Yasmin B/C pill?

[GAPeach]

Doesn't Yasmin INCREASE potassium? SO that means I should NOT eat foods that may have potassium, like bananas? What about the water thing? Will drinking water (or more water) help flush out extra potassium, or just keep it in check? The leg cramps freak me out, especially the ones in the middle of the night. Not like Charley Horses, more nagging, not as sharp and severe.

[sarahjo]

I myself am on Yaz, the same as Yasmin, but because of my migraines my gyno felt this was a better option for me, for there are less days of in active pills which means less days of hormonal flucuations. I've noticed since I've started it a few things.... 1. My appetite has actually decreased some! Since I've started taking YAZ, I've lost 7 pounds.... to me thats huge. I've also noticed my cravings for sweet foods has decreased as well. 2.The body acne (my face has thankfully been fairly clear the past few years) has all but disappeared! 3. My migraines are actually LESS frequent. When I would go through spells of not having a period, I would have migraines nearly every other day. 4. The hair on my head is getting thicker and the hair everywhere else is lightening. 5. I seem to get more leg cramps, doctor told me to start taking a daily multi vitamin, calcium and vitamin D. I know I should of already been doing this but it gets SO EXPENSIVE! 6. My periods are still irregular, but whether I had a period or not, I would still have severe cramping before, now that to has disappeared. 7. I've found that while my frequency of urination hasn't really increased or decreased, the potency? of my urine has. Where it used to be clear it is often bright yellow and more pungent in odor. Sorry if this is TMI but I wonder if anyone else has experianced this effect? I heard it could be caused by an increase in potassium in your system, as urination is how the body rids itself of extra vitamins and minerals it doesn't need.

As for the not having regular periods to start out with (I'm on my third month of Yaz) I figure, my system has been so irregular for so long its probably lazy. If I don't have one after month four of taking the pill, then I'm calling my doctor to see what I can do to jumpstart the stinking thing.

The tricky thing with me is that when I recently had blood work done, it came back clear for PCOS. Everything pretty much was normal except that my testosterone levels were out of wack, my free testosterone being 6 times what it should be. But when it came to other things, blood sugars, isuline resistance and everything else I was ok. My gyno is the only one who even treats PCOSers to begin with in Southern Oregon besides the endo in Medford Oregon. Since that and my ultrasound (External and Vaginal) came back clear for cysts, I've got to go and see the endo for further testing. As someone who doesn't drive this is SUCH a pain. The only thing that was really odd about my ultrasounds is that the tech has an extremely difficult time finding my left ovary.... both with the vaginal and external ultrasounds. It was kind of weird. I've also got an elongated uterus.

As for having TTC, when I was engaged and married, my ex-husband and I were TTC the entire time. He knew about my PCOS like symptoms since the very begining. I conceived once in the time we were married but miscarried the baby at approximately 5 months or so. There were many issues, including extreme underdevelopment of the the fetus and placenta. I'll admit it was a sad moment in my life but I also strongly believe in leaving things in God's hands and when the moment is right, I'll have a child, naturally or through adoption or some how some way.

Thats pretty much my history in a nutshell. If you have any questions to ask me, feel free to email me, visit my myspace or yahoo 360 page or message me on Yahoo. My myspace url is www.myspace.com/mariesarah my 360 page, including my blog is 360.yahoo.com/sarah_marie_1981 and you can also message me on Yahoo with sarah_marie_1981 as well.

[sarahjo]

There's a new Yasmin with about half the estrogen that might cause less mood swings, weight gain, etc. It's called YAZ. Same IR & hair friendly progestin as the big Yasmin.

Yasmine only has .01mg more estrogen than YAZ, the biggest difference in the two is the fact that Yasmine is a 21/7 cycle where as YAZ is a 24/4 cycle. The decrease in the hormone flucuation by only having 4 days of inactive pills is what helps to lessen those side effects according to my gyno. Its also a great one to try if you experiance migraines.

[cheech]

I love Yasmin! It's the only medication that I'm on and my DHEA levels dropped from 3800 to 750 on it!!!

