Yasmin 3 mg/0.03 mg film-coated tablets (drospirenone, ethinylestradiol) – oral contraception

Yasmin is a combined contraceptive pill (COC) used to prevent pregnancy. Each film-coated tablet contains small amounts of two female hormones: 3 mg drospirenone (a progestogen) and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol (an oestrogen).

The pack contains 21 tablets – one tablet daily for 21 days, followed by a 7-day break during which a “withdrawal bleed” occurs. With correct use, protection continues during the break. Like all combined hormonal contraceptives, Yasmin slightly increases the risk of blood clots, especially in the first year of use, so it is important to know the symptoms and risk factors. Yasmin does not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.

How is Yasmin taken correctly and what should you know about the safety of the contraceptive pill?

Key facts about the medicine

What is Yasmin used for?

According to the official leaflet, Yasmin is a contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy.

Before starting, the doctor takes your personal and family medical history, measures your blood pressure and, if needed, performs other examinations. The medicine is not intended for girls who have not yet had their first period or for women after the menopause.

How is it used and dosed?

Missed tablet:

• Less than 12 hours late: protection is not reduced – take the tablet as soon as you remember and the next ones at the usual time.
• More than 12 hours late: protection may be reduced. More than one missed tablet in a pack – contact your doctor.
• One tablet in week 1: take it at once (even if this means two at the same time), continue as usual and use a condom for the next 7 days; if you had intercourse in the week before missing it, there is a risk of pregnancy – contact your doctor.
• One tablet in week 2: take it at once and continue as usual – no extra protection is needed.
• One tablet in week 3: either take it at once, continue and start the next pack without a break; or stop the tablets and take a break of up to 7 days immediately (counting the missed day).

Vomiting within 3–4 hours or severe diarrhoea: take a new tablet from a spare pack as soon as possible, preferably within 12 hours of your usual time; otherwise follow the missed-tablet rules.

Special patient groups

• Adolescents: not intended before the first period.
• Postmenopausal women: not intended.
• Liver disease: not to be taken until liver function has normalised.
• Kidney disease: not to be taken with poor kidney function or acute kidney failure.

Contraindications – when the medicine must not be used

Do not take Yasmin:

• if you have or have had a blood clot in the legs (DVT), lungs (PE) or other organs;
• if you have a clotting disorder (e.g. protein C or S deficiency, antithrombin III deficiency, factor V Leiden, antiphospholipid antibodies);
• if you need surgery or cannot move for a long time;
• if you have had a heart attack or stroke, angina pectoris or a transient ischaemic attack;
• if you have severe diabetes with blood vessel damage, very high blood pressure, very high blood fats or hyperhomocysteinaemia;
• if you have or have had migraine with aura;
• if you have or have had liver disease and liver function is not yet normal, or a liver tumour;
• if your kidneys do not work well (kidney failure);
• if you have or have had breast or genital cancer, or it is suspected;
• if you have unexplained vaginal bleeding;
• if you are allergic to ethinylestradiol, drospirenone or the excipients;
• if you have hepatitis C and take ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir.

Precautions and warnings

Tell your doctor if: a blood relative has or has had breast cancer; you have liver or gallbladder disease, diabetes, depression, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, haemolytic uraemic syndrome, sickle cell anaemia, raised triglycerides (risk of pancreatitis), superficial vein inflammation, varicose veins, epilepsy, hereditary angioedema or chloasma (avoid sun and UV light); you have recently given birth or are due to have surgery.

• Blood clots: per 10,000 women per year, a clot in a vein develops in about 2 not using CHCs, about 5–7 using CHCs with levonorgestrel, norethisterone or norgestimate, and about 9–12 using Yasmin. The risk is highest in the first year and after a break of 4 weeks or more; it rises with obesity (BMI > 30), age (especially over 35), family history, surgery or long immobility, childbirth and long flights (over 4 hours).
• Arterial clots (heart attack and stroke): the risk rises with age, smoking (over 35 another method is advised), obesity, high blood pressure, migraine, heart disease, diabetes and family history.
• Cancer: breast cancer is observed slightly more often in COC users; liver tumours have rarely been reported – severe abdominal pain requires an examination.
• Depression: mood changes and symptoms of depression require talking to a doctor as soon as possible.
• Bleeding: breakthrough bleeding may occur in the first months; if bleeding is absent in the break twice in a row, rule out pregnancy before starting a new pack.
• The medicine contains lactose. “Fertile days” and temperature methods are not reliable with Yasmin.

