Yasmin is a hormonal birth control. That means it introduces synthetic hormones into your body in order to manipulate your system to prevent pregnancy. The active ingredients in Yasmin are Drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, which prevent the release of the egg from the ovary. They also change the uterine and cervical lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and for any eggs which may have been fertilized to attach themselves to the uterus.
One of the main Yasmin side effects is raised potassium levels. This is due to the diuretic effect of Drospirenone. Loss of fluids lowers your sodium levels, thereby raising potassium levels due to the imbalance that occurs from fluid loss. Higher potassium levels in your system can cause serious health problems.
Two of the big Yasmin side effects would be blood clots and gallbladder disease. The medical term for this type of blood clot is Pulmonary embolism, (PR). This is described as a blockage of an artery in the lung, and although very serious, us not usually deadly. But PE can damage your lungs, and if the clot is big enough, you can actually die from it.
If the blood clot forms in your veins, it’s called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). These can happen anywhere in your body, but usually these Yasmin side effects occor in extremities like your leg. About 30% of DVTs end up as a PE, damaging your lung.
Any woman using a estrogen-progestin birth control like Yasmin, Yaz, or Ocella (or even NuvaRing and Ortho Evra) should watch out for blood clots. Here are some of the major symptoms:
- Abdominal Pain
- headaches
- chest pain
- leg pain
- blurred vision
