Yasminelle

What ethinylestradiol/drospirenone is and how it works

Yasminelle is a combined hormonal contraceptive pill containing two hormones -- ethinylestradiol (an oestrogen) and drospirenone (a progestogen) -- taken to prevent pregnancy. It belongs to the same drospirenone-containing family of pills as Yasmin, Yaz, and Eloine, but is a distinct brand with its own specific regimen (21 active tablets followed by a 7-day tablet-free interval). (1) (5)

Like all combined hormonal contraceptives, Yasminelle carries a small but real increased risk of blood clots in the veins (venous thromboembolism) and, less commonly, in the arteries (arterial thromboembolism, including heart attack and stroke), which is higher in the first year of use, in women over 35 who smoke, and in women with other risk factors such as obesity or a family history of blood clots. It is not marketed under this exact brand name outside the EU (and France, as Jasminelle) -- if you are in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, the equivalent product you may be prescribed is Eloine or Yaz, which use a different day-count regimen despite the identical hormone dose per tablet.

Mechanism of action: how ethinylestradiol/drospirenone works

Ethinylestradiol is a synthetic oestrogen; drospirenone is a synthetic progestogen structurally related to spironolactone, with anti-mineralocorticoid and anti-androgenic activity in addition to its progestogenic effect. Together they inhibit ovulation and alter cervical mucus and the endometrium, providing contraceptive efficacy; drospirenone's anti-mineralocorticoid activity accounts for its lower propensity for oestrogen-related fluid retention but requires potassium monitoring in at-risk patients. (1) (5)

What ethinylestradiol/drospirenone is used for

Before taking ethinylestradiol/drospirenone

Do not take / not appropriate for

• Do not use Yasminelle if you have, or have ever had, a blood clot in a vein (deep vein thrombosis) or lung (pulmonary embolism), or in another organ. (all countries) (1)
• Do not use Yasminelle if you have a known blood clotting disorder, such as protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin-III deficiency, Factor V Leiden, or antiphospholipid antibodies. (all countries) (1)
• Do not use Yasminelle if you need an operation or will be off your feet for a long time, or if you have ever had a heart attack, stroke, angina, or a transient ischaemic attack (mini-stroke). (all countries) (1)
• Do not use Yasminelle if you have migraine with aura, severe diabetes with blood vessel damage, very high blood pressure, very high blood fat levels, liver disease with abnormal liver function, a liver tumour, severe kidney impairment or acute kidney failure, a current or past sex-hormone-sensitive cancer (such as certain breast or genital cancers), or unexplained vaginal bleeding. (all countries) (1)
• Do not use Yasminelle if you are allergic to ethinylestradiol, drospirenone, or any other ingredient, or if you are taking certain hepatitis C combination antiviral medicines (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir). (all countries) (1)
• Not intended for use before your first period, after the menopause, or if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. (all countries) (1)

Tell your clinician about

• Whether you smoke, especially if you are over 35 -- smoking combined with this type of pill significantly increases cardiovascular risk.
• Any personal or family history of blood clots, heart attack, or stroke, and your body mass index (obesity increases VTE risk).
• Any history of migraine, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol/triglycerides, liver or gallbladder disease, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), systemic lupus erythematosus, haemolytic uraemic syndrome, or sickle cell disease.
• Whether you have recently given birth, had a miscarriage, or are breastfeeding.
• All other medicines you take, since some (such as enzyme-inducing medicines or certain antivirals) can reduce Yasminelle's effectiveness or increase risk.
• Which exact brand and regimen you have been given (Yasminelle, Eloine, or Yaz), since the tablet-taking schedule differs between them.

How to take ethinylestradiol/drospirenone

• Take one tablet each day at around the same time, with water if needed, with or without food.
• For Yasminelle (EU regimen): take one tablet daily from the strip of 21 active tablets, following the printed day-of-week guide, then take no tablets for 7 days before starting the next strip. Withdrawal bleeding usually occurs during this 7-day gap.
• For Eloine (UK) or Yaz (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand): the pack instead contains 24 active tablets followed immediately by 4 placebo tablets, taken continuously with no tablet-free interval -- do not assume the Yasminelle 21/7 schedule applies to these packs.
• If you are less than 12 hours late taking a tablet, protection against pregnancy is not reduced; if you are more than 12 hours late, protection may be reduced and you should follow your product's specific missed-tablet guidance or ask your pharmacist/doctor.
• Do not use the rhythm or temperature method as a backup, since this pill alters your normal body-temperature and cervical-mucus changes.