[andra]

Has anyone had severe stomach cramps on yasmin. I have been on them for not quite a year now and had stomach aches in the beginning but nothing like this. I take 4packs at a time and then have a period due to mood swings. This time after having the period I started them again and have been having bad stomach cramps. I take them before I go to bed so I sleep through the side effects but the cramps are so bad it wakes me up and I lay there in the fetal position for hours. Do you think this is what is causing the cramps and any ideas on alternative BCP's. It keeps my hair from falling out and the other hair from growing and being as course so I really don't want to go back to fighting all the symptoms. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Andra

[guineapig]

Okay, I had to look this up. Yasmin has 30 micrograms of estrogen
YAZ has 20 micrograms of estrogen

That is 10 micrograms difference, true, only 0.1 mg (milligrams, not micrograms). But still a lot less. Consider that the patch, which has been causing blood clots & stroke problems gallore, is 75 micrograms--"only" 0.4 mg more than Yasmin & 0.3 more than Desogen.

In addition, on YAZ, blood concentration of estrogens ranged from 32.8-45 pg/mL by the end of one cycle, whereas Yasmin estrogen was 87-91 pg/mL.

A little estrogen goes a longgg way!

FYI, the Ring releases daily 15 micrograms estrogen & .12 mg progestin (etonogestrel, a metabolite--byproduct--of desogestrel, like the progestin in desogen more or less). Blood concentrations were incredibly low, at ~17 pg/mL estrogen after one cycle. If spiro doesn't work for you, and estrogen drives you nuts, or you hate taking pills, that might be an option.

For me, if I ever go on bcp again, I refuse anything with estrogen over 20-something. I already know the end result--me going looney & fat.

Both YAZ/Yasmin pills have 3 mg drospirenone.

[uhohcheerios]

Thanks for the info guineapig!

[guineapig]

Yaggg, I meant 0.01 mg, 0.04 mg, and 0.03 mg respectively. 1000 micrograms for every one milligram. Jeez, I hope I don't screw that up at work--my brain is mush these days! Anyway, the blood concentrations are still correct.

[strberigrl]

Anyone else experience leg cramps on Yasmin?

You need to get the cramps checked out to be sure its not a clot some people get them from bcp and that cant be good

[kid?]

okay i've noticed more praises for YAZ than yasmin. I was given a prescription for yasmin, I haven't filled it yet because I'm not supposed to start using it until sunday. I'm going abroad for school (an entire year) next month. Should I ask about YAZ before getting yasmin? so I could get a good supply before I leave?

[seeking balance]

I would! I'm starting Yaz this Sunday and am looking forward...Yasmin gave me horrible bloating and breast soreness (estrogen issues), whereas low-dose pills (those with 20 mcg estrogen like Yaz and Mircette) have less estrogen effects.

I'm switching from Mircette because of hari thinning, Yaz's progestogin is supposed to be the very lowest in androgens, therefore good for PCOS.

Only reason I would do Yasmin instead is if you have major problems with breakthrough or continual bleeding...

Heather

[RachaelM]

I tried Ortho & Ovcon 35 and nearly went insane - the depression issues were incredibly bad. I'm a normally pollyanna type so it was entirely the BCPs. I switched to Yasmin and the depression totally disappeared.

My periods were normal, I had much less facial hair to pluck. How much of that was from starting Met XR (1000 mg) at the same time and how much from Yasmin - I'm not sure. I know the Met is somewhat responsible for the decrease in facial hair because I lowered my dose to 500 mg and had to pluck a little more. :/

I was on Yasmin 2 months and then switched to Yaz - last month was my first month on it. Yasmin worked great - my side effects were MUCH less than on the other BCPs and I was sold on it. But decided to go ahead and try Yaz since it was an even lower dose.

I asked my doctor about the downside to Yaz vs Yasmin and she said it was only possible breakthrough bleeding from the lower dose. Otherwise it was all positives in going with Yaz.

So far, I'm sticking with Yaz. I can't tell a real difference but I had NO breakthrough bleeding so I'm choose the lower hormone route. (They are the same price btw $$).

Weirdly though - my period was like clockwork on Yasmin - started the 2nd day of inactive pills. Today is day 28 on Yaz and so far only mild cramping and lower back pain but not even the tiniest bit of spotting. I know it promises lighter periods but this is a bit much (I didn't miss any pills so dont' think I'm pregnant).

Anyway - birth control pills are SO individual - what is good for one can be the opposite for others - but I definitely will stick with Yaz until we make the decision to have one more or get my tubes tied for good.