Testosterone symptoms and conditions

DANGEROUS DRUG: At the young age of 22 this drug destroyed my life. I was in the process of finally getting my life in order. After going through rigorous testing, I was approved for my gender reassignment. I won’t go into detail. While undergoing breast removal they put me on Levaquin I.V. drips. That was almost 5 years ago. I haven’t been able to forgo the remainder of my surgery but I can at least pass myself off as a male. I haven’t been able to work and feel like a loser. My friends call me a welfare case. I barely can make payments for my testosterone treatments. This drug will change you life in the worse way. Not one doctor in the Spokane area is even familiar with the side effects. Thank you. A.J.

I have been on Yasmin for about 5 years. I have never had an issue. I am worried that everyone on this site is making Yasmin look bad. You all need to remember that not everything will work for every person, everyones hormones are different to begin with so when you add the pill to these different levels of hormones you will get different side effects. To the people with low sex drive, did you perhaps think that this could be due to depression or the aging process? Many women suffer from low sex drive, those on and off the pill. Your sex drive will not be consistent throughout life, mine dropped in my early 20s and now is rising again, it may drop again, it can also be due to stress. All that said if you're suffering side effects that you think are attributed to Yasmin, or any other pill, stop taking it! Not everyone's body will handle it.

muscle aches, NO sex drive or interest in sex at all been on zocor, and lipitor off & on for past 7 yrs. and I'm 59 yrs. old

I've been taking Yaz for about 2 years now. I didn't notice any symptoms right away. In fact, I loved it in the beginning. It calmed my PMDD tremendously. I loved the fact that the mood swings I had been having were much improved. There was some breast tenderness but no big deal.
My symptoms have gotten increasingly worse over the past 6 months. Horrible headaches on an almost daily basis. Nausea 4-5 times per week. Extreme anxiety and panic attacks. Depression and suicidal thoughts. I constantly crave food...not necessarily that I'm hungry but I always want to eat. I have gained 20-25 pounds. I weigh more now than I ever have in my whole life!! Shortness of breath. Chest pains. No energy. It is killing my relationship with my fiance. We USED to have a healthy, active sex life. My libido has diminished to the point of being (basically) nonexistent. When we do have sex, it is extremely painful. Instead of enjoying it, I can't wait for it to be over. Of course, this is due to the fact that, as many other women on this site have stated, it blocks or binds free testosterone. I guess killing the desire to have sex in the first place is one way of avoiding pregnancy.
I recognize that there are side effects with any medication. But this pill creates\d some serious quality of life issues FOR ME. After reading this site and realizing ALL the uncomfortable symptoms I've been experiencing over the last 6 months are related to this (expensive) little pink pill, I threw the pack away. I'm not going to tell anyone else what to do b/c, hey, some women out there may have no probs with it.

About 6 years ago started methadone for RSD 90mg a day with some relief
but was aware of no libido,sweats (thought from RSD), weight gain, lethargy and
speech- thought confusion, dropped to 40mg a day with great difficulty but pain remained pretty much the same, back up to 60mg daily but lethargy,tremors,no libido-- very low testosterone,anxiety over uselessness but methadone is cheap but now is ineffective. Added Ritalin for alertness but when it wears off I must sleep. Also don't like feeling of perhaps requiring uppers.very depressed (over statement) but I take 450mg of Wellbutrin.No end in sight, am 64 and married, wife understands but she is burdened and sad. Evidently no other solution. RSD resulted from coleus fracture 1/02/2001,right hand useless.

I was prescribed Yaz to treat a hormonal imbalance.testosterone too high. the first day i expected the nausea and dizziness, so i took it at night. the next day i took it earlier 8pm and went to bed. i woke up at 930 am the next day because my daughter literally rolled me over to wake up and poked at me for a while she said i looked if i was dead. i went to work and was groggy the whole day, felt my tongue heavy and had several dizzy spells. It was scary.... i read in the booklets and did not find drowsiness as a common side effect but when I googled it I was surprised i was not the only one to experience drowsiness...

