia or HIV. It is still important that you both practice safe sex and use condoms.

How To Take Yasmin Birth Control

The Yasmin birth control pack will either come in a 21 or 28 pill package (the ones we provide at Zoey are the 21-pill pack). All the pills in the 21-pill pack are active pills while the 28-pill pack will have 21 active pills and the remaining 7 being placebo pills. The active pills in both pill packs will contain both the hormones estrogen and progestin, while the inactive pills will not contain any hormones.

The reason for the 7 placebo pills in the 28-pill pack is to ensure consistent daily consumption of the birth control pills. When the 28-pill package of Yasmin is finished, you should immediately start on a new pack of Yasmin. You will usually get your period during the week when you are taking the placebo pills.

For the 21-pill pack of Yasmin that we carry at Zoey, you should take the pill everyday for 21 days. When you finish the entire 21-pill package of Yasmin, you should not take any Yasmin pills for the next 7 days. Once the full week is up, you can then start on a new pack of Yasmin. During the week where you do not take any pills, the hormone levels in your blood will fall and you will usually get your period within 3 days after taking the last active pill.

What Do I Do If I Forget To Take My Yasmin Birth Control Pill?

While Yasmin has an effectiveness rate of 99%, the high level of efficacy can only be achieved if you consistently take the pill every single day (or as instructed by the leaflet provided). Missing a dose does increase the likelihood of unwanted pregnancy.

However, what should you do in the event that you do accidentally miss a dose?

If you accidentally forgot to take your Yasmin pill at your usual time, you should take it as soon as you remember. If you miss taking an active Yasmin pill - a missed pill being one that is 24 hours or more late - please note the following instructions below:

1. If You Miss Taking One Yasmin Pill

If you miss taking one active pill, do take it as soon as you remember. This might mean taking two active pills at the same time, if you only remember it the next day. Continue taking the rest of the pill pack as instructed in the given leaflet. You will still be protected against unwanted pregnancy, so long as you take the pill as soon as you remember.

2. If You Miss Taking Two Or More Yasmin Pills

If you miss taking two or more active pills, it is vital that you take the last missed pill as soon as you remember. This means taking two pills at the same time for 2 consecutive days. Do not take the other missed pills and continue to take your pills daily after the 2 days of taking 2 active pills. As you won’t be protected if you forget to take two or more active pills in a row, it is important to either abstain from sex or use another non-hormonal form of contraceptives (like condoms) for the following 7 days.

If you miss two or more pills during the last week of the pill pack, complete the pill pack as usual but begin a new pack immediately. This will mean skipping the week where you would either take the placebo pills or go pill-free.  

It is highly recommended that you use a backup form of contraception for the following week if you miss taking any Yasmin birth control pills. If you engaged in unprotected sex during the week before you missed taking the birth control pills, you might need to take an emergency contraception. Do consult your doctor immediately for further advice.

If you suspect that you are pregnant or miss getting your period for 2 months, do consult your doctor immediately to check whether you are pregnant as Yasmin is not recommended for pregnant women.

Potential Side Effects

While taking Yasmin daily, you might experience the following mild side effects:

• Headaches
• Stomach aches
• Vomiting and nausea
• Breast tenderness
• Changes to your menstrual cycles (spotting or irregular might occur during the first few months of taking Yasmin)
• Weight gain
  

In the case of stomach aches, taking Yasmin with a light-meal or taking it at night might be able to help curb the intensity of the stomach ache.

The Takeaway

If you’re considering Yasmin to be your primary form of birth control or require further guidance on the various birth control methods available, you can talk to one of our doctors here at Zoey. Doctors on our platform are best equipped with the knowledge to determine which form of birth control is most suitable for you and determine whether Yasmin is right for you.