When Rosalind Early considered taking birth control, everyone warned her that she might gain weight on the pill.

“I heard that sometimes you can gain weight on birth control,” said Early, a senior who wanted to regulate her periods. “So I thought ‘I’ll stay off it, because I don’t want to put on the pounds.’”

Then Early heard about Yasmin, a new birth control pill rumored to make women lose weight.

“I would definitely take the pill that makes you lose weight,” said Early. “If you’re on birth control and you lose five pounds-bonus!”

Yasmin, an oral contraceptive made by Berlex Laboratories which appeared on the market in 2001, has experienced enormous popularity on college campuses nationwide. In September, Berlex reported that five percent of new oral contraceptive prescriptions were for Yasmin. At least 300,000 women in the United States are currently taking the new pill.

Yasmin contains the progestin drospirenon, unique among oral contraceptives. Unlike all other birth control pills on the market, drospirenon is not derived from testosterone. Researchers say testosterone may cause fluid retention and make women gain weight.

Berlex hopes drospirenon will prevent the bloating and weight gain women sometimes experience while taking birth control.

In an initial study in Contraception magazine, women who took Yasmin lost an average of two pounds after using the pill for six months. However, women later regained the weight.

Despite its growing popularity, Student Health Services does not offer the pill. OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner Anita Bowen said she has reservations about the pill’s effectiveness at weight loss.

“To be honest, I don’t really think it’s a weight loss pill,” said Bowen. “Basically, people have to eat to gain weight. You can’t gain weight just by taking a pill. I just think this whole weight loss thing is going to come crashing down.”

Bowen also mentioned a study that linked Yasmin to blood clots. She said the study was small and has not been replicated, but “until I find out more information, I probably won’t stock it.”

Bowen said Health Services does stock a variety of oral contraceptives. She can prescribe the pill Ortho Tri-Cyclen, for example, which in studies has not caused women to gain weight.

Sophomore Shannon Romines originally took birth control to help her complexion.

“I wanted to go on birth control for my skin, but I was really worried about gaining weight,” said Romines.

Romines was enthusiastic about the studies promoting Yasmin’s side effect of weight loss, even after hearing that the drug has not been approved for that purpose.

“I would definitely consider taking this pill,” said Romines. “It sounds like a perfect combination-especially when I’m trying to combat the effects of Center Court.”

Berlex is continuing to research Yasmin to prove its effect on weight loss. If the company can better document this effect, the Food and Drug Administration may approve Yasmin as a weight loss aid.

This decision can’t happen soon enough for Early.

“It’s a way to lose weight that doesn’t make you feel guilty,” said Early.

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