Yasmin and Headaches: What Users Say

• Par...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 30, 2013

For Acne "I was suffering from acne since 12 years. Now I am 27. I had taken various costly treatments, including chemical peeling and other cosmetic treatments. When I was 25, my skin specialist suggested Yasmin. I took it for 11 months. In the first month, I had a little bit of headache and nausea, but in the second month, there was no discomfort like that. In the third month, my face was almost clear, and by the end of the 11th month, my skin started glowing, there was not a single acne or mark on my face. Friends started asking about my glowing skin. I did not gain weight. But I stopped taking Yasmin after getting glowing skin, within one year, acne came back. Now, I am starting it again."

• xob...
• July 12, 2009

For Acne "I have taken Yasmin for 4 months. The 1st month had increased acne, headaches, nausea, tender breasts, and slight irritability. Halfway through the 2nd month, skin started to improve and side effects stopped. My period came on the 2nd day of taking the white placebo pill. Usually, the week before my period, I have painful cramps and have to take painkillers, this time there was no bloating or cramps and pain. On the 3rd month, my skin is starting to heal and look a lot clearer, periods are normal and pain-free. Only mild discomfort half an hour before my period starts. Yasmin will make your skin breakout when you first start taking it, but it will start to improve. After I wash my makeup off, I can't believe how clear my skin is."

• Han...
• April 19, 2015

For Birth Control "I recently started the Yasmin pill, and at first, I honestly didn't think I would be able to carry on with it because it was making me feel so nauseous! I also got really bad headaches, which caused me to be really moody. However, my doctor told me to give it a few weeks to settle and for my system to get used to it. I was not happy about this, let me say! I wanted to scream at her to feel how ill I felt. It got better though, on the fifth day, I woke up, and I felt fine all of a sudden, all of the side effects I was feeling had just gone. I had terrible skin, and it has made my skin so much better, and I feel fine now. If you're taking it and you're feeling ill like I did - I know it feels like crap, but honestly, just hold on, because it will go."

• Mon...
• March 15, 2015

For Birth Control "Been on Yasmin for 6 months now after years on all other brands under the sun. I have always been fit and healthy, but for some reason on this pill, I am even thinner. I can't gain weight no matter how bad I eat, it's amazing! The only downside is I am so hungry a lot of the time, but it's awesome because it doesn't lead to any weight gain, so I can eat as much as I want! Also, no cramps at all, and I used to get them bad. Limited headaches. Finally, after 12 years, I've found something that works super well for me."

• Dph...
• April 12, 2019

For Acne "I spent a fortune on washes and face lamps for my acne before going to the doctor who prescribed me antibiotics, which changed my life, but they stopped working. I tried another antibiotic, which didn’t work, and then 2 other face creams. I was at my wit's end and cried daily about my skin. I researched some more and came across Yasmin, which I started 3 months ago. For the first 6 weeks, my skin was awful, the worst it has ever been. I got cyst spots over my neck (never suffered with neck) and face, and even places like my toe. I felt awful thinking I can’t wait another 2 months to see if it works. The last spot cleared 8 weeks in, and I think I’ve had one spot since, and even flying, drinking alcohol, and being on my period, which are usually all bad for my skin. When I first started, my moods were all over the place, but now my body is used to it, that’s calmed down, one bad headache, but I put that down to stress. Try it, but don’t give up if your skin goes really bad like mine did!"

• Lop...
• December 29, 2019

For Birth Control "This is a good birth control pill! I've been on Yasmin for a couple of years, and it has never failed on me. I also took it for acne, but that was hit or miss. I go through periods where my skin is clear and then periods where my skin is bad. If I wasn't on Yasmin, though, my skin would be 10x worse! In addition, my periods have gotten very light and only last 4 days. No mood swings, no nausea, no headaches. I truly recommend this pill."

• Aut...
• September 5, 2019

For Birth Control "I was suffering from bad PMS from the day I ovulated to the day I finished bleeding. Bad pain, depression, mood swings. I've been on other hormones, but symptoms of depression and bloating would become worse. I also have PCOS. I started Yasmin with the intention to take it back to back to stop my period, and it has worked well for me. I feel happier and better in my moods, love not having a period, and I've got less facial hair. The only side effects are tender breasts (but this is lessening) and some headaches in the beginning. Also, the skin on my jaw gets a bit itchy, but other than that, it's been good: no weight gain or bloating. I'm aware of the risk of blood clots, I don't smoke and live an active lifestyle, so hoping this helps, as I would like to stay on this pill for as long as I can. I'm 33 and not planning a future pregnancy. If you have had bad reactions to other forms of contraception, it's worth a try. It's helped me a lot so far, where other hormones have made me feel worse."

