Yaz pill

[Emilyaann]

So I had a laparoscopy and my endo removed back in August. Now my doctor wants me to have another go at taking birth control which I'm nervous about due to past experience and side effects, low mood, weight gain. I've been given Yaz but have read a lot of bad press. Wondering if anyone had any experience with it?

[SophieK2]

I refuse to take the pill. I get every side effect from them. I was on 6 different ones in 2 years and Yasmin made my boobs so sore I couldn't wear a bra or tight clothing. Also like every other pill gave me horrible mood swings and as soon as I stopped taking them was back to my usual self - i.e. normal and not moody! I really don't think synthetic hormones are good!

However, a doctor specialising in HRT told me the DepoProvera injection is excellent. She said 80% of her patients saw their periods stop. I thought I could take it but then realised I would get migraines from it. There is a lot of information out there on other pills aside from Yaz/Yasmin which may suit you better, different strengths etc.

I would highly recommend Dian Shepperson Mills' book 'Endometriosis: A Key to Healing And Fertility Through Nutrition', although latest copy published in 2008 I still found it very relevant, she explains how the nutrients we get through the food we eat balance our hormones and therefore can help our endometriosis (e.g. I never knew that Vitamin B6 directly affects your oestrogen levels). It is all explained in clear medical terms, I personally don't see the point in me taking hormones now I've read it. I brought my copy second hand off Amazon however it was in immaculate condition.

Hope you get sorted soon x

[PurplePineapple]

I was also prescribed Yasmin, some years ago, and was told how wonderful it was. In reality, my hair started to fall out. I saw my GP who took a long look at the info leaflet in the box, only to tell me that it wasn't possible because it wasn't listed on the leaflet. Hooray. We can both read. I had already read the leaflet before seeing her. But I didn't believe her, because not all side effects are known at the time of trials, so I did some of my own internet research. I discovered a few forums about people using Yas and most of them stated their hair was coming out. Some said their hair continued to fall out for 6 months after they stopped using it. I developed severe migraines, and while experiencing them I would get holes in my vision. It was like someone had hole punched what I was looking at and there would be black patches where image should be. Went back to my GP and explained the holes in my vision when I had the migraines, and was told to stop taking it immediately. Again. Hooray. Cue very unpleasant period. Was also told that due to the holes in my vision with migraines, I would never be able to take the pill again, or I risked permanent blindness. The blindness thing is apparently true with the pill if you have holes in your vision when taking the pill. I've asked several doctors since and they have all said the same thing. However, since stopping using Yasmin, I have ceased to have the migraines. I now have them very rarely, and usually they don't result in holes in my vision, so from this I believe the patchy vision was a direct and very scary result of the pill. So I would suggest that it varies for each person as to how they react with Yasmin, but there are a lot of people who also had hair loss when I researched it, and apparently migraines are commonplace while taking it. Personally I would suggest there are other better contraceptive pills available, and better ways of managing your cycles. I had the DepoProvera injections and they stopped my periods completely until I came off them. No migraines whatsoever with the injections, no monthly pain, so no endo pain, and very little breakthrough bleeding, which was only at the beginning. I much preferred that to the endless side effects of Yasmin. Hope this helps.