This is a guest post by Holly Grigg-Spall, author of the brand new book ‘Sweetening the Pill, or How We Got Hooked on Hormonal Birth Control‘
The birth control pill Yasmin gave me great skin, but it also gave me horrible side effects both physical and emotional.
In part, it was the great skin that kept me taking it. When I decided to come off all hormonal birth control for good, the ensuing acne almost pushed me back on many times.
My newly released book, based on the blog through which I chronicled my journey off the pill, ‘Sweetening the Pill or How We Got Hooked on Hormonal Birth Control’ (www.sweeteningthepill.com) addresses the complex relationship women have with hormonal birth control.
Following is an extract from that book. (To clarify the excerpt: Recently a systematic review of research into the risks of drospirenone-containing pills, such as Yaz and Yasmin, has shown that the increase in risk of causing blood clots is indeed significant).
“Yasmin was released in 2001 by the pharmaceutical company Bayer Pharmaceuticals and followed by its descendent Yaz in 2006. They are different from other pill brands because they contain a new progestin (synthetic progesterone) component, drospirenone. I started taking Yasmin in 2006 when it seemed as though every woman I knew was doing the same.
After graduating from college in the UK I spent some months in San Francisco where I saw the television commercials that pronounced this new birth control pill as capable of combating everything from PMS to bloating to acne.
The marketing hype filtered from the US through to the UK, where I was presented with this popular new drug by my GP when the pill I had been taking started to make me bleed badly during sex. The women’s magazines that I read hinted at Yasmin’s skin-clearing, weight-loss and breast-enhancing effects. My doctor said Yasmin was the very latest model, modernized and therefore superior to all other brands.
Word of mouth spread about this wonder drug and it became a must-have. Women I knew gushed about their perfect skin and their need for bigger bras. They said they had lost ten pounds. Both my sisters and my best friend were taking it along with many other friends and colleagues.
In a short time Yasmin, and then Yaz, became the most popular pills worldwide despite being the most expensive on the market. It was a diet drug, a beauty product and a contraceptive all rolled into one, and doctor endorsed to boot.
I was two years into taking Yasmin when a friend confessed to me that she had been feeling very down. She said she felt like her head was filled with cotton wool. She felt detached from life, her interest in sex had disappeared, and so had her interest in everything else she had previously enjoyed.
When I heard this I admitted that I too had been feeling depressed for some time. I felt my confidence and energy was evaporating. I had little motivation and struggled to think clearly. I had stopped reading and found it harder and harder to write, which was impacting on my work.
We agreed that our skin had never looked better, we were the thinnest we’d ever been and we’d long left behind our B cups, but we were both really unhappy.
My friend brought up Dianette (Diane-35 outside of Europe; another strong and potentially deadly pill prescribed for acne), recalling the reports that it caused depression.
“Do you think this could all be because of Yasmin?” she asked.
After that conversation I began researching and found out that Yasmin and Yaz were amongst the most complained about drugs on the Internet. Women in online forums described experiences that were eerily similar to my own.
In the US Yasmin and Yaz were promoted as what The New York Times dubbed “a quality of life treatment” and this message was enthusiastically taken up in the UK by doctors, family planning clinics and women themselves.
As I researched I wondered exactly how these drugs achieved their most alluring effects. I wondered precisely how the skin clearing, weight-loss and breasts enhancement were engineered in my body. I had never considered that the pill could have a whole body effect, but the changes were too obvious to ignore.
There was something about what these pills provided that women wanted and needed that kept them asking for and taking them. We were convinced by the external signs of apparent good health. I thought that looking good equaled feeling good and being healthy.
My experience taking Yasmin drew my attention to hormonal contraceptives as a whole. I started a blog. Within a few weeks of chronicling Yasmin’s impact on my mood and well-being in the hope of helping others, I began to receive comments and emails from women who had also suffered from these side effects. I heard from someone I had known back in school and she described her own experience coming off the pill after ten years as “life changing.”
