Zoely pill vs Yasmin pill

My psychiatrist put me on Zoely in August of 2024, I had recently been diagnosed with PMDD (pre menstrual dysphoric disorder) and was at a point in my life where if I didn’t find a way to manage the symptoms I was at breaking point. I’d been misdiagnosed with bipolar, major depression, borderline personality disorder and had been on a rollercoaster of treatments from ages 13-30. So I was hesitant to trust this psychiatrist and go on another potentially damaging rollercoaster of meds. Alas, after 3 weeks I noticed dramatic changes to my moods, I was balanced! I felt in control, grounded and sane! Obviously my period stopped and my cycle was no longer existent but this medication saved my life, my relationship, my mental health and gave me back my life! The only negative side is my low to zero sex drive, that’s been tough but I’m navigating it now, my partner doesn’t feel desirable because I don’t want sex.. like ever but we are both just happy to have a peaceful life without the ups and down. It seems like a fair trade to me. So very grateful for this medication.

I was put on zoely to treat symptoms of perimenopause. It actually made my symptoms worse. I took it for 1 month and found I had more frequent night sweats and hot flashes, my mood felt unstable and erratic, insomnia was worse also. I constantly had spotting every day for the month and then no period. My exhaustion was even worse than it had been before starting it. I've stopped it now and feel better already after 6 days.

I was on this pill just shy of a month. I was bloating on the first day of use. I noticed the first week my mental state was horrible very agitated, flat and no energy. I did notice after the first few weeks my skin was definitely clearing up. I get hormonal acne. I had reduced hair loss (from endometriosis) and no ovulation pain. 3rd week in I started to get a sharp pain in the calf. Subsided then came back worse. So decided to stop taking it all together because leg pain wasn't worth the possibility of a blood clot. Three days off the pill the leg pain completely disappeared. Definitely was not the pill for me. Cons- Low mood Low sex drive Joint pain Sore lower back Constant bloating Extreme calf pain Insomnia Nausea Chest hypertension Pros- Clearer skin Less hair loss No ovulation pain

Has been really helpful for my moods as i would get bad pms, i feel a lot more stable through the months. i gained a lot of weight at one point but then lost it. my boobs consistently got bigger, at certain times in the month they are very very tender. i had lost my sex drive for a few months when i first started but it then came back, but i was really not eager for anything for ages. It’s helped my back and chest acne, and my face is better but has flare ups. I get a period every 3 months but it lasts like 14 days but not that heavy.

I have been on 3 different pills 10 years ago of which the last one was a pill prescribed for acne, before I decided to switch to a non-hormonal IUD, which resulted into heavy-flow periods that looked like someone had stabbed me everytime I got my period. I never had a heavy flow period but the copper IUD definitely increased this. After 2 years, I switched to the hormonal IUD Mirena and no complaints except that my hormonal acne is still present. I actually lost weight and no more periods. I went to my Gyno to ask for a solution against my acne and she prescribed the Yasmin pill. I took it and stopped after 9 days because I got super lethargic, emotional and cried almost every day, I started getting cystic acne even though I never had any cystic acne before, but a few small pimples on my jawline & chin. My breast were tender and in pain, I felt nauseous and I got 4 headaches in 9 days. Generally I don't get 5 headaches, maybe a maximum of 3-5 per year and that's it and my breasts are tender & in pain only when I am on my period. Needless to say that, I was not willing to go through the 3-month period with these symptoms just to see if my acne can disappear. I feel like there is no miracle solution and that's the most difficult to accept. My dermatologist prescribed spironolactone for my acne, which apparently has similar effects than the pill in terms of acne, without all the side effects.

Worked really great for many years. Still had the ocassionally leg cramp, and my breast started to be really tender. After some years I got panic attacks and anxiety. Quit the pill in june 2023, still strugeling with panic and anxiety at times

I had a heavy painfull n long period after usage so i stoped it after 8 days but im still bleeding with pain after 2 weeks

Overall didn’t impact mood positively but greatly helped with acne and cramps

Made the mistake of changing to the Progestogen-only/mini pill 'Desogestrel' August 2023. Caused me to be deeply depressed while on it, and I also experienced serious gastro-related episodes (twice) where I woke in the middle of the night and nearly fainted while on the toilet, with bad stomach aches then following for the next week or so. More relevant now, that pill also caused my skin to break out badly, the worse I'd ever had it (being a person before who had ever only experienced a few spots here and there). These spots were almost always appearing around my mouth around. Once I realised this pill was causing all of these symptoms, I came straight off and was advised to go back on a previous combined I'd been on for years. Depression and the gastro episodes cleared up, but the acne did not. I then experimented with coming off hormonal contraception altogether, hoping my skin would go back to normal. It did not, so I consulted the GP about a pill that was known for clearing up acne effectively. She put me on Yasmin, which I started 25/1/25. In the first month I did experience some feelings of nausea that I have heard people talk about, but that was only in the first few weeks on it. Also had one headache that went on for a couple of days, which is unusual for me, however I had also read that was common and I haven't experienced one since. Regarding my skin, it seemed to get a little worse for the first month, plus maybe a couple of weeks. I am now almost 2 months on this pill (having taken one 4 day break after my first pack, and now in the process of taking 3 packs consecutively) and I am hopeful that the frequency of spots is steadily going down. I also worked with ChatGPT (my very own virtual PA, haha) to create an oil-reducing skincare routine, so that might also be helping. Another positive is that my breasts have gotten larger, but no weight gain other than that! Will update again when I'm at 3 months on.

I was reluctantly put on the Yasmin pill by my GP as I wasn’t coping with previous contraception pills. I didn’t have a good experience with Yasmin. I was spotting very often and got regular nausea and headaches, so in total, was on it for about 2 months before I decided to come off of it

I tried Yasmin due to the positive reviews and experiences of friends. Unfortunately, it just goes to show how individual birth control can be, as I didn't get on well with it, unlike my friends. I went on it hoping it would clear my skin up, but sadly my skin got a lot worse- really nasty cystic acne on and around my chin/mouth. I also had extremely sore boobs the whole time- the point where I couldn't even lift my arms above my head and i had to wear a sports bra 24/7 due to the pain. It also made my IBS intolerable and it was just generally unpleasant experience. I wanted to share my experience as I'd heard such positive things about it, but it just wasn't for me. I'm now on the Evra Patch and I absolutely love it.

Had thrush about 4/5 times when only on it for 4/5 months, along with the thrush swollen labia and very dry, also developed acne when I’ve never had it before, but used duac to sort that out still breakout now and again which has never happened to me before. I will be changing pill again, only good thing was that by breast grew

It works better for me than others