vaginapagina | Yasmin and Side Effects (Reply)

Hello there!
I've been reading various articles and snooping all over VagPag but to no avail.
Help?

I've been taking Yasmin for somewhere in four months now. I've been very happy with both it's effectiveness and the way it's worked with my body (lighter periods, manageable cramps, cleared up my skin, mood swings are kept at bay for the most part, very little weight gain, etc). However there is one thing that's been nagging at me recently. Specifically over the last 2 months or so.

Normally, I'm a bit of a space cadet. But these past 2 months I've been experiencing lapses in memory and very persistent forgetfulness, almost to the point of black-outs. I mean, short-term memory is out of the question, very impaired. Long term tends to be a bit better, but even then it's pretty sketchy. My boyfriend (who lives with me 5 days a week) has noticed it as well and mentioned it to me because on quite a few occasions because it's caused problems in other areas of my (and his) life.

Is this a common, even rare or any kind of side effect of birth control?
I have been under an abnormal amount of stress recently (ending bad long-term friendships left and right, moving, quit my job and starting college in the span of three months) but I've been dealing with it quite gracefully if I do say so myself!
I also have a history of bipolar disorder and have been on medication for it in the past. I am not taking anything for it now, the last time was approximately two years ago: Effexor.
I don't drink, although I do smoke pot recreationally. Maybe 3-4 times a week and I never actually get "stoned" anyway. It's more like two or three puffs and that's it, just to wind down at the end of the day.
My diet has been suffering a bit and my sleeping patterns have been off due to stress, but it's nothing that I haven't done in the past.
I also have a history of Alzheimer's in my family, but I'm only 21. So unless it's VERY early onset...

Anyway, I'd really appreciate some help with this. If these memory lapses are due to Yasmin, as much as I love what its done for me up until now, I'll need to change HBC before I start school. I can't imagine how I could deal with class schedules, studying and even just basic learning with my memory being so bad.

Thanks in advance for any responses.