I started reading the book The Pill: Are You Sure It’s For You? By Jane Bennett and Alexandra Pope and it was this paragraph that shook me awake: “By altering our natural hormone levels, the pill induces in us a different biochemical and psychological state. This in turn interferes with the particular psychological stage of life we’re in and may affect our unfoldment thereafter…While it may be difficult to prove the effect that taking the pill has on our psychological development we can see that through its profound hormonal impact the pill may also be interfering with the fundamental chemistry of who we are and what we can become.”
It was then that I decided to stop taking the pill for good. In the blog I would detail how this transition unfolded. After ten years I stopped with no idea of how this might affect me. I logged every detail of this transformative and tumultuous time.
As my mind cleared and my energy returned I eagerly delved deeper into the world of hormonal contraceptives.
Two years later, in 2011, the FDA entered into a reappraisal of Bayer’s and all drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives. Five research studies were released that showed these drugs hold a fifty to seventy-five percent increased risk of causing blood clots in comparison with pills containing other progestins. Two studies released by Bayer in the years prior had claimed the drugs held no higher risk than other birth control pills on the market.
A former FDA commissioner, David Kessler, claimed that Bayer had used underhand marketing techniques to convince women that Yaz and Yasmin were cure-all drugs, fuelling their popularity. He accused Bayer of paying women’s magazines to advocate for the pills and pay rolling experts to promote them in their books and talks. Aware that only through striking differentiation could these pills become more profitable than others Bayer had pulled women in with the superficial benefits without declaring the extent of the potential pay-off.
The FDA called an advisory committee to evaluate the safety of these pills, which included the generic versions created since Bayer’s patent expired. The decision of the committee had the potential to cause these drugs to be pulled off the market completely. However, the panel voted by a four-person margin that the drugs’ benefits outweighed the risks.
A government watchdog group, the Project on Government Oversight conducted an independent investigation that revealed three of the advisors on the FDA panel had financial ties to Bayer. A fourth advisor was connected financially to the manufacturing of the generic versions. All four voted for Yaz, Yasmin and all other drospirenone-containing pills to continue to be prescribed by doctors without restriction.
Bayer set about settling the 10,000 lawsuits of women who have taken Yaz and Yasmin and their families. The company is currently providing each woman who has suffered with injuries from blood clots and the families of those women that have died with hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation.
It wasn’t just the older, the overweight or the understood ‘at risk’ involved in these lawsuits, a large proportion were the young, fit and healthy women who had taken Yaz or Yasmin. These women had wanted clear skin or to lose a few pounds and, seeing as they were taking oral contraceptives anyway, thought these brands provided an amazing added bonus.
One case described to me by a lawyer representing many of the plaintiffs involved a 20 year-old woman who had been training to be an Olympic skier when she started taking Yaz. She developed a blood clot that resulted in injuries that will prevent her from ever skiing again.
Should we consider that use of the pill for pregnancy prevention, let alone acne or PMS, might still today, as women’s health activist Barbara Seaman wrote in her radical women’s health book The Doctors’ Case Against the Pill, be “like tinkering with nuclear bombs to fight off the common cold”?
Holly Grigg-Spall
The FDA investigation into Yaz and Yasmin is a watershed moment in the history of the pill, and yet women do not know, were not told and or did not want to talk about it.”
Have you been on Yazmin, Yaz, Diane, or another pill that was promised to clear your acne? What was your experience? (again, check out Holly’s book here, and her blog Sweetening the Pill)
Janna says
September 18, 2013 at 1:11 pmI’ve been on birth control for three years now. I started Diane 35 reluctantly in university after my cystic acne drove me over the edge! At that point in my life I was a bit naive and ignorant about healthy natural alternatives. I took Diane for one year and eventually asked my doctor if I could take a lower dose pill. I will admit, I am a bit of a hypochondriac and the higher risk of blood clots was enough to make me step back a bit. While I didn’t think much of it at the time, I do believe Diane played a roll in my roller coaster emotional state. I was always foggy, groggy, down, and just under the weather no matter what. Now, I’m a bit annoyed with myself that I took such a pill for my skin alone. I didn’t even need birth control of any kind during that year.
For the past two years I’ve been taking Orthotricyclen lo and although I feel more myself due to the healthier lifestyle I live, my head is still a foggy mess! I also have digestive health issues (reflux, heartburn, ect) that I feel could be linked back to the pill as they started shortly after that.
Although I’ve researched a few alternative options to the pill, I will admit I’m scared to take the plunge. I still would like to find an alternative birth control method other than popping a pill every morning. Although the pill has done its job so far, I sometimes worry about what its doing to my body and my fertility especially. I know many people use the pill and have happy babies all around, but its just a concern that’s been in the back of mind lately. We want to start our family in the next few years and I feel its important to figure out how to be healthy and take control of my fertility now so I’m healthy and ready.
So I guess in summary, yes I’ve tried Diane. Although my face was clear for the longest its ever been,I don’t feel it was as kind to my insides and emotional state. When I went off Diane, my skin went insane and it took me a lot of patience and research (where I found you!) to clean things up. Thankfully, in regards to my acne and general lifestyle, I’m keeping things clean and natural as I can!
Thanks for reading my story! I look forward to hearing other peoples experiences too!
Tracy says
September 19, 2013 at 9:04 amHi Janna,
I know it’s really crazy just how powerful these pills are – how they can affect your entire life, and sometimes totally change your personality!
Hopefully it doesn’t affect your fertility negatively, but I think that even if it does, it’s more than possible to bring your hormones back into balance naturally so that your fertility is restored. If you want to start a family soonish and get things in order before then, it might be a good idea to come off the pill sooner rather than later. Perhaps try weaning off it in order to not shock your hormones as much?
https://thelovevitamin.com/769/can-you-wean-off-the-birth-control-pill/
Did you see the other guest article posted recently about the fertility awareness method (that actually works)? https://thelovevitamin.com/11592/natural-birth-control/
Janna says
September 21, 2013 at 9:22 amThanks for the response Tracey!! I will definitely read those posts your suggested over again!
Thanks so much for everything you’re doing too! After finding your blog a few months ago it’s really opened my eyes to the benefits of treating acne (and all health issues really!) naturally. Keep all the great information coming 🙂
Lea G says
December 1, 2013 at 10:11 pmHi Tracy,
I read your article on weaning off birth control and I’m wanting to try that, however, I am also on Diane 35 but since the pills are coated, I cannot split them. Any ideas?
Tracy says
December 2, 2013 at 9:59 amHi Lea, I think you can split them anyway, all the ladies in that thread are doing it with Diane
Francisca says
September 20, 2013 at 5:07 pmThe doctor put me on birth control pills for 3 and 1/2 years beginning when I was 17; there was no talk about any side-effects, or what would happen if I stopped taking it. I was on Trinessa, its generic counterpart, then Yasmin, and then Trinessa again. At first my skin was blissfully clear, but over time the pills grew less effective. That’s why I switched brands so many times. Eventually I stopped taking the pill altogether. That was 10 months ago, and I have yet to have a period. The doctor’s only solution? Go back on birth control. If I had known that taking those pills would alter my body’s ability to create its own hormones – indefinitely – I would never have taken them. Now my skin is worse than ever, even though I’m living as healthfully as possible. I’ve run out of solutions. My advice to all who would ever consider it: DO NOT TAKE HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL PILLS
Tracy says
September 21, 2013 at 8:24 amAw, I’m really sorry to hear what you’ve gone through with the pill and now the aftermath Francisca 🙁 Don’t give up hope. Have you worked with anyone one on one like a naturopath who has a different view on the matter than a doctor who just wants to put you back on?