• Vic...
• June 17, 2021

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I started Yasmin as I read that it helped with severe PMS and didn’t cause weight gain. In short, I thought I was dying when taking this. A list of the symptoms I was experiencing, which have gone since I stopped taking it: Extreme fatigue (big into my fitness and I couldn’t do a 10-minute walk at times), extreme emotions (crying, depression) whilst feeling numb and disconnected, joint pain, knees especially, muscle pain and shooting pains in arms and legs. DOMS would last 5 days instead of 1 day. Weight gain - over a stone, constant nausea, night sweats, anxiety and chest pains, regular heart palpitations, declining kidney function, painful, swollen feet, bleeding under the skin, bad headaches, sore eyes and blurred vision, hair loss and brittle, broken nails. Please reconsider taking this pill, I think it’s awful. Now on the copper IUD and I’ll take the very painful periods any day over how I felt on Yasmin."

• Bor...
• August 18, 2008

For Birth Control "I have been on Yasmin for 5 years, since I was 16. I stopped it for a few months (I switched jobs and lost my insurance). In that time, I went to a clinic and was given their low-cost birth control pills. Once I got back on Yasmin, I stopped having breakthrough bleeding, headaches, nausea, and everything in between. So, of the two or three birth control brands I have tried, Yasmin is by far the best."

• Tre...
• October 7, 2016

For Birth Control "I have PCOS and struggle with mood swings, hair loss, and pretty severe hirsutism. I have had a lot of success with Yasmin for all of the above. The most notable and stable difference comes after the 6-month mark. My body and facial hair grow back thinner and at a much slower pace, my mood is very stable, and I don't lose anywhere near the same amount of hair from my scalp. I also have easy and comfortable periods, and my appetite is very stable on Yasmin, which I can't say about other pills. I haven't put on any weight as a result. The first 2 weeks of being on Yasmin can be difficult (nausea, headaches), and I don't recommend it for very sedentary/very unfit ladies, as the risk of clotting is slightly higher because of its Drospirenone content."

• Anonymous
• July 22, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been on this birth control for about three months. Although my periods are shorter, I have had really bad side effects. It has made me very moody, I have had really bad headaches, and I have experienced major hair loss. It freaked me out, and I switched back to my prior birth control."

• Cha...
• October 2, 2017

For Birth Control "I have been on Yasmin for 11 and a half years. At first, I didn't have any problems. But over the last few years, I have noticed terrible things happening each month. First, it was spotting, breast tenderness, mood swings, sadness, headaches, irritability, you know, the small little things. But more severely, I have heart palpitations, dizziness, and now high blood pressure."

• Cha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been using Yasmin now for about 6 months and absolutely love it. It has cleared my skin so much, giving me much more confidence. I don’t experience any headaches, mood swings, or anything bad at all really. Also, my boobs have gotten bigger since taking it, which is a bonus. I know it’s a 21-day pill and you are meant to have a period on it, however, as I have quite heavy periods, I asked the doctor if I could just take it back to back without having a break for a period. I was told this was fine by 2 doctors and that it would not affect me whatsoever in the future of family planning!"

• RR1...
• June 1, 2019

For Birth Control "I was on Yasmin about 4 years ago and seemed to be doing okay. Then when I went to get my prescription, my doctor said Yasmin was too dangerous due to blood clots, etc., so I had to go on Rigvidon (UK contraceptive pill generic of Nordette or Levora 0.15/30). Rigvidon turned my life upside down for 18 months - horrendous anxiety for no reason, the start of depression, major brain fog, socially withdrawn, and crying nearly every day. I was pill-free for around 3 years after that awful experience. I decided to go back on Yasmin recently as the pill makes my spot-prone skin (at nearly 30) so clear, improves painful and heavy periods, and obviously as contraception. However, after just two months on it, I am absolutely exhausted, constant fatigue even though sleeping well, feeling lazy, down, distant, and not interested in anything, intense headaches the day before and of my period starting, and generally feeling like I could sleep 24/7 and don't want to work or speak to anyone. I will be coming off again now as it's just not worth it!"

• Gis...
• December 23, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on Yasmin for about 5 years because I experienced horrible cramps due to cysts. At first, I gained weight, but then after, I lost it. My cramp pain decreased, and it regulated my period. I didn't experience acne, but I did have constant breast tenderness. After so many years of taking it, I stopped because I was experiencing bad headaches. Now I'm currently looking for different birth control."

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ll just start by saying if I could rate this drug -10, I would. I was on this pill for 2 months, and in that time, I developed severe depression, didn’t want to leave the house, had the worst anxiety and self-worth issues. I felt so low and even had such dark thoughts. My first period after starting the pill was the worst experience of my life, the pains were excruciating. The pain woke me up in the middle of the night, and it was so bad that I was contemplating going to A&E. I couldn’t even stand up straight, and I’ll also mention that I have a high pain tolerance, and periods never usually affect me. I initially went on the pill to clear my acne, and it did clear a little, but I’m not sure if it was Yasmin or other medication that helped. Since coming off the pill, I’ve had such bad headaches and unbelievably dry eyes, which sting, cause blurry vision, and are very annoying. I also had a lot of hair loss on my temples. I was only on this for a short time, and all of this happened."

