It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure YASMIN does not cause unwanted effects. These visits will usually be every 6 to 12 months, but some doctors require them more often.

Vaginal bleeding of various amounts may occur between your regular menstrual periods during the first 3 months of use. This is sometimes called spotting when slight, or breakthrough bleeding when heavier. If this should occur:

• Continue on your regular dosing schedule.
• The bleeding usually stops within 1 week.
• Check with your doctor if the bleeding continues for more than 1 week.
• After you have been taking oral contraceptives on schedule and for more than 3 months and bleeding continues, check with your doctor.

Missed menstrual periods may occur:

• If you have not taken the medicine exactly as scheduled. Pregnancy must be considered as a possibility.
• If the medicine is not the right strength or type for your needs.
• If you stop taking oral contraceptives, especially if you have taken oral contraceptives for 2 or more years.

Check with your doctor if you miss any menstrual periods so that the cause may be determined.

If you suspect that you may have become pregnant, stop taking YASMIN immediately and check with your doctor.

If you are scheduled for any laboratory tests, tell your doctor that you are taking birth control pills.

Check with your doctor before refilling an old prescription, especially after a pregnancy. You will need another physical examination and your doctor may change your prescription.

Healthy women who do not smoke cigarettes have almost no chance of having a severe side effect from taking oral contraceptives. For most women, more problems occur because of pregnancy than will occur from taking oral contraceptives. But for some women who have special health problems, oral contraceptives can cause some unwanted effects. Some of these unwanted effects include benign (not cancerous) liver tumors, liver cancer, or blood clots or related problems, such as a stroke. Although these effects are very rare, they can be serious enough to cause death. You may want to discuss these effects with your doctor.

Smoking cigarettes during the use of oral contraceptives has been found to greatly increase the chances of these serious side effects occurring. To reduce the risk of serious side effects, do not smoke cigarettes while you are taking oral contraceptives.

The following side effects may be caused by blood clots. Get emergency help immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Rare
  • Abdominal or stomach pain (sudden, severe, or continuing);  anxiety;  burning pain in lower abdomen ;  changes in skin color;  chill;  coughing up blood;  convulsions;  fever;  feeling of heat;  feeling of warmth in lips and tongue;  headache (severe or sudden);  loss of coordination (sudden);  loss of vision or change in vision (sudden);  nervousness;  numbness of the fingertips;  pain in lower back, pelvis, or stomach;  pains in chest, groin, or leg (especially in calf of leg);  ringing in th ears;  shortness of breath (sudden or unexplained);  slurring of speech (sudden);  sudden loss of consciousness ;  swelling of foot or leg;  weakness, numbness, or pain in arm or leg (unexplained) 
  
  

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• More common—usually less common after the first 3 months of oral contraceptive use
  • Changes in the uterine bleeding pattern at menses or between menses, such as decreased bleeding at menses, breakthrough bleeding or spotting between periods, prolonged bleeding at menses, complete stopping of menstrual bleeding that occurs over several months in a row, or stopping of menstrual bleeding that only occurs sometimes 
  
  

• Less common
  • Headaches or migraines (although headaches may lessen in many users, in others, they may increase in number or become worse);  increased blood pressure;  vaginal infection with vaginal itching or irritation, or thick, white, or curd-like discharge  
  
  

• Rare
  • Mental depression;  swelling, pain, or tenderness in upper abdominal area 
  
  
  • For women who smoke tobacco
    • Pains in stomach, side, or abdomen;  yellow eyes or skin 
    
    
  • For women with a history of breast disease
    • Lumps in breast 
    
    

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

• More common
  • Abdominal cramping or bloating;  acne (usually less common after first 3 months and may improve if acne already exists);  breast pain, tenderness, or swelling;  dizziness;  nausea;  swelling of ankles and feet;  unusual tiredness or weakness;  vomiting 
  
  

• Less common
  • Brown, blotchy spots on exposed skin;  gain or loss of body or facial hair;  increased or decreased interest in sexual intercourse;  weight gain or loss 
  
  

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.