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

Missed dose

If you are less than 12 hours late, take the missed tablet immediately and continue as normal -- protection is not reduced. If you are more than 12 hours late, follow your specific product's missed-tablet rules (these differ between the 21/7 Yasminelle schedule and the 24/4 Eloine/Yaz schedule) and use additional contraception (such as a condom) as directed; contact your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure, especially if you had sex in the days before the missed tablet.

Overdose

There are no reports of serious harm from taking too many Yasminelle tablets at once. Taking several tablets together may cause nausea, vomiting, or vaginal bleeding (including in girls who have not yet started menstruating and accidentally take the medicine). If you have taken too many tablets, or a child has taken any, contact your doctor, pharmacist, or a poison control service for advice. (1)

Side effects

Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.

Serious warnings

Interactions

• Certain hepatitis C direct-acting antiviral combinations (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir; glecaprevir/pibrentasvir; sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir) must not be combined with Yasminelle because of a risk of liver enzyme elevation. (1)
• Medicines or herbal products that induce liver enzymes (for example certain anti-epileptic and antibiotic medicines, and St John's Wort) can reduce the contraceptive's effectiveness or increase breakthrough bleeding -- discuss backup contraception with your clinician. (5)
• Because drospirenone has anti-mineralocorticoid activity, medicines that can raise blood potassium (such as certain diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or NSAIDs) may need potassium monitoring when combined with a drospirenone-containing pill, particularly in women with kidney, liver, or adrenal conditions. (5)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Monitoring

Before starting

• Personal and family medical history review, including VTE/ATE risk factors
• Blood pressure measurement
• Assessment of smoking status and age (particularly relevant if over 35)
• Additional tests as your doctor considers appropriate based on your personal risk factors

During treatment

• Periodic reassessment of blood pressure and cardiovascular/VTE risk factors, especially if new risk factors develop (for example substantial weight gain or a family member developing an unexplained blood clot).
• Prompt review if any signs of a blood clot, liver problems, or unusual bleeding pattern occur.

Storage

Store below 30°C (or as directed on the pack), out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date printed on the packaging.

Frequently asked questions

References

1. Yasminelle 0.02 mg/3 mg film-coated tablets -- Package Leaflet: Information for the UserHealth Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), Ireland -- Bayer Limited (Marketing Authorisation Holder) · European Union (Ireland; also authorised under the same 'Yasminelle' name in Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden; as 'Jasminelle' in France, per the leaflet's own EEA authorisation list) · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 1
2. Eloine 0.02 mg / 3 mg film-coated tablets -- Patient Information Leaflet (emc product 6967)electronic medicines compendium (emc), United Kingdom -- Bayer plc · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 2
3. Opinion following Article 5(1) referral for Yasminelle and associated names (INN: drospirenone/ethinylestradiol) -- background informationEuropean Medicines Agency (EMA) -- Article 5(1) referral procedure documentation · European Union · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 3
4. DailyMed search results for 'yasminelle'U.S. National Library of Medicine -- DailyMed (official FDA drug labelling repository) · United States · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 4
5. YAZ (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol) tablets, for oral use -- full prescribing information (revised 5/2023)U.S. Food and Drug Administration -- current approved prescribing information, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. · United States · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 5
6. YAZ (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol tablets) -- Health Canada Product MonographHealth Canada -- Product Monograph, Bayer Inc. · Canada · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 6
7. YAZ drospirenone 3 mg / ethinylestradiol 20 micrograms (as betadex clathrate) tablet blister pack -- ARTG entry 226241Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia · Australia · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 7
8. YAZ 20 micrograms/3 mg film-coated tablets -- New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 8

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient ethinylestradiol/drospirenone names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries