Yasmin vs. Skyla
See how Yasmin and Skyla compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Yasmin is a daily pill that must be taken consistently, while Skyla is a hormonal IUD inserted once that works for up to three years without daily action.
Yasmin carries a boxed warning about smoking-related cardiovascular risk, while Skyla's main risks relate to the insertion procedure and rare perforation.
Yasmin costs less per month but requires ongoing refills, while Skyla has a higher upfront cost that covers three years of continuous protection.
Yasmin vs. Skyla Drug Summary
Yasmin
Yasmin is a combined oral contraceptive containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol that prevents pregnancy when taken daily. It comes in a 28-day pack with 21 active tablets followed by 7 placebo days, and it's also used off-label for acne and irregular cycles.
Skyla
Skyla is a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device that prevents pregnancy for up to three years after a single in-office insertion. It's a progestin-only method placed directly in the uterus, so it doesn't require any daily action once inserted.
Yasmin vs. Skyla Side Effects
Yasmin
Skyla
Yasmin vs. Skyla Dosage
Yasmin
Skyla
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 3 mg/0.03 mg once daily | Days 1-21 |
| Maximum dose | Placebo tablet once daily | Days 22-28 |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | Every 21 days |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 13.5 mg IUS, one insertion | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 13.5 mg IUS, one insertion | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
Yasmin
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 3 mg/0.03 mg once daily | Days 1-21 |
| Maximum dose | Placebo tablet once daily | Days 22-28 |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | Every 21 days |
Skyla
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 13.5 mg IUS, one insertion | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 13.5 mg IUS, one insertion | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
Yasmin vs. Skyla Indications
Yasmin
Yasmin is FDA-approved to prevent pregnancy in women who can take a daily pill. Clinicians also prescribe it off-label to treat acne, manage PCOS-related irregular cycles, and reduce heavy or painful periods.
Prevents pregnancy with daily use
Off-label treatment for acne
Off-label for PCOS-related irregular cycles
Off-label for heavy or painful periods
Skyla
Skyla is FDA-approved to prevent pregnancy for up to three years after a single insertion by a clinician. It was studied specifically in women who have never given birth, but like all IUDs it does not treat acne or regulate menstrual symptoms.
Prevents pregnancy for up to 3 years
Single in-office insertion, no daily action
Studied specifically in nulliparous women
Does not protect against STIs
Yasmin vs. Skyla Pros and Cons
Yasmin
Yasmin gives users full control to start or stop the pill at any time and offers off-label benefits beyond contraception, but it requires daily adherence and carries cardiovascular risks tied to smoking and clotting.
Pros
Fully reversible immediately after stopping
No procedure needed to start or stop
Off-label options for acne and cycle regulation
Lower monthly cost, roughly $50 to $96, versus Skyla's $1,028 to $1,329 one-time device cost
Cons
Requires daily adherence to stay effective
Boxed warning for smokers over 35
Needs potassium monitoring with certain medications
Increased VTE risk, especially when starting
Skyla
Skyla offers years of pregnancy prevention without remembering a daily pill, but it requires a clinical procedure for insertion and removal and carries device-specific risks like perforation and expulsion.
Pros
No daily action needed for up to 3 years
Studied specifically in women who haven't given birth
Smallest, lowest-dose hormonal IUD available
Fertility returns quickly after removal
Cons
Requires an in-office insertion procedure
Risk of uterine perforation or expulsion
Higher upfront cost, roughly $1,028 to $1,329, versus Yasmin's $50 to $96 per month
Approved for shortest duration (3 years) among levonorgestrel IUDs
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