Yaz and side effects and benefits

[kitlucky]

I was told that Yaz is a new birth control pill.  I am used to 7 days of placebo pills rather than only 4.  Is Yaz's concentration any different from the common birth control pills? Is it like saying just taking longer birth control pills?  What are the side effects?  What are the benefits?  Has FDA approved?  Where i can search more about Yaz?  Will it affect my future plan of having a healthy pregnancy?  Also, i was told if i do want to get pregnant, i should wait 6 months after taking the birth control pills.  is that true?

[syd21cha]

Hi:  Did your symptoms go away?

[LulaB]

I have been on Yaz for exactly 3 weeks today. I have pimples where I never had before and this is why I am reading this forum. I am going to stop taking them. I am scared that when I stop them my face will break out more.
Thank you for sharing your experiences since I learned a lot from them.

[Liliumza]

I have started using Yaz about two years ago and absolutely loved it. I didn't feel like there was a significant decrease in my sex drive, did have some weight gain, but since it seemed to be all in my breasts, I really didn't mind too much (not being well endowed on my own).
My husband and I spend long periods of time apart and since I have read about the possible side affects of birth control, I would go off Yaz whenever we were apart. I have noticed some hair loss every time I go off, but changing hormone levels would explain that and going back on Yaz caused a real renewed hair growth so that didn't worry my too much either.
Last year (July 2013) however after being back on Yaz for 7 weeks I suddenly started experiencing severe trouble breathing. Have suffered from exercise enduced asthma before, I just used an inhaler. Within in 3-4 weeks I went from doing comfortable 10km runs to getting palpitations and being out of breath from walking to the bathroom. I went for a lung test and was told that I am risking my life going anywhere without an inhaler. I am now on the highest possible dosage of 3 different asthma medications and can finally run again, but I still have chest pain every single day.
After reading this forum I have decided to go off Yaz and see if there is any significant improvement.
Along with the asthma I have also experienced mood changes, going from being a very energetic, enthusiastic person to being emotional and teary, tired all the time and having no passion or enthusiasm for anything.
I have constant headaches and unexplained sidepains and of my sex drive, it still occasionally visits.
I am happily married to an amazing man and if it wasn't for that I don't know if I would have been able to deal with any of this.
Will check in again if I experience any changes after discontinuing Yaz.

[mabroad]

I used Estrostep Fe for about 8 years and never had any problems.  When I had to relocate overseas for work I asked my gyno if he could give me any free samples of birth control because I was worried about getting legitimate pills. He didn't have Estrostep, but did have Yaz.  I used it for a month and it seemed OK.  The pharmacies where I lived all stock Yaz so it wasn't a problem to get it and I never thought twice and have been using it for 2 years.  

During those 2 years my sex drive has COMPLETELY diminished.  My fantastic husband has put up with my moody resistance but I began noticing how bizarre it was that I could go almost a month without feeling the need to be with him.  In fact, the ONLY time I really feel drawn towards him was when I'm was on the off week!  

Over the past 8 months sex has become incredibly painful. I visited my regular gyno on a trip back home and he didn't seem concerned and just recommended lube.  That didn't work. Period. What I once found enjoyable turned into some I dreaded and wanted to end.

I am now researching NFP because I am worried to use any of the pills overseas and don't know how to get bulk supplies of Estrostep Fe.

I cannot say this enough: Do NOT use this pill. I can't imagine how devastating this could have been to my marriage if my relationship hadn't been as strong as it is.

Be smart, do your research (which I didn't) and don't always trust that your doc has your best interest in mind. Good luck!

[wajol]

Hello, I see its months later now, just got on this site, so glad, thought i was starting to suffer from depression, now I see its Yaz. We also had the same problem, brownish bleeding after sex.. terrible, i already had such a low libido and then i have to go feel self concious and dirty after, ive stopped for a week now, will see what happens.

[fadyxc]

hm...i think any OCP will have different effect on everyone. first to think is that, your wife age, does she over 35 years old when she took them? if yes, that should not happen. and also does she smoke or have anyone of your family or her colleagues smoking?  still she can be a passive smoker. smoking and age does really matter when it come to the birth control pills

[Scarlettlynne]

I have been on Yaz for about 6 months now and wondered if anyone is experiencing a flat line effect emotionally and lowered sex drive. I had been on two anti-depressants and went off them hoping these emotional feelings would come back but they haven't so I am curious to know if it's the yaz?  Help and info from anyone is appreciated.

