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:
- 2009-Nov-20 7:16 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:52 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*
- 2,005,000
- 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.
Recent alerts for YAZ
There have been no alerts regarding YAZ during the past year.
YAZ Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is YAZ used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 11,700 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 | 76% | 
|
| Irregular / Painful Periods | 43% | 
|
| Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder | 6% |
|
| Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome | 2% |
|
| Acne | 2% |
|
| Endometriosis | 2% |
|
| Migraine / Headache | 2% |
|
| Other | 12% |
|
How well does YAZ work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 11,700 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)
- 81%
- of patients are confident that the good things about YAZ outweigh the bad things.
- 10%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking YAZ.
Common Side Effects of YAZ
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 11,700 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.
31% of patients experience side-effects on YAZ
< 1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on YAZ
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Nausea/Vomiting
-
Breakthrough Bleeding
-
Skin/Nail Problems
-
Dizziness
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Abdominal Pain, Acne, Heartburn/Reflux, Swelling/Edema
Global Patient Feedback for YAZ (Drospirenone with Ethinylestradiol) ( Post a comment )
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.
50 year old Female
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
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?
37 year old Female
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
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
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
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
Posted: 2009-08-18 20:51:14
Question/Comment:
I think most of the birth control pill known to be causing no sex drive problem. I am on Solia for 7 years and my sex drive dropped down hill. I felt bad for my husband and myself and I know sex is a part of our marriage. I have not having sex for over a year, is that normal? We are in the 40s. I know the big problem is from my birth control pill and now I just found out from CT scan that I also have a 2cm cyst in my ovalry which causing me discomfort and pain. The doctor saying that normally it will fo away on its own since I am on Birth Control pill. I don't know if I should change the pill or quit it entirely. We do not want kids and the main reason I am taking b/c pill beside don't want to have kids is to make my period comes regularly. Any advices would be greatly appreciated. Thank you..
www.becaregiver.com
43 year old Female
Posted: 2009-04-15 14:24:59
Answer/Reply:
Have to talked to your doctor about this? It could be that you are nearing menopause. You should really talk to your doctor though.
31 year old Female
Posted: 2009-04-20 13:58:48
Answer/Reply:
I don't have an answer for your lack of sex drive, but I do have a concern in regards to your cyst. I'm not a Dr, but I too have a similar health condition. Your Dr said that you have a cyst which causes you discomfort per a CT scan. I would look into that further to make sure that you don't actually have endometriosis. It looks like a cyst, but can only be properly diagnosed via a (don't know how to spell this word, but I'll try) a laporoscopy. Where they go in and look at the cyst with a camera. I have an endometiosis spot on my uterus, and it is painful or discomforting as well. The pain it self causes me not to really want to be sexually active, because I know I'll hurt afterwards or during. Anyways, I just thought I'd let you know this. i hope all goes well with you! Good luck.
32 year old Female
Posted: 2009-04-20 14:06:17
Answer/Reply:
Did you say that because you are on birth control, you have no sex drive? And the cyst? Please explain.
34 year old Female
Posted: 2009-04-21 19:49:46
Answer/Reply:
Not to be rude, but please post your question on a message board for your medication, Solia. It will help you get a more accurate answer from fellow Solia users. Also, please don't get yourself worked up over what could be nothing... Cysts on the ovaries are not that uncommon and usually easily removable. My mother had one on her ovary while she was pregnant with me (back in 1981) and it was easily removed while pregnant. As for your sex drive, try discussing this problem with the doctor that prescribes your birth control. Another medication could be worth a try.
27 year old Female
Posted: 2009-04-21 20:34:31
Answer/Reply:
Try an IUD - Mirena. Lightens your periods (some people don't even have them any more) and you leave it in place for 5 years. You still go have annual check ups, but life is much easier when you don't have to remember to take the pill daily.
42 year old Female
Posted: 2009-04-22 15:28:59
Answer/Reply:
i would definately talk to several doctors and get several opinions. I would consider stop taking the pill and get a form of perminate birth control since you don't want anymore kids. It is very convient and doesn't effect Our hormones. My suggestion is to have your husband look into him being the one to have a perminate , since it is Much easier for men than women and the cost is alot less. Hope this helps..
43 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-27 12:43:45
Question/Comment:
i had been on another BC pill (loestrin) but that made my BP go through the roof. since being on yaz i have not had any problems with my BP. Also all the horrible pains one suffers during their period has gone away. would totally reccomend.
21 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-17 19:12:13
Question/Comment:
I have been on YAZ for 1 year. I love it but ever other month or so I get no period & rush out to buy a P.test. I just have to make sure before I start the next set of pills. no cramps, no mood swings,I sleep great,no break thru bleeding.By far the best pill out there.
39 year old Male
Posted: 2009-03-11 13:34:47
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27
Patient Comments about
YAZ