A sexual Catch-22.

August 10, 2008 11:10 AM

Is there anything I can do to counteract the negative effect Yasmin is having on my libido?

I've been taking Yasmin for about three weeks now, and I'm already noticing a worrisome decrease in my (usually extremely high) sex drive.

Normally, I'd go to my gynecologist and ask her to switch me to a different variety of hormonal birth control. Sadly, though, this isn't really an option because I'm leaving in a few days to visit my boyfriend, who lives in another state. There wouldn't be time for a different form of BC to take effect before then. Since we don't get to see each other often, we have a lot of "physical activity" planned, and I don't want to ruin that aspect of our visit by not having any interest in sex.

Basically, I'm looking for a way to stay on Yasmin (at least for a few more weeks) AND maintain my awesome libido. Does anyone have any tips for how I can increase my sexual appetite while on this drug? Or any (hopefully reassuring) anecdotes about how Yasmin affected your sex life?

Thanks!

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (7 comments total)

You might inquire into testosterone patches, I know they can send a women's libido through the roof (now you know how we feel!) but I don't know anything about interactions.
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:00 PM on August 10, 2008

IANAFemale.

You could try talking to your gynecologist or a GP to see if there are any prescriptions that could offset the decreased libido. I'd imaging that's logistically difficult too though, if you're leaving soon, but easier than switching BC, if there is anything that fits those requirements. Otherwise, your best bet is probably just foreplay, imagination, romance, and patience. I'm sure that are some herbal supplements that claim to help, but I'd be skeptical, and very careful, as they are not tightly regulated.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 12:02 PM on August 10, 2008

(I'm a girl.) I had low-libido problems with various medications and I would recommend just lots, and lots of foreplay. Read erotica together. Watch some good porn.

Also: don't put too much pressure on yourself to feel sexy, it's totally counter productive. The more you worry about it, the less you'll feel like having sex. Just relax and enjoy what you DO feel like doing!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:28 PM on August 10, 2008

IANADoctor, but I am a Yasmin taker:

Unfortunately, I don't have any cure-alls to help with your libido, but I am surprised that Yasmin is effecting you this way. A couple of years ago, I began taking Yasmin after being on Ortho-Tricylene for years, and have been on a couple of other formulations of The Pill, and by far, Yasmin has had the least side effects, including not diminishing my libido. The Pill is funny though, and people react differently to the various types. If I recall correctly, it was Levora that turned me into a giant walking zit (meaning awful acne absolutely everywhere). If you still feel this way after taking your first 3 packs (it takes about 3 cycles for your body to fully adjust to The Pill), you might want to ask your doctor about Yaz, which is similar to Yasmin, but a lower dose. That's all long term stuff though.

As for your immediate problem, try not to worry too much about it, because anxiety and stress are libido killers for sure. If you can, just trust that you're going to have the wonderful time you're accustomed to, and I wouldn't be surprised if your libido kicks in per usual. If it doesn't, my guess is that it might just take a little more time and effort than you've come to expect, but that can be a lot of fun, too! Good luck!
posted by katemcd at 12:33 PM on August 10, 2008

Another vote for lots of foreplay... it's the only surefire remedy (other than changing pills), and the most fun one as well. It helped me to shift my thinking from "wow, these meds really kill my libido" to "oh, these meds cause my engine to take a little longer to warm up." A subtle paradigm shift, maybe, but a really important one.
posted by somanyamys at 4:53 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

As katemcd said every pill effects every woman differently... but fwiw Yaz was awful on my sex life.

My previous suggestions are here and here ... but since you are on a relatively short time frame, here's a few quick-and-dirty tips:

- Eat lots of salmon/omega-3's
- Eat low carb
- Cut down caffeine
- Take your multivitamin
- flirt with each other as much as possible
- Buy something cute, or plan something new, so you have a little extra to look forward too.
- Get a little cardio/do your kegels
- Drink some damiana tea/liquor
- Maybe try Zestra topical.

Hope this helps, and talk to your gyn as soon as you can!
posted by for_serious at 9:55 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

I've been taking Yasmin for about three weeks now[...]Normally, I'd go to my gynecologist and ask her to switch me to a different variety of hormonal birth control. Sadly, though, this isn't really an option because I'm leaving in a few days to visit my boyfriend, who lives in another state. There wouldn't be time for a different form of BC to take effect before then.

If you switched to a different brand of birth control, you would still be protected. It's only if you aren't using *any* hormonal birth control that you have to wait 7 days to be protected. So if you take a Yasmin pill today and then start a different brand of pill tomorrow, you're still protected in terms of pregnancy. You could still have side-effects, though, and it's hard to say if you would notice any difference in your libido that quickly.
posted by Violet Hour at 10:03 PM on August 10, 2008