[glad2balive950]

I too took Yaz and became very angry and almost lost my family. At the same time I became depressed and tried to kill myself. I have a very wonderful husband of 20 years and 4 beautiful children who would have had to spend the rest of their lives without me. I am greatful for them and my irregular periods.  Research....research....research.....Please think twice before you take any medication.

[notworththerisk]

I just read your post and others after collecting my first prescription for YAS this morning. I have already taken the first pill, but will discard of the rest. Thank you for posting. My husband and two sons need me - much more than I need my period and period pain regulated. Thank you and I am sorry for your wife.

[Moirae]

I just want it to state, for the record, that I took this (%*#^ing) pill for 3 weeks and by the end of it, I was unrecognizable to the people closest to me AND myself!  I'm 31 and I'll admit that I have struggled with depression and anxiety in the past but that was a long time ago.  I've learned how to steer myself away from those dark times and so far, so good!  Enter Yaz.  At first it was this awful taste in my mouth (not metallic which seems to be another side effect I've read about?).  Eventually....I trace the taste to the pill.  I switch up the time I take it (currently not relying it it as my only form of birth control) and the taste follows.  All the while - I am losing my freaking mind.  My dearest friends are telling me they are scared for me!  "Really worried".  Wtf?!  I've never heard these things from them before and at the time, I couldn't hear it.  Thankfully I started to wonder if this pill might have some other negative side effects other than the awful taste and low and behold - it's turning women into crazy people!!!  The first day off of Yaz was shaky (like the 3 weeks I was on the pill) but honestly, by the 2nd day I feel like a a massive weight had been lifted from my shoulders!!!  I'm hesitant to even write this but....I actually had suicidal thoughts.  With ALL the stuff I've dealt with in my life, suddenly, for no reason at all (no major life changes going on) I'm thinking about who will look after my dogs and how my mom will cope when I'm gone?  Terrifying. :(  I just want to let it be known.  I've read that some women have had hugely positive experiences and I would hate for them to not be able to have what they need but holy crap - be aware - if you start taking this and have mood changes that last more than a few days - see a doctor or stop taking it!!!  Best of luck to all of you ladies!  

[JoeBarry]

Hello. Yaz is a good pill to cure hormonal imbalance... But  don't take it longer... the longer to take it the more side effects u will have... i've been using it for 6 months now and i stopped.... i experienced painful breast... and when i had my blood test... my triglycerides rise up to a high level...just for a span of 6 months its goes too high... last year my trigly is 131.7and after 6 months it became 339.6  so alarming... yaz is one factor that can cause bad health...  natural contraceptive is much better than taking any pill... it can also damage ur liver... just an advice...

http://bestpanicattackcure.com/panic-away-review.htm

[reinerffal]

I have been on Yaz for about 9 months straight now.  I was on it for 4 months previously as well but kept breaking out in terrible skin rashes and was switched to another which caused depression issue and severe moodiness.  I recently talked to a Doctor and found out I may be suffering from PMDD in which Yaz was the only Birth Control Pill that allowed me to feel like a normal person throughout the month with the exception of one week of craziness before my period.  Since I started Yaz, while it worked for me mentally, it has made me feel very sick each month, almost everyday.  I come down with colds, have flu-like symptoms, serious muscle pains, terrible migraines, and now I am starting to get heart palpitations with numb arms.  I do not smoke and live a fairly healthy life-style.  I have also developed more severe asthma since I have started Yaz in which it hasn't bothered me much since I was 16 (I am now 24).  Each time I get my period, I suffer from allergy-like symptoms, with a week of severe moodiness before.  Also, I have started to get sores on my tongue and now I have serious jaw pains which have made it hard for me to go to work and live life normally.  I have developed skin rashes and dry patches all over my skin and am afraid I am having serious allergic reactions to the pill.  I have had Cysts on my ovaries in the past even though I am a healthy person.  After reading about the lifelong side-effects of Yaz, I am thinking of switching...

