Prempro or Yasmin - Menopause Message Board

Laye · 03-25-2009, 08:34 AM

Ok...Here is a question..I've got two options to deal with my peri symptoms. Yasmin or Prempro...Why is Prempro getting so much negative attention and BC pills are not? They both have synthetic hormones..I need some estrogen. Not a lot. Wouldn't Yasmin give me that without all the risks of Prempro? I'm really confused. I don't know what to take. My mother was on HRT for 30 years..she is in her 80's now. However, she did have uterine cancer and one heart attack.

So..I just don't know what to do? I can't find anyone dealing with bioidenticals..I've tried P cream..herbal stuff..some other BC pills that were higher in estrogen. I've read that Yasmin is lower E and hair friendly. I have thinning issues due to hormonal flux. I need something..but I've never felt so confused as where to go. I'm tempted to just take the Prempro and risk it. My doc is saying it's still safe to take...but is it? Has anyone out there had any luck? I have to do something!

herekittykitty · 03-25-2009, 08:47 AM

Both Prempro and birth control pills have synthetic estrogens and progestins. The pill has higher doses of estrogen and progestin so that it interferes with a woman's cycle to prevent pregnancy. Prempro has a lower dose to suppress symptoms of menopause, but not enough to prevent pregnancy. So, in theory, I suppose Prempro would be safer because of the lower doses.

Laye · 03-25-2009, 09:43 AM

Then why is Prempro getting such a scare when it comes to cancer and heart risks? If the BC pill has more synthetic hormones? Why is that not getting women to stop using it? My doc told me that the Prempro would stop my periods indefinitely within a few months and she only wants me on it for a few years. So..Yasmin has more estrogen and progesterin than Prempro?

I did not know hormones would be so confusing.

herekittykitty · 03-25-2009, 12:26 PM

It is VERY confusing, for sure.

Yasmin has different hormones than Prempro, so it is hard to make a side by side comparison. Prempro has conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone (at different strenths according to your needs/symptoms), while Yasmin has 3 mg. drosperinone and .030 ethinyl estradiol.

Do you still need birth control? That might help make up your mind about which one to try. If you still need birth control you could go with the Pill.

I think the reason Prempro got such a bad wrap is because that is the med. that doctors prescribed most often. I think the media was using HRT and Prempro interchangeably, kind of like we call all tissues, Kleenex. So I don't really think it is only Prempro that can cause problems, but all HRT.

You also have to think about it is mostly younger women using the Pill, versus older women using HRT. It stands to reason the older women are going to have more issues with taking synthetic hormones, whether it is in birth control pill form or HRT, than the younger women.

Chantal231 · 03-26-2009, 09:57 PM

Hi Laye,

My personal choice would be a low dose birth control pill like Loestrin, Alesse or Mircette.

No way would I ever take Prempro.

Just my two cents.

Chantal