Agree with the earlier post -- read the drug insert that comes with your Rx! Majority of these side effects are well-known. Blood clots are a very well-known potential side effect of hormonal birth control -- non common but certainly devastating if it happens. Chances are good that these individuals have a genetic tendency toward abnormal clotting. The only good news for these gals is that they've had a warning (it's likely to happen again).
Re sexual dysfunction, it is a VERY common side effect of all hormonal BC. But especially with Yasmin and Yaz -- the form of progestin in these BC pills has anti-testosterone action which is great for acne but lousy for your sex life. Unfortunately, you might not be able to have clear skin AND libido.
For those with serious mood disorders on the pill, consider non hormonal forms of BC -- copper IUD inserted by an experienced clinician is worth considering.
And gals in your 40s, guess what? PMS often gets worse with age and then slides right into perimenopausal symptoms (did u know 10% of women never stop having hot flashes?!). Normalizing with BC pills is an option, but the sexual side effects are even worse for us older gals.

Hi,

I have hot flushes (feels like my body temp is out of control, with profuse sweating).
Morning aches and stiffness in joints).
I used to have sexual dysfunction before I started testosterone decanoate injection.)
I also used to have horrible fatigue and apathy.
I still have depression.
Since methadone has a negative effect on the various endocrinal mechanisms in the hypothalamus and pituitary, it makes sense that it would interfere with body temperature homeostasis.
I am on 100mg a day.
APC.

I am so glad I found this site!! I have only been taking Yaz for about 1 week but I can already feel the changes. I find myself becoming withdrawn and my sex drive went from 60 to 0 in 2.2 seconds!!! No wonder why, there is a testosterone blocker in this thing! No one has a sex drive without that!!
To make matters worse, I am breaking out with a rash on my face and forearms. My hair has also gotten dry!! Did I mention it's been one week?! I have been so thirsty and could not figure out why until I read that there is a diuretic in the pills. I'm getting these dark circles under my eyes, who know why that's happening but I'm not sticking around to find out. I am getting off now!!!

Yes, I have been taking Vytorin 10/40 for about 10 months, and it did reduce my cholesterol and triglycerides to 'normal', however, I slowly developed (initially) some 3 months back, problems in my left solder, diagnosed eventually as 'rotator cuff' ligament damage, however, it came on slowly and progressively worsened. I had not done anything strenuous to develop such a condition. It became so bad that I was basically redd to using my right arm. On top of this, the muscles in my lower arms became sore and felt strained even lifting a glass of water was painful. My Doctor was informed of increasing on-going muscle problems, did an emzine muscle test, which turned out to be 'clear'. And I also lost my sexual drive gradually.
I went off taking Vytorin a week ago on my own gut feeling, and my arm muscles and left shoulder have improved. I am also hoping no permanent damage. I am moving to a much higher exercise regime to 'burn' cholesterol and reduce triglycerides, and in the mean time look for 'natural' solutions as well.
I am not impressed with the medical responses I got, along with miss-diagnosed muscle / tendon supposed 'rotator cuff' serious problem that developed in my left shoulder, which I suspect may never be the same functionally. I recommend looking at other alternatives and natural remedies, this is my course of action. MM

I was on Yasmin for 2 years and it was 2 years too long! I should have stopped taking it immediately. I experienced EXTREME HAIR LOSS!!!! It started to fall out as soon as I started taking the pill, but I was also coming off Depo Provera and thought it was the Depo causing the hair loss. This happened in 2 different cycles. The first time, A LOT of hair fell out and I was humiliated. After about 6 months, some hair grew back; but my hair was still extremely thin and you could see most if not all of my scalp in strong lighting (outdoors for example). About 8 months later, it fell out again...this time worse than ever because I had about half of the hair I used to. I think I was literally lost 3/4 of my hair this time. Most if the hair loss was on the top of my scalp and every doctor I saw had something different to say. In the beginning stages of the hair loss, they said it was stress. Then when they saw it progress and they realized how much hair I had lost on the top of my scalp, I was told I had female pattern baldness...only no female in my family had ever experienced this before. Finally, I went off the pill and WOW...I HAVE HAIR AGAIN and it is probably close to what I had before I ever lost any of it. Oddly enough, Yasmin is used to prevent hair loss; as it is prescribed for women who have higher testosterone levels...yet it caused me to lose mine. I also gained A LOT of weight on that pill!
I have been off of Yas for about 6 months now and my periods are definitely less than regular. I won't get my period for 3 months and all of a sudden I am getting it every 2 weeks. I also have cysts on my ovaries and I thought I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome which can also cause hair loss, but the doctors are quite positive that I don't have PCOS and that it is not what led to the hair loss.
Moral of the story...unless you have to go on a pill that is designed for lowering your testosterone levels (and I recommend Diane 35 if so), do not take Yas! If I ever go on the pill again, I am sticking to something like Alese that is low-dose.