Francisca says
September 22, 2013 at 1:11 pmThanks so much for your reply, Tracy!
I have been to two naturopaths (in addition to the family doctor and an endocrinologist). The first tested my food sensitivities and put me on high-dose vitamin A, E, and Magnesium/Zinc/Copper. The second gave me some (very expensive) liver-cleansing supplements, natural progesterone pills, and a lower-dose vitamin A, and he suggested digestive and adrenal testing (which was too expensive to pursue). I kept up both their regimens for three months as instructed, but no improvement. There didn’t seem to be very much they could do.
Since then, as suggested by your blog, I’ve kept up a very clean diet (no gluten, dairy, or processed foods), and have been taking Vitex, Burdock, Milk Thistle, low-dose vitamin A, and a multivitamin, and I’ve been washing my face with honey and the Jane Iredale magic mitt.
I’ve definitely seen some clearing over the summer. I know when my period starts I’ll see more results… it’s strange because all my hormone blood tests have been normal, when I obviously have some sort of imbalance. None of the mainstream doctors will even admit that the birth control pills did this to me (although I had normal cycles before I took them). They just tell me I need to go back on the pill and/or gain some weight (although I have weighed less in the past and still had a period), since I have a lower BMI. I’ll try gaining 5-10 pounds, and perhaps I’ll do the candida cleanse. According to the tests I have estrogen but no progesterone. Maybe some natural progesterone cream and estroblock, too?
Sorry for the length of this reply. As you can see, I’ve been on quite a journey trying to figure this out. Do you know of anything else I could do? Honestly, your blog has been more of a help so far than anyone in the medical industry. 🙂
Tracy says
September 22, 2013 at 9:50 pmIf you have no progesterone, vitex should help. If it’s not helping enough, yes, look into natural progesterone cream. You can also try Estroblock, because Estroblock is more about the type of estrogen you have… it helps you get rid of the bad stuff and increase the good stuff, not necessarily altering your level of estrogen over all. Give it a try, it might really help
Ali says
September 20, 2013 at 5:52 pmI went on birth control when I was a teen and just figured that it was the thing to do when you started having sex. In some ways, I’m glad that I did as I was not mature enough to understand my body and my fertility to prevent pregnancy in other ways. I was on and off it for years, though much less time than I know a lot of woman are on it. I never had any side effects from any of the pills I was on so I never had any motivation to stop.
I’ve always had moderate acne on my back that has always been a struggle (still have not completely solved the problem). At one point a couple years ago, it suddenly got much worse and was making me miserable to I went to a dermatologist who put me on a stronger pill that was specifically designed to treat acne. I cant remember the name of it but boy did it work! My back cleared up astonishingly fast and my face was glowing too! I even got compliments on what great skin I had. The only problem (besides all the terrible things I know about these pills now) was that because it was such a strong prescription, I was only meant to take it for a few months so when it ran out, I stopped and my skin slowly went back to it’s previous state and I went on a regular pill that didn’t help my acne much at all.
Well, over the past year or so I’ve become much, much more conscious of what the things I expose my body to and after months and months of researching, I finally took the leap and bought a Pearly fertility monitor! It’s been quite a transition – I’ve only been using it for a couple months – but I’m so happy to not be putting chemical hormones in to my body each day and it’s so great really knowing my cycle! I recommend checking it out if you’ve never heard of it! I think you’ve done a video on the lady-comp, Tracy?
I’m still working on clearing my skin holistically, which is why I love reading your blog, Tracy. I was raised eating good food luckily but there’s always SO much to learn. Thanks for what you do!
