Get Informed: YAZ
Active Ingredient(s)
Drospirenone with Ethinylestradiol
What does it do?
This product is used primarily for oral contraception. It contains the progestin drospirenone and the estrogen ethinylestradiol.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-14 2:35 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-13 9:01 PM
Other Names
- YAZ
- Yasmin
- Yasmin 28
- Ocella
- Drospirenone with Ethinylestradiol
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- X
Black Box Warning
This product has a black box warning relating to the increased risk of cardiovascular events in women who also smoke.
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 11 May 2001
- Est US Patients*
- 1,949,000
- Generic Available
- No
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking YAZ or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
YAZ Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how YAZ interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is YAZ used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 12,900 patients that use YAZ (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Control | 72% | 
|
| Irregular/Painful Periods | 39% |
|
| Acne | 28% | 
|
| Premenstrual Syndrome | 15% | 
|
| Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome | 11% |
|
| Migraine/Headache | 7% |
|
| Other | 2% | 
|
How well does YAZ work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 12,900 users taking YAZ (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 91%
- of patients are confident that the good things about YAZ outweigh the bad things.
- 15%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking YAZ.
Common Side Effects of YAZ
iGuard regularly polls our more than 12,900 users taking YAZ (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
29% of patients experience side-effects on YAZ
2% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on YAZ
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Weight Gain
-
Headache
-
Irregular/Heavy Periods
-
Bloating/Gas
-
Mood/Behavior Changes
-
Abdo Pain/Cramps
-
Loss of Libido
-
Diarrhea
-
Nausea/Vomiting
-
Breakthrough Bleeding
-
Increased Appetite
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for YAZ (Drospirenone with Ethinylestradiol) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I used to suffer big time on acne. I tried everything I could possibly get my hands on products that could clear up my acne, but nothing helped until I tried Yaz. Since I started taking Yaz, my pimples completely cleared up. I've been on Yaz for about 5 years now and my face is still clear of acne until now. If I discontinue taking Yaz, my acne will probably come back again.
42 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-24 07:47:38
Question/Comment:
Yaz ruined me. Made me gain 25 pounds in one month and have milk in my breasts causing me to think i'm pregnant and I wasn't! I never was able to get the 25 pounds off it just made my bladder badly and urinate more frequently. I tried ortho-tri-cyclen low and it never made me gain weight, but this stuff is hell. STAY AWAY.
25 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-12-14 20:36:23
Question/Comment:
I have been taking yaz for about 4 months and this is the first time ever that my period has been like clock work, it has also helped my pmdd. however i am getting some strange pains in my head that I have never experienced before, in the lower part of the back of my head on each side. I havent been too concerned due to the fact that I am almost 30 and am realizing things change I have never had allergies until recently. so is anyone else feeling what I am feeling or is it something as simple as sinus problems?
29 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-12-04 10:21:10
iGuard Answer/Reply:
About 10% of patients reported headaches while taking Yaz. If the headaches continue or worsen, it is important to contact your physician. While Yaz is possibly causing the headaches, you need to make sure there is not another underlying cause,
Posted: 2009-12-05 01:10:24
Question/Comment:
My daughter took Yasmin for almost exactly one year. Five weeks before her 19th birthday she suffered a massive brain stem stroke. A large clot formed in her leg and traveled through her heart and into her brain. Doctors determined her only risk factor was the Yasmin. She had just finished her freshman year at college and was home for the summer. She survived and today is an advocate for the American Heart Association asking women to listen to their bodies. If you are suffering side effects, make sure your doctor listens to you and consider changing your prescription. Her message applies to all medications - not just bc.
51 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-08 18:58:18
Answer/Reply:
I been taking yaz for about 3years. I never had any problems. But recently i been reading online about serious side effects from it that are all coming out in the news. One that concern me was gallbladder disease. I had to get my gallbladder taken out last year. But i had a family history of it. I was just wondering if anyone else had the same problem.
26 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-14 21:55:57
Answer/Reply:
I am 37 years old and have been diagnosed with Cushing's Disease (a problem of the Pituitary resulting in overproduction of Cortisol). I had part of my Pituitary removed in 2005 and was in remission until reoccurence this year (2009). I had a small heart attack the end of April 2009 and 2 weeks later at my OB was told to discontinue my YAZ. All tests done by my Cardiologist concluded I had a healthy heart asde from having a PFO (congenital whole in my heart). There is @ 40% of the population walking around with PFOs perfectly fine. He, however, does not feel the PFO is responsible for the heart attack and Cushing's does not have symptoms related to heart problems. I recently saw commercials warning against YAZ because of possible clotting, heart attacks, embolisms, etc. Should go to the lawyers filing these class action suits against YAZ?
38 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-24 15:05:38
Answer/Reply:
Definately GO TO THE LAWYERS if anything, you'll be helping others from risking their own lives. And Don't feel guilty about it. Yaz has only been around for a few years and the doctors sometimes don't tell you everything you need to know, and sometimes they don't even know what can go wrong. I think it's a good Idea to talk to someone about this and see what your rights are.
31 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-11-05 13:31:56
Answer/Reply:
They are just now coming out with a Lawsuit for people that were on or are still taking yaz that have had strokes, gall bladder problems and other things gone wrong. It's been on TV commercials. Not sure if you've seen it yet, but if not, I would definately check into it.
31 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-11-05 13:28:05
Question/Comment:
I've been on Yaz for almost a year now and it's been good for me. I took it because I had severe mood swings right before my period (PMDD) and this worked wonders on that!
A big plus is that my periods are lighter (a lot lighter. Barely any bleeding!) and shorter (two days) and of course it's a very effective birth control method. I still have minimal cramps the first day of my period (nothing a little Advil can't handle) and my acne hasn't gone away but I think that's mainly due to it being caused by another medication I'm on.
I've suffered no side effects-- no nausea, dizziness, bleeding between periods, etc, and it has certainly not affected my sex drive adversely like a few women who've posted on here have stated. I only have positive things to say about Yaz. I'm not switching to another birth control.
Yaz works differently on different people so what I experience may not be what you will experience if you start this drug.
22 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-17 15:47:32
Answer/Reply:
I'm switching from Yaz to another birth control pill next month. At first Yaz seemed to be helping me but now I am starting to get tired of spotting every month for a week only to have a few days break then another 4-5 day period. I have also noticed that it does lower my desire to have sex. I was off for 2 months because I was just broke and couldn't afford it and there was a major difference. Now I am seeing Brian Loncar(?) the lawyer talking on tv commercials about the class action lawsuit they are bringing against Yaz and Yasmin. I'd rather be safe than sorry. Good luck to all you Yaz users, I hope you all never encounter any major complications.
31 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-18 20:51:14
Answer/Reply:
I too have almost non existant bleeding during my cycle and it is only about 2-3 days long. Doctor said it was normal. It was just very strange at first and after a few months of freaking out that I was pregnant, I learned that it was ok....So rest assured that short and light is ok : )
26 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-12-18 13:36:49
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
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Patient Comments about
YAZ