I got it placed in about a month ago and since that time I almost stated immediately with cramps, then headaches, oily skin and acne (like I was 12), instantly mad with hot flashes, started to get a little facial hair and the worst thing of all about week 3 I noticed all my hair was starting to fall out. OMG OMG so I called the GYN and of course everyone said, "oh no it's not the mirena". I am telling you, i was fine before that damn thing was inserted and it was only a month ago. I swear I feel like they just sewed a penis on me and I am slowly turning into an angry man! Oh also the bleeding never stopped during my 1 month deal and it just went from red and heave to brown and smelly and back to red and sorta heavy. very unrealiable periods. The men in our lives can deal with the blood every once in awhile but heck I cant blame by guy, heck i don't even wanna have sex with me! I just got it removed on Friday and I am hoping that I start to grow my hair back (not grow hair on my back - ha) I also hope my headache (both tension and migraine like) stop. I hope to god that my immediate anger level stops (I was NEVER like that). I also asked my dr. to test my testosterone levels to see if that damn thing is messing with our testosterone levels cuz I would swear that I was turning into a man or someone was putting steroids in my kool-aid. Also, my blood pressure is now high so anyway.... long story short is IF you DON'T have to get one of these things don't. I had to get mine because my uterus lining is thick and they wanted to reduce my changes of getting uterine CA - now what they hell am i gonna do. I wish to $#%^ I would known all these side effects. Now I just have to decide what to do now.

question that I have is that has there been any report for side effect sexual for either male or female? If so what was suggested?

Yaz increases your potassium levels, SO DO NOT eat anything with Potassium or take any medications that will increase your potassium. You will over load your system and make it even worse on you. You really need to read the enclosed brochure that came with Yaz from front to back to ensure you are fully aware of what you are taking and all the risks and side effects you will get. I had the same issues with my calves and it was not normal at all. Since I have stopped taking Yaz all my symptoms are gone and physically I feel normal again. I have not gotten my period yet, which I thought would come when I stopped taking Yaz, but nothing yet. I experienced anxiety attacks whenever I tried to climax so I understand what you are talking about. Yaz lowers your testosterone levels which drives your sex lfe, so there may be no hope for it to be normal again as long as you are on Yaz.

I am the mother of a 23 year old who has been on Yasmin for 5 months.
Her dermatologist prescribed it for her without blood tests for acne. She went to a gynecologist who did a blood panel and said her testosterone levels were four times the normal level and agreed with having her put on Yasmin. We as her parents were totally against this decision.

Since she has been on Yasmin she has suffered severe abdominal pain with periods. She had an ultra sound and nothing was found. She then developed an infection in one eye. Very red and itchy. Took steroid cream for that. Then in July came down with strep throat. Antibiotics for that.
Since then she has had 3 bouts of strep. Every time she gets off
antibiotics she comes down with another bout within a week and a half.
She has also had a lynph node in her neck swell up to a huge size you
could easily see. Doctor said it was a byproduct of her strep.

She is now contemplating having her tonsils taken out. I am at my wits
end. I know all this chaos is from this pill and am trying to get her to get
off it. It is so sad and exhausting watching my previously healthy daughter go through this. And she still isn't convinced all this is due to Yasmin.

I have read so much on this pill. The doctor's hand it out like candy. Anyone got any words I might use to convince her to get off this killer?
Thanks.

I have been on lipitor about 4 yrs. I am a runner and keep tract of my times. I have been losing about 4% of my speed each year and have recently had a large amount of muscle fatigue. Today a ran a 940 pace and thought I was not going to make it home. Three years ago my average pace was 805. Could the 20mg dosage be causing this problem?