• Anonymous
• January 5, 2021

For Birth Control "My doctor prescribed Yasmin (later Yasmin Plus) 3 years ago for severe dysmenorrhea, and for the first time in my life, I had mild and regulated periods. But a few months in, it all went downhill. Headaches, low energy levels, intense weight gain, cup size increase, hair loss, and pretty much chronic bloating and constipation. I also started losing interest in daily activities, was short-tempered, and developed severe anxiety, borderline depression. I consulted both a psychiatrist and a psychologist. I was placed on fluoxetine (antidepressants) for over a year. It's been a month since I quit Yasmin (I'm also off fluoxetine), and my mental health has improved. I have swollen legs now, and my body feels weird. Hoping to get back to normal soon. I'm yet to see my periods post the pill, and I'm working so hard to get rid of this weight."

• Boi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2021

For Birth Control "I only rated it 1, because 0 was not an option. As soon as I started to use it, I developed headaches. I had a headache all day, every day. I also started to get migraines, and I have never had a migraine in my life, nor did I really suffer from headaches. I got anxiety attacks to the point where I didn't want to walk through or pass a group of people in the supermarket. I cried every single day of my life and became extremely angry. I almost became an atheist, since all I was feeling was this immense darkness and pressure over me. Religion is very important to me, but I just didn't see the need for it anymore. I started to hide under my desk just to escape the world. Saying that it was a horrible experience doesn't even justify what it put me through."

• Cla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2018

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I suffered PMT in my youth, and after years of being free, at the age of 42, the condition came back with even more severity. I was prescribed Yasmin by my gynecologist, and the first month was fantastic. I am now in my second month, and my symptoms are worse than ever. I have constant headaches, severe bloating, cramps, breakthrough bleeding, and chronic fatigue. I am hoping the third month will regulate my cycle and settle the symptoms."

• Joe...
• April 28, 2015

For Birth Control "Switched from Microgynon to Yasmin due to suffering with headaches, fatigue, and loss of libido. However, Yasmin did not really help, to be honest! My periods were heavier and more painful on Yasmin, I was moody, had painful breasts, but one bonus was they were bigger! Still got headaches too, oh, and I gained 5 lb during 6 months of using this pill."

• She...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 24, 2021

For Birth Control "I’m not sure whether Yasmin has caused the negative feelings I’ve experienced, but from reading other reviews, it does make me wonder. I’ll start with the positives - it does its main job of preventing pregnancy and has definitely helped my skin clear up. I’ve suffered badly with acne all my life, and this has been the only thing I’ve tried that gives me nice skin. My boobs are a little bigger too. Now onto the bad stuff. Every month when I come on, I get really bad headaches. I also get really moody and upset over not very much at all. It feels like you have to pick whether to have nice skin or be a nice person! It really has made me feel the lowest I’ve ever felt on some days."

• Mil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill a year now. Cleared all my skin, and I don’t have bad cramps or mood swings when on my period! It’s worked MAGIC! I feel much happier and capable of doing things on my period as it’s not heavy. My mood swings aren’t bad anymore, and my depression has gotten better. I still suffer from anxiety, but the pill has not made it worse. One downside is headaches, which may or may not be caused by the pill. But overall, I do recommend this pill!"

• Cor...
• March 2, 2021

For Birth Control "I used Yasmin for 4 months when I decided to stop due to the side effects. I had terrible mood swings, headaches, and I was always bloated. I gained some weight as well, but most importantly, it ruined my skin completely. I had huge and painful pimples on my chin and jaw area that were never healing. I noticed that during the 7 days break, I would not get new breakouts, so eventually, I decided to quit the pill. A few weeks after stopping the pill, I felt a huge difference. My weight is back to normal, no headaches, no mood swings. My skin cleared in just one month, and I have no breakouts now, but the damage to my skin was so big that I'm still struggling to heal the scars left. I felt from the beginning that something was not right and went back to the doctor to ask for advice, but they told me to wait a few more months for the pill to work. I waited 2 more months. However, I just felt it was getting worse and worse and decided to listen to my body and quit... And I'm very happy I did so."

• Anonymous
• July 8, 2011

For Acne "I have been taking Yasmin for the past month due to my dermatologist's recommendation for my mild to severe acne condition. I had never taken any form of birth control before, so I had been warned about nausea, headaches, etc. However, to this day, I have yet to feel any of those symptoms. I began on the Sunday method, and so far, I haven't forgotten a day. However, since the first week, my acne condition has totally accelerated for the worst. Where I used to be clear, I now break out daily. I continue to wash and treat with my doctor's recommendation daily or twice daily, and yet no results. It's aggravating, but I am hopeful that this will only be a phase and soon everything will improve."

• Anonymous
• January 4, 2012

For Birth Control "I'm 30 and tried many different pills since I was 14. (Microgynon 50ED being the longest used.) I went off the pill for 3 years at 27, then started on Yasmin for 6 months and had a lot of breakthrough bleeding. My doctor then switched to the Implanon (under-skin implant) for 4 months, breakthrough bleeding continued, got massive headaches. I then had it removed and have now been back on Yasmin for a further 5 months. Non-stop bleeding, some days heavy, some light, bad acne breakouts, extremely tender breasts, bloating, emotionally unstable, mood swings, and panic attacks - all of which I've never had in my life! I also have polycystic ovarian syndrome, and this has not improved this at all."