Tracy says
September 21, 2013 at 8:29 amHi Ali – nice! I hope the Pearly works great for you. I think I mentioned Lady Comp in a video way back when, although I have not tried it myself. I noticed a little discussion about it yesterday in the comments of this article: https://thelovevitamin.com/11592/natural-birth-control/
kelly says
September 25, 2013 at 7:32 pmThank you for this. I havent been on the pill in years, i track my cycle and use condoms. I am getting a bit tired of tracking my cycle, been thinking of my next step. So many scary options, iuds, implants in your arm, ugh all gross. Maybe i will take a break from tracking and go to condoms for now on. I hate hormones
Emma says
September 26, 2013 at 3:35 pmHi everyone,
Due to being diagnosed with a hormone imbalance in my teens I took Dianette twice in the past for about a year at a time which no doubt did work for my skin but the obvious depressive symptoms and health risks convinced me to give it up. I also took Yasmin on and off but I found this caused my acne to flair up!
So around 6 months ago I came off the Dianette for good and experienced a horrendous breakout.
It’s been a hard few months but I’m finally starting to see extremely positive results from being off the Pill.
I am taking DIM supplements (similar to Estro-block) and applying a small amount natural progesterone cream- I had my first natural period for YEARS within a couple of weeks and my skin is virtually clear (I also follow a fairly healthy diet similar to ‘paleo/primal’)
I do rely on RETIN-A from time to time which helps to rejuvenate my skin faster but leaves it dull and dry unfortunately and is a harsh product.
Anyway from my experience I would definitely say no to the pill!
Thank you Tracy you’ve been a massive inspiration to me over these months 😀
Lilianne says
September 27, 2013 at 7:09 amI lost a lot of hair after going off Yasmin. They never tell you that either! Thankfully it grew back but it took about a year to look ‘normal’ again.
Lola says
September 29, 2013 at 1:01 pmI just got the Copper IUD inserted on Friday. It was the only method I felt comfortable with that did not involve hormones. My life is not consistent or stress-free at the moment to do the FAM. I do understand there is a risk of copper deficiency.
Tracy– Would you you have any tips for using the Copper IUD?
Tracy says
September 29, 2013 at 8:27 pmHi Lola,
I don’t really have any tips, except for monitor how you feel. Some people start to feel bad and get some issues from the IUD, but don’t put two and two together because they didn’t know. So just be aware.
Other than that.. you could try taking zinc if you want to try and balance the copper. I’d say that’s probably more necessary if you’re a vegetarian who might not be getting huge amounts of zinc
Lola says
September 30, 2013 at 9:47 amThank you Tracy 🙂 I feel sometimes the amount of information we have at our fingertips make us panic about our decisions – especially when it comes to health.
I decided I wanted it and am not looking back. So far so good!
Tracy says
September 30, 2013 at 10:33 amHaha oh yeah. You can say that again! It’s a blessing and a curse!
Anna says
October 1, 2013 at 5:27 pmI’m having a terrible time with Diane, I’m gradually reducing the dosis(the method you suggested Tracy).
I’ve been taking it for 2 years now because I have PCOS and this are the results:
1) I gained 20 lb
2) Almost zero sex drive
3) Painful sex
4) Circulatory problems
5) My depression is worse than before
So I’m hoping things will get better now.
Tracy says
October 1, 2013 at 7:50 pmHey Anna, I’m hoping so too! Sending you love xo
CB says
October 10, 2013 at 1:53 amI started taking the pill when I was 19 and continued for 8 years.
Taking a pill meant that I also had to take anti depressants, because I was awfully down all these years. I couldn’t figure out that it was the pill influencing my mood. I tried asking doctors if there’s a connection and all they did was smiled knowingly and said “girl, you must be imagining it”.
Then I met the love of my life and he was the one, who encouraged me to leave the pill. He has pharma industry background and he knew a few things about “making” meds.
I’ve been off the pill for 4 years now and I feel wonderful. I am not depressed and thanks to this wonderful blog here I have perfect skin 🙂
Thank you, Tracy!
Tracy says
October 10, 2013 at 12:25 pmYay! Thank you CB for sharing that lovely story that had a happy ending 🙂
Julia says
November 7, 2013 at 8:50 amHi Tracey! What a wonderful blog you have!