I've posted several times before, but it ahs been a while since I've updated on here. So a recap: Almost 33, have 3 kids(ages 13,11,and 7) Had insert on 12/27/07 after having used depo for many years with no major side effects...issues continually worsened over next few months. Had removal early May, 2008. Several issues cleared up within the first few weeks after removal, such as the joint pain, swelling, heartburn. Brain fog and moodiness became much better. Libido returned gradually as well. But I still have had no success in losing the weight gained over the last 6 months. Still 30 pounds heavier thatn was at insertion...increased workouts, decreased caloric intake, only lost 4 pounds in almost 3 months. Family doc even put me on meds to help with the weight loss, and they had opposite effect...I actually was hungry all the time and felt completely stoned! Acne still unrelieved to the point that I know have an appointment for a 2nd dermatologist as my first one ran out of options for me! Completely unable to clear up my face. Family doc wants to put me on antidepressants, but I don't' think that's the answer. Plus after all the problems I've had...don't trust a whole lot of meds anymore...especially ones that are known for reducing your libido! (Plus after all this and to STILL be overweight with acne...he'd be pretty depressed too!) Bloodwork all came back fine...actually a "Picture of perfect health!" The only thing he did say was that my testosterone level, although in normal range, was at the high end of normal. However, as I'm still young 30's, no one tested my hormone levels before...so I don't know what is normal for me. Will be talking to him about using an anti-androgen, like aldactone, to see if that will help. Not using any form of hormonal birth control any longer. As old-fashioned as it is...I now use a diaphragm and spermicide...and I'm actually pretty happy with it. I'm happy for all those ladies who had a flat belly again within a few weeks, and their faces cleared up almost instantly...but I must admit I'm jealous. I wish it was that easy for me. Good luck to all of you. Will post again in the future.

I am 21 years old and I was on Yasmin for three in a half months (i stopped the last pack half way through). The first month i was on it, i had a lot of leg pains especially at night and sometimes to the point where i couldn't sleep. I went to the doctors and told her about this and she said it had nothing to do with the pill. My leg pain stopped after the first month i was on it and for two months i was fine. At the end of the third pack i began to get leg cramps again, but this time it was different i had little sharp pains here and there and tingling and my legs became extremely itchy. In the matter of two months i got spider veins and cellulite on my upper legs. Before the pill i had NOTHING on my legs. I searched the internet and found that birth control can cause spider veins because of the hormonal change so I thought my legs were itchy because of the spider veins so i stopped using the pill and made a doctors appointment. Three days after stopping i got my period for the second time that month. I also broke out with lumps that are red and extremely itchy. The doctor told me that the bumps are eczema and i also have a lymph node, which she said is from the eczema (which i find very strange). Two days after i broke out and got a lymph node, i got sick with a fever, extremely soar throat and a swollen neck. Today is my 7th day off the pill and im still sick. Hopefully i get better. But from being a 21 year old whos 95 pounds and having nothing wrong and starting this pill and getting spider veins, cellulite and then eczema all around the same time, i feel like im aging before my time. If anyone else has had any similar effects please let me know. Thank you.

Not sure if it's the Kenalog (for stenosis) or the testosterone (obvious)injections, or both, but have broken out with very bad ance since I started these injections. I am a 62 year old male.

I'm so glad to find this. It's taken me a while to put 2 and 2 together, but I am absolutely convinced that Yasmin is responsible for the subzero sex drive I've had for most of the past year. After reading this page, I also have an explanation for the brown discoloration on my forehead after I got a sunburn this spring -- it hasn't gone away! It's been a week and a half since I took any of the active pills, and I already feel SO much better. I was beginning to think I would never be interested in sex again! I have an appt. with my doctor this week, but there's no way I'm going back on Yasmin.

My experience with Yasmin was decreased aggression, mood stability and increased breast size. when I stopped taking the drug, I had an increase in aggression, less fatigue and no weight loss.

My T-3 levels are fine. My blood work is fine. Not many headaches. My mood became more depressed when I stopped taking Yasmin.

Not sure if I am suited to take the drug. So, I am starting Yasmin again to see if I notice side-effects. My estrogen levels were low prior to starting Yasmin the first time. So, I am wondering if my testosterone is a bit too high, and if Yasmin levels me out so to speak.