See this information page on the side-effects of Yaz and life-threatening issues:
http://www.yaz-yasmin-lawsuit.com/problems/

[B4Kelsey]

So, what you're saying is that more than hundreds of women who were trying to be responsible about their sex life and decided to go on a birth control as prescribed by their doctor are those who should not be taking the pill even though they are the audience for which it was designed?

Wow, really good addition to the forum where people are trying to share their problems. I'm glad you decided to include yourself in something where you obviously can add nothing of any importance.

[B4Kelsey]

So, what you're saying is that more than hundreds of women who were trying to be responsible about their sex life and decided to go on a birth control as prescribed by their doctor are those who should not be taking the pill even though they are the audience for which it was designed?

Wow, really good addition to the forum where people are trying to share their problems. I'm glad you decided to include yourself in something where you obviously can add nothing of any importance.

[B4Kelsey]

So, what you're saying is that more than hundreds of women who were trying to be responsible about their sex life and decided to go on a birth control as prescribed by their doctor are those who should not be taking the pill even though they are the audience for which it was designed?

Wow, really good addition to the forum where people are trying to share their problems. I'm glad you decided to include yourself in something where you obviously can add nothing of any importance.

[ericawildmutt]

I have taken Yaz for 2 years for PMDD, and it is nothing short of a miracle. I am 45 and am on 3 other meds for mood disorders, which were unable to fix the hormonal cycling of my depression. My adult acne has completely gone. I do not take the pills that are inactive, and I do not have periods; I am a physician and this is a perfectly safe thing to do. I am agonizing now about having to go off the pill; I had a scare this weekend where I thought I had a blood clot in my leg. I sit at a computer 10 hour a day for work, and Beyaz (Yaz with folic acid) has recently been found to have more risk of blood clots than originally thought.

[ericawildmutt]

The Mirena IUD is awesome. Long history of safety in Europe; progesterone in device does not circulate in bloodstream. Stays in for 5 years. I have had NO PERIODS with it in, which is great since I tend to be anemic. I am on my second one, so it is 10 years now. I highly recommend.

[princess60]

I have been on yaz for almost 3 years now. It was all good except for this year and last year. I never gain weight until a year ago. I had periods that lasted 2 weeks . Yaz did help alot until it stopped working for me. I been eating alot, Tired alot, gain weight I went from 80 something pounds to 98.7 pounds. I gained around 12.7 pounds in 2 years.  I am on my 3rd period this month. I been feeling sick and dizzy. I dunno why I am bleeding again for the second time. I had break though bleeding before. I called my doctor and she told me to take three months off so my body can clean it's self and get back to normal . Taking three months off helped alot. When I had the three months off the pill  I felt so much better , I didn't have any of the side effects . I've been having headaches .

[bebe1974]

I am very grateful for the responses on here, especially from the guys - I have been on several hormonal contraceptives in the past under doctors directions for anemia and acne. I have even used the Mirena. If they made me depressed and anxious and someone I don't recognise, then why would any other hormonal contraceptive be any different? I had to use natural progesterone during my last pregnancy to prevent myself from going into labour. Well my boy is 20 months old now and I am just starting to feel like myself again. Hormonal contraceptives and HRT can not only take a while to wear off after you stop using them, they can also have permanent effects on your body, mainly the delicate endocrine system.

Girls, now do your research. Doctors are there to offer advice, and diagnose and give options, but you are in charge of your body and wellbeing. There are non hormonal and even non prescription alternatives to treat acne, heavy bleeding, irregular bleeding and all sorts of things, so long as you know the reason for the problem. There are health supplements and diets and chemical free facial regimens that work and that are simple. For acne I use Nutrogena oil free facial wash, and I dab lime oil on the offending areas (although it is an essential oil, it dries them out and kills the bacteria and doesnt leave the skin oily as it is astringent). I also take a vitamin supplement with zinc, magnesium and B vitamins. For heavy bleeding there are a number of teas (check out a helth food shop or natropath) and even a prescription medication (tranexamic acid) which help. For Irregular periods there are more natropathic options, Vitex for one, and N-Acetyl Cystene (an amino acid) will help people with PCOS or hormonal dysfunctions to regulate periods and help you feel great. Feel you. Speak to a natropath and ask as many questions as you need. It is your body. Check out the net.

