Reviewed by Usama Ali, MPharm (GPhC: 2224726). Last reviewed: April 2026.
Yasmin is a combined contraceptive pill containing ethinylestradiol 30 micrograms and drospirenone 3 milligrams. It is taken for 21 days followed by a 7 day break. Drospirenone has anti-androgenic properties, which can help with acne and bloating.
Yasmin carries a slightly higher blood clot risk than levonorgestrel pills like Microgynon. It is available free on the NHS through the Pharmacy Contraception Service.
Yasmin is a combined contraceptive pill containing two hormones: ethinylestradiol (an oestrogen) at 30 micrograms and drospirenone (a progestogen) at 3 milligrams. It is manufactured by Bayer.
Drospirenone is what makes Yasmin different from pills like Microgynon and Rigevidon. It has anti-androgenic properties, which can help with acne and oily skin, and anti-mineralocorticoid properties, which can reduce bloating and water retention. No other commonly prescribed combined pill progestogen has this combination of effects.
Yasmin is not usually the first combined pill offered. Levonorgestrel pills (Microgynon, Rigevidon) are first-line because they carry the lowest blood clot risk among combined pills. Yasmin is typically considered when there is a specific clinical reason, such as acne or bloating that has not responded to other options.
Yasmin prevents pregnancy in three ways. It stops your ovaries from releasing an egg each month. It thickens the mucus at the cervix, making it harder for sperm to reach an egg. And it thins the lining of the womb, reducing the chance of a fertilised egg implanting.
Taken correctly, Yasmin is more than 99% effective. With typical use (where pills are occasionally missed or taken late), effectiveness is around 91% (FSRH, 2023).
Take one tablet at the same time each day for 21 days. Then have a 7 day break during which you will usually get a withdrawal bleed. After the 7 days, start the next pack. The withdrawal bleed is not a true period. It happens because hormone levels drop during the break.
You can also run packs back to back to skip the withdrawal bleed. This is supported by current FSRH guidance and is safe to do regularly.
Yasmin has a 24 hour late window. If you take it less than 24 hours late, you are still protected. If you miss it by more than 24 hours, follow the missed pill guidance in the patient information leaflet or use our missed pill tool.
Yes. Yasmin and Lucette both contain ethinylestradiol 30 micrograms and drospirenone 3 milligrams. They are clinically equivalent. The difference is the manufacturer: Yasmin is made by Bayer, Lucette by Consilient Health. Yacella (Stragen) is another equivalent brand.
| Brand | Active ingredients | Manufacturer | Clinically equivalent? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yasmin | EE 30mcg + DRSP 3mg | Bayer | Reference product |
| Lucette | EE 30mcg + DRSP 3mg | Consilient Health | Yes |
| Yacella | EE 30mcg + DRSP 3mg | Stragen | Yes |
Under the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service, your pharmacist supplies whichever drospirenone product is available. You may receive Yasmin, Lucette, or Yacella. They all contain the same medicine at the same dose.
Common side effects listed in the Yasmin SPC include headaches, breast pain, nausea, mood changes including low mood, and changes to your bleeding pattern. These are most common in the first 2 to 3 months and usually settle as your body adjusts.
Because drospirenone has anti-mineralocorticoid properties, it can affect potassium levels. This is usually not clinically significant, but Yasmin is not suitable for people with kidney problems, adrenal insufficiency, or those taking potassium-raising medications. Your pharmacist checks for this before supplying it.
"People often ask about Yasmin specifically because of the acne and bloating benefits," says Usama Ali, MPharm (GPhC: 2224726), pharmacist at Contraception Direct. "We always explain the full picture, including the slightly higher clot risk, so you can make an informed decision."
All combined pills carry a small increased risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clots). Yasmin carries a slightly higher risk than levonorgestrel pills because it contains drospirenone.
| Group | Blood clots per 10,000 users per year |
|---|---|
| Not using hormonal contraception | About 2 |
| Combined pill with levonorgestrel (Microgynon, Rigevidon) | 5 to 7 |
| Combined pill with drospirenone (Yasmin, Lucette) | 9 to 12 |
| During pregnancy | About 29 |
These figures come from the FSRH Combined Hormonal Contraception guideline. The risk is real but small. For context, the risk during pregnancy is considerably higher than the risk on any combined pill.
Yasmin is prescribed when the clinical benefit (such as improvement in acne or bloating) justifies the slightly higher clot risk compared to levonorgestrel pills. Your pharmacist assesses your personal risk factors before supplying it. For more detail, read our guide on the pill and blood clots.
The mini pill does not carry any increased blood clot risk. If clot risk is a concern, it is a suitable alternative.
Drospirenone is anti-androgenic, meaning it works against the hormones that cause oily skin and acne. Combined pills containing drospirenone are the most associated with skin improvement among all oral contraceptives.
Improvement is usually visible within 2 to 3 months and continues for up to 6 months. If you stop taking Yasmin, acne may return.
Acne is not a licensed indication for Yasmin, so your pharmacist will not prescribe it solely for skin. But if contraception is your primary reason and acne is also a concern, drospirenone pills are a reasonable choice. For more detail, read our guide on the pill and acne.
Yasmin is available from menarche up to age 49 through the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service. At Contraception Direct, we supply to patients aged 16 to 49. Your pharmacist checks your medical history, blood pressure, BMI, smoking status, and migraine history before supplying it.
Yasmin is not suitable if you have a history of blood clots (DVT or PE), experience migraine with aura at any age, smoke and are 35 or over, have a BMI of 35 or above, have blood pressure at or above 140/90 mmHg, are breastfeeding in the first 6 weeks after birth, have kidney problems, are at risk of high potassium levels, or have Addison's disease.
The kidney and potassium contraindications are specific to drospirenone. If these apply to you but you want a combined pill, your pharmacist can recommend a levonorgestrel pill like Microgynon instead.
Not sure whether Yasmin suits you? Read our guide on which contraceptive pill is right for me.
Yasmin is available free on the NHS through your GP, a sexual health clinic, or a pharmacy through the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service. With Contraception Direct, you book a free phone consultation, your pharmacist checks your suitability, and your pill is posted in discreet packaging within 1 to 3 working days.
Under the PCS, your pharmacist supplies the most cost-effective drospirenone product available. You may receive Yasmin, Lucette, or Yacella. They are all the same medicine.
If you are currently on Yasmin and want to continue, want to switch from another pill, or want to start for the first time, book a consultation. Your pharmacist will confirm whether drospirenone is right for you.