I started taking Yasmin 2 & 1/2 years ago cause I wasn’t ready to have children. Before that I tried two other brands which was a disaster for me. When I started taking Yasmin I didn’t get any noticeable side effects, instead physical side effects that I a couple of months ago for the first time understood wasn’t “a natural personality change”!
Before I started taking the pill I was happy, relaxed and had perfect skin. Now I’m moody, have hormonal acne and really not high on life, just to mention a few things..
That’s why I’ve decided to stop taking the pill! On Sunday it’s the last day for this months chart and then I’m off! I’ve read your article + comments about weaning off the pill but I think it can cause more harm than good.. I think it’s a little to much of an experiment and I’m to afraid to get my body into something like that.
SO I’ve read a lot about “side effects” that may come after quitting and I also remember my period was irregular when I didn’t took the pill. What I’m wondering is: what supplements do you suggest? Agnus castus and fish oil? Please do you have a few recommendations?
(I reeeeally can’t afford consultation or seeing a naturopath, I’m a student! Although I know that would be the best. But then it would be like paying for a naturopath and then no money left over for buying the supplements)
Love from Europe
Tracy says
November 7, 2013 at 10:38 amHi Julia,
I suggest:
– A Liver support supplement such as Liv-tox
– Probiotics, to counteract candida (often present if you’ve been on the BCP for a while) and to help digestion.
– A low GI, low sugar diet
– Fish oil (fermented cod liver oil is the best)
Hard to say exactly though as it really depends on what your hormones are doing exactly! The above should definitely help though.
See the ‘Things I love” page for links.
Julia says
November 7, 2013 at 11:20 pmThank you so much! I’ll look that up! What so you think about agnus castus? Cause I’ve read that it helps regulating the cycle…?
Tracy says
November 8, 2013 at 7:38 amYep agnus castus can help for some people, read these articles:
https://thelovevitamin.com/6855/treat-female-hormonal-acne/
https://thelovevitamin.com/9662/q-about-vitex-agnus-castus-for-acne/
LillaC says
November 11, 2013 at 10:14 amHey Tracy!
I discovered thelovevitamin a couple of months ago & I just wanted to say thank you! You’ve encouraged me to quit birth control pills and switch to more natural moisturizers & cleansers. Nowadays I’m using jojoba oil, honey for washing, and I’m taking Vitex, Estroblock and zinc. I’ve been cutting down on sugar, dairy and generally try to go for low GI.
So far it’s been good, my face is not completely clear, but it’s definitely not worse than before. It’s been about 8 years since I started struggling with acne, and even though I might never be completely clear, I finally feel free. Changing my life style and looking less in the mirror has been liberating. I think of all the time I’ve spent worrying about my skin and thinking about what product to try next, I just got to the point where I said ENOUGH.
So exercise, suitable diet, a few supplements and relaxation is all that I can do, and I’m happy with that 🙂 We shouldn’t make life more complicated.
Hugs from Sweden.
Tracy says
November 12, 2013 at 8:37 amYay so happy for you that things are finally looking up in the acne department! I agree, life doesn’t have to be that complicated… if you’re trying to make it complicated, sometimes all you need is to just relax a little and that’s the thing that works best 🙂
Love x
Angela says
January 28, 2014 at 9:04 amI have been reading the Love Vitamin for a year or so now and somehow missed this article when it was published, so glad I found it :).
After taking birth control for six years and having a horrendous experience after switching pills last summer I have now stopped using hormonal birth control entirely and feel so much better. When I was taking the pill I gained 25lbs, and had zero sex drive. And the pill, Loestrin, which I took last summer gave me terrible mood swings. Within a fortnight of not taking the pill my mood swings were gone, my sex drive returned and I have since slowly been losing weight.
More women need to be told about the harmful effects of hormonal birth control, not just the pill.
Love what you do at the Love Vitamin Tracy 😀