Yasmin

• Risk factors: Over 35 years old who smoke cigarettes

Smoking cigarettes while taking Yasmin can significantly raise your risk for blood clots. These blood clots can lead to more serious problems, such as heart attack and stroke. The risk is greater if you're over 35 years old and have a history of smoking cigarettes. If you smoke, talk with your gynecologist about safer birth control alternatives.

• Risk factors: Age 35 or older and smoke | Recent surgery with a long period of bed rest | Starting Yasmin less than a month after childbirth | High blood pressure | People identified as obese | Diabetes | Higher dose of estrogen

Yasmin can raise the risk of serious blood clots because it contains ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). Higher estrogen levels can lead to more blood proteins that stimulate clot formation. Some studies also suggest that birth control pills with drospirenone, like Yasmin, might have a higher risk of blood clots compared to pills with levonorgestrel or other progestins. These clots can be life-threatening and can form anywhere in your body. Get medical attention right away if you have any signs or symptoms of a blood clot:

• Brain (e.g., stroke): weakness or numbness in your arms, legs, or face on one side of the body, trouble speaking, blurry vision, dizziness, loss of balance, trouble walking, or confusion
• Eyes (e.g., retinal thrombosis): trouble seeing, bulging eye, or double vision
• Heart (e.g., heart attack): chest pain, sweating, nausea, or dizziness
• Lungs (e.g., pulmonary embolism or PE): trouble breathing, chest pain, or cough
• Legs (e.g., deep vein thrombosis or DVT): cramps, swelling, pain, or muscle tightness

Your risk of blood clots is higher if you're older, smoke cigarettes, or have certain medical conditions. It also increases if you're on bedrest after surgery or have just given birth. Your gynecologist will usually stop Yasmin 3-4 weeks before surgery and restart it 2 weeks after to lower your risk. If you recently delivered a baby, you should wait at least 4 weeks after delivery to start this medication, and only if you aren't breastfeeding. Talk with your gynecologist if you have any questions regarding your risk of blood clots.

• Risk factors: Kidney or liver problems | Adrenal gland problems | Taking medications that raise potassium levels | Taking medications that interact with Yasmin

Yasmin contains drospirenone, a hormone that can raise your blood potassium levels. Having too much potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia) can cause muscle weakness, nausea, or an irregular heartbeat. In severe cases, it can lead to serious heart problems.

Your risk is higher if you have kidney, liver, or adrenal gland problems. You shouldn't take Yasmin if you have any of these conditions. Taking it with medications that raise potassium levels, such as ACE inhibitors,potassium-sparing diuretics, or potassium supplements can also raise your risk. Your care team might check your potassium levels with a blood test during your first month of treatment.

• Risk factors: History of breast cancer | Taking Yasmin for a long time

Yasmin contains hormones that might affect your risk of certain cancers. Some studies suggest that combination birth control pills might slightly raise the risk of breast cancer, especially in people who currently take them or recently stopped. Other studies suggest a possible link to cervical cancer, but more research is needed to understand this risk.

You shouldn't take Yasmin if you currently have or have had breast cancer because the hormones might cause certain breast cancers to grow. Keep up with your recommended breast exams, mammograms, and cervical cancer screenings. Tell your care team if you notice a new breast lump, nipple discharge, changes in breast shape or skin, or unusual vaginal bleeding.

• Risk factors: Liver problems | History of cholestasis during pregnancy or while taking birth control pills | Taking Yasmin for more than 8 years | Certain hepatitis C medications

Yasmin can sometimes cause liver problems, especially if your liver isn't working well. In rare cases, combination birth control pills have been linked to liver tumors, which can cause serious internal bleeding if they rupture. Long-term use might also slightly raise the risk of liver cancer, although this is very rare. Taking Yasmin with certain hepatitis C medications can also raise your risk of liver problems.

Tell your care team if you have a history of liver problems before starting Yasmin. Stop taking the medication and contact your care team right away if you develop yellowing of your skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, or unusual tiredness. Get emergency medical help if you develop sudden, severe stomach pain.

• Risk factors: High blood pressure | Older age | Using COCs for a long time

Yasmin can raise your blood pressure, especially if you're older or have been taking combination birth control pills for a long time. If you already have high blood pressure that's well controlled, your care team will need to monitor it closely. You shouldn't take this medication if your blood pressure isn't well controlled or if you have blood vessel problems caused by high blood pressure.

Check your blood pressure regularly while taking Yasmin. Tell your care team if your readings are higher than usual, since you might need to stop taking the medication.

Yasmin might slightly raise your risk of developing gallbladder problems, such as gallstones. Tell your care team if you develop pain in the upper right side of your stomach, nausea, or vomiting, especially after eating fatty foods.

• Risk factors: Prediabetes or diabetes | Personal or family history of high triglycerides

Yasmin can affect your blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It might make it harder for your body to control blood sugar, especially if you have diabetes or prediabetes. In some people, it can also raise cholesterol or triglyceride (blood fat) levels.

If you have very high triglycerides, taking Yasmin might raise your risk of pancreatitis, a serious condition that causes inflammation of the pancreas. Tell your care team if you have a history of high blood sugar or cholesterol before starting treatment. They might recommend regular blood tests or a different birth control method.

Yasmin can cause headaches or make existing migraines worse. In some cases, a sudden or severe headache can be a warning sign of a serious problem, such as a stroke.

Tell your care team if you develop new headaches, have headaches that won't go away, or notice your migraines becoming more frequent or severe. You might need to stop taking the medication. Get emergency medical help if you develop a sudden, severe headache, especially with vision changes, weakness, or trouble speaking.

Yasmin can cause spotting or bleeding between periods, especially during the first 3 months of treatment. These changes often improve as your body adjusts to the medication.

You might also have lighter periods or miss a period while taking Yasmin, even if you're not pregnant. If you miss a period after forgetting pills, take a pregnancy test. If you've taken all your pills correctly but miss 2 periods in a row, contact your care team to rule out pregnancy. Also, tell them if you have heavy bleeding or spotting that doesn't go away.

• Risk factors: History of depression

Yasmin can sometimes cause mood changes or make depression worse. If you've had depression before, your care team might need to monitor your mood more closely during treatment.

Tell your care team if you notice ongoing sadness, loss of interest in activities, or other changes in your mood. If your depression becomes severe, your prescriber might recommend stopping the medication and switching to another birth control method.

• Risk factors: History of hereditary angioedema | History of chloasma gravidarum

If you have certain conditions, such as hereditary angioedema (a condition that causes swelling) or chloasma (dark patches on your skin), talk to your prescriber before taking Yasmin. This medication might make these conditions worse. If you've had chloasma before, limit your exposure to sunlight and UV light to help prevent dark patches from developing or getting worse.