I think those with normal estrogen levels, prior to taking Yasmin, are badly affected by Yasmin. I wonder if those of us, with lower natural estrogen levels are as badly affected by Yasmin.

Will let this site know in a few months.

ALSO get this pill from Canada - ******
It costs $22 and it is the exact same packaging, etc.

Hope this helps

I have only been taking singulair for about a month. I have noticed that I have become more irritable, grouchy, hateful and just numb, not really wanting to be around anyone, not caring about anyone else's feelings much. I also noticed I have become extremely lethargic, to the point of falling asleep at work as well as heart palpitations and stomach pains. I just started new birth control pills so at first assumed they were causing these side effects, that is until I looked up the side effects of this drug! I have over half of the side effects so I stopped it immediately and can already tell a difference in my mood. I have to sons age 11 and 14, both who have asthma and allergies. The took this medication for a few years with no side effects but have not taken it for about a year now. My youngest son however, has been diagnosed with ADHA and ODD and possibly BiPolar disorder. As I read the other posts, I realize the description of how their children act while on this drug is exactly how my son acts. I wonder if there can be irreversible permanent damage from taking this medicine? He has been on a number of ADHD drugs, none have helped except to make him stop eating and lose weight and he is small for his age, so I have taken him off everything. Has anyone else out there experienced what could be permanent damage from this drug in their children? Even after being off the drug for a year or so? If it could make me miserable within a month, what can it do when one takes it for years? Its sometimes hard to tell the effects of medicine on small children. My son prob starting taking it around 4 yrs old and took it til he was about 8 or 9. Just wondering if anyone else out there has had this happen to them or their children.

All those interested in joining a Class Action lawsuit against the makers of Yasmin. Info available from
apopa (at) eden (dot) rutgers (dot) edu. Written out like this so it doesn't get blanked out. Please join - we need as many women as possible to get a case together.

My son began taking singulair when he was 6. About that time we were hading into the school years. He was labeled as a "special" child from that time on. Impulsive, aggressive, angry, anti-social, etc. He had a hard time focusing at school and every day was a battle. About 5th grade, after 3 schools, he was diagnosed with ADHD. I never, ever thought that it could be this medication. He was on it for about 4 years off and on during allergy season. I transferred him to a private school for children with behavioral issues and as time went on through therapy and special schooling it seemed to get better. I look back now and see that our "good" times were when he finally went off it for good. The beginning of his Freshman year was great! He had a 3.58 GPA, making friends and finally happy. The unfortunate thing is now that puberty has really kicked in, we are back to the old behaviors but much worse. Impulsive, angry, anxious, afraid of the dark, afraid of death. Violent thoughts, impulsive and very unhappy. I can see now that my son never had ADHD. He was misdiagnosed because thier were no warnings at that time. I don't think it ever "goes away". Even after years of being off of it. Something with the puberty hormones is re-triggering this behavior. IT IS LONG TERM!!!!! Even after discontinued use. Please, please keep an eye on your children. I AM SO ANGRY FOR HIM!! Also, for me. Special school $400 month, psychologist appointments, $300 month, my poor Son in a dark place I can't get him out, PRICELESS. . .I want my Son just to be happy. Thank you all for sharing your stories, it gives me strength that I need for him.

Possible ovarian cancer triggered by Yasmin.

You need to know this:

The present study suggests that circulating androgens and SHBG levels are *not* strongly associated with ovarian cancer risk,

although levels of fT may be associated with an increased risk among women diagnosed at relatively young age.

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007 Jan;16(1):23-9

Free testosterone (fT)

Increased levels of estrogen stimulate ***increased levels of testosterone***and androgen (increased body hair).

Unlike all the other BC pills...

"Yasmin birth control pill is different than other traditional combined oral contraceptives.

Though it is combined of estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and progestin (drsp), which has the unique properties than other progestin based pills available in the market. In other combined pills,

***progesin is derived from testosterone***

whereas in Yasmin with drsp, progestin is derived from spironolactone."

We need progesin to come from testosterone to prevent ovarian cancer. We have to LOWER testosterone.

If you have dry eyes...heads up! And get a pelvic ultrasound. If it shows cysts...while most are benign and common...some are NOT.