Interactions with other medicines, alcohol and food

The effectiveness of Yasmin may be reduced, or unexpected bleeding caused, by medicines for: epilepsy (primidone, phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine), tuberculosis (rifampicin), HIV and hepatitis C (ritonavir, nevirapine, efavirenz), fungal infections (griseofulvin, ketoconazole), arthritis (etoricoxib), pulmonary hypertension (bosentan) and herbal products with St John’s wort. Your doctor will tell you whether and for how long additional protection (a condom) is needed.

Yasmin may affect the action of ciclosporin, lamotrigine (possible increase in seizures), theophylline and tizanidine. The tablets can be taken with or without food. Tell the laboratory you take the pill, as it may affect some results.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy: Yasmin must not be taken during pregnancy; if you become pregnant, stop the medicine immediately and contact your doctor. If you want to become pregnant, you can stop at any time – it is advised to wait for the first natural period before trying to conceive. Breastfeeding: use is generally not recommended; ask your doctor.

Driving and using machines

Yasmin is not known to affect the ability to drive and use machines.

Possible side effects

• Common (up to 1 in 10 women): irregular periods, bleeding between periods, breast pain and tenderness; headache, low mood; migraine; nausea; thick whitish discharge and vaginal yeast infection.
• Uncommon (up to 1 in 100): breast enlargement, changes in libido; raised or lowered blood pressure; vomiting, diarrhoea; acne, severe itching, rash, hair loss; vaginal infection; fluid retention and changes in body weight.
• Rare (up to 1 in 1,000): allergic reactions, asthma; breast discharge; hearing impairment; erythema nodosum or erythema multiforme; blood clots in veins or arteries (DVT, pulmonary embolism, heart attack or stroke, TIA, clots in the liver, intestine, kidneys or eye).

Report suspected side effects to your doctor, pharmacist or ALIMS.

Overdose, missed dose and stopping treatment

• Overdose: no serious harm has been reported; nausea, vomiting or vaginal bleeding may occur (also in girls). If a child has taken tablets, ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice.
• Missed tablet: follow the rules above; if in doubt, use a condom and ask your pharmacist.
• Stopping: you can stop whenever you wish; if you do not want to become pregnant, choose another reliable method with your doctor beforehand.

Composition, packaging and manufacturer

• Active substances: 3 mg drospirenone and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol per film-coated tablet.
• Excipients – core: lactose monohydrate, maize starch, pregelatinised starch, povidone, magnesium stearate; coating: hypromellose (5 cP), macrogol 6000, talc, titanium dioxide, yellow iron oxide (E172).
• Appearance: light yellow, round, biconvex film-coated tablets marked “DO” in a regular hexagon.
• Pack: PVC/Alu blister with 21 film-coated tablets in a carton.
• Marketing authorisation holder: Bayer d.o.o. Belgrade; manufacturer: Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany. Authorisation number: 000457308 2023 of 10 September 2024.

Storage

• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Store below 30 °C in the original package.
• Do not use after the expiry date; return unused medicine to a pharmacy.

Frequently asked questions

Am I protected during the 7-day break?

Yes – according to the leaflet, if you take the tablets correctly you are protected against pregnancy during the seven tablet-free days as well. Start the new pack on day 8, even if bleeding is still going on.

What should I do if I forget a tablet?

If you are less than 12 hours late, take the tablet as soon as you remember – protection is not reduced. If you are more than 12 hours late, what to do depends on the week of the pack (1st, 2nd or 3rd); in week 1 a condom is needed for the next 7 days. If you have missed more than one tablet, contact your doctor.

How much does Yasmin increase the risk of thrombosis?

According to the leaflet, per 10,000 women per year about 2 not using hormonal contraception and about 9–12 using Yasmin develop a blood clot. The risk is highest in the first year and rises with age, obesity, smoking and family history.

Can I take St John’s wort or an antibiotic with Yasmin?

Herbal products with St John’s wort may reduce the effectiveness and cause bleeding, as can some medicines (e.g. rifampicin, certain antiepileptics and antifungals). Before any new medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you need additional protection.

Related information

For additional care and support with contraception, see also the Condoms category – products in this category do not replace the medicine you have been prescribed.

Sources

• ALIMS – Patient Information Leaflet Yasmin 3 mg/0.03 mg film-coated tablets (September 2024, in Serbian)
• ALIMS – Summary of Product Characteristics Yasmin 3 mg/0.03 mg (in Serbian)

Sources checked on: 23 October 2026.