As for contraception; well the hassle of using a condom or some non hormonal option is something my husband and I are willing to go through to preserve BOTH OUR SANITY..... because lets face it, it is about the both of you and  in many cases about the children you are raising as well.
We keep the condoms handy, have become quick at putting them on, so it is not an issue at the crucial moment, and we have a variety of types to make it interesting. Besides that, we also have alot of fun without vaginal penetration....and there is more of a mental connection during sex now that artificial hormones are not messing with my head.

I will not be taking Yaz, as prescribed by my gyneacologist and GP. I am sad to say that a couple of my friends are battling depression from the pill, and they don't realise they are different now than before they started it. They also have a false sense of security in the pill as they feel that because the doctor said take it to cure their problems that they must.

Not every solution comes from a prescription....broaden your outlook..

[Bee2192]

Two years ago I decided to go on the pill. My Doctor chose to put me on Yaz and once I got home I went and looked on forums such as this and absolutely freaked out about the comments people posted about the side effects of Yaz. I decided to take my doctors advice however and used Yaz.

Initially, I experienced many side effects; breast tenderness, mood swings etc. However, one must realise, that this will DEFINATELY happen, regardless of which pill you take, just to varying degrees. One cannot expect to use a medication that manipulates your hormones and NOT experience changes in your body, this is what the pill is designed to do, and if you are not prepared to stick out this period while your body ADJUSTS to the effects of having your hormones managed, then the pill is not the right contraceptive for you.

Mood swings were the most obvious side effect for me, however when I was getting pissed off for the most trivial reasons, I was able to recognise they were trivial and then think rationally. If the mood swings did continue for longer than they did, I may have considered changing pills as yaz may have not been right for me, but we must also take into consideration ALL OF OUR BODIES ARE DIFFERENT AND THEREFORE NOT EVERYONE WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME SIDE EFFECTS.

Perhaps my positive experience on yaz can be contributed to me not being a smoker and consuming a reasonably healthy diet, however I am not some miracle being, I rarely intentionally exercise and I do enjoy to wine and dine often. If you already have depression, are overweight, are pre-disposed to mood swings and are generally an emotional person, you cannot expect to be bouncing off the walls with joy on your first few months of any pill, let alone experience weight loss and a general positive outlook on life.

Besides contraceptive reasons, I went on the pill to regulate my period, make it lighter and clear my skin. ALL THESE POSITIVES THAT I NOW ENJOY DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, IT TOOK 3+ MONTHS FOR ME TO SEE RESULTS, YOU MUST BE PATIENT! The pill is no overnight miracle cure for any of these things and to think that they are means you probably haven't researched thoroughly.

The main point of what I have to say is, you can read a million forums about every pill and there will be good and bad things sad, but at the end of the day a pill that works for someone else may not work for you and you have to give it time, communicate with those around you about the changes that may happen so they are understanding, but by all means if things are really serious you should seek medical help.

Everyone should also be aware that every pill has its serious side effects as most make your more predisposed to blood clots, strokes etc. The Pill is just one more thing that can provoke such illnesses and if anything going on the Pill has made me more conscious of maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding smoking etc.

For some, Yaz may have been a **** time and I totally understand that it doesn't work for all, but you shouldn't blow it off or any other pill because of the comments you read, the most sensible thing to do is communicate honestly your symptoms, intentions and lifestyle with your doctor before going on the pill.

[HayleylouiseHamo]

I have been taking Yaz for the past week n I have had a light period for 5 days I was just wondering if this right or should I see a doctor

[Leooo]

I have polycystic ovaries  can I get children after taking yaz ?

[alisha319]

dose YAZ helps in reduceing pimples?

[mommyof2sw]

Hi! My name is steph. I am on the yaz pill. And its going on 4 months and i have severe cramping, nausea, lower back pain, hot flashes, bloatiness, and gassiness. The doctors tell me its constipation. I know its not constipation because i know what that feels like. I never had these problems until i started taking the birth control pill yaz. I would not recomend this pill at all to anyone. Anybody else have these problems being on this pill????