Yasmin - Trouble for Bayer

I always felt there was something suspicious about Yasmin.  I have been very turned off by their aggressive advertising campaign and claims to treat acne and PMDD.  It sucks that many woman are being harmed by their birth control pills, but at the same time I have to ask why there wasn't further research.  I am assuming that this product goes through the same rigorous testing as any other prescription medication that is approved by the FDA, but I was always wary of it being the new hot thing...like it was trying to make contraceptives sexy.  I don't know why the marketing campaigns even need to make birth control look sexy.  Being responsible and not having a kid that you are unprepared for emotionally & financially is sexy enough!

Despite what Bayer wants you to think, Yasmin is NOT the only birth control pill out there.  Women should be able to trust that their doctors have their best interest in mind and that these birth control pills are safe, but the reality of the situation is that these pharmaceutical are intertwined into everything and they really push their products.  They strongly influence the government, they influence the healthcare system, they influence doctors.  Yes they make plenty of medicine that saves lives, and yes they give out free samples at the doctor's office, and I have the utmost respect for doctor's and what they do, but you as the individual has to realize that one product is not going to work for every one.  I encourage everyone to always take their role as the patient very seriously (it is YOUR body), and to spend time researching side effects, alternatives, options, and how these medications work.  Always evaluate the risks. If the benefit outweigh the risk then you do it.

I just want to remind everyone out there that there are other options.  I am of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality...if your birth control routine is working, then don't tinker with it!  Unfortuantely I think the saddest part of this story is the women who were using Yaz/Yasmin and it seemed to be working just fine for them and then they were suddenly hit by illness. 

If you are not using a reliable form of birth control and you DON'T want a baby, then I highly recommend that you do some research into determining what will work best for you.  I read into into how Yasmin prevents pregnancy and I as a consumer was turned off.  I prefer the tri-phasic routine, as it more closely mimick's your body's natural cycle.