Yaz and side effects and benefits

[3dogs3kids]

I have been on Yaz for over a year. I am 40 yrs. old and suffered from terrible anger issues right before my periods, and had terrible acne issues. My Dr. put me on Yaz and it all went away, the mood swings, the acne, my skin is perfect! But I have gained at least 15 lbs, and I work out all the time, cannot lose even a pound! I am way hungrier and have zero sex drive!
I also no longer get my periods, at all.
I love that I no longer have the anger issues, etc....but am scared of all the warnings and hate having no sex drive and gaining the weight. I think I will toss it, and try another form.

Any ideas from anyone with similar experience????
A

[des24]

I too have been on yaz for a few years and haven't had a period in over a year. I have no sex drive either and same way with the weight gain... I do a lot of running and walking and not a pound is shedding....have you had any news on what to change too?

[etri4257]

I am so glad I found this site!  I have been on YAZ for one month and the past 2 weeks have been riddled with horrible mood swings, depression, anxiety, insomnia and constant eating.  I thought I was going crazy all of a sudden!  Not good for a mom of a two year old and a two month old.  I am calling my provider first thing in the morning and getting off this pill.  

[Phoenix660]

The other day, my OB/GYN doctor prescribed YAZ to treat my terrible monthly cramps and PMDD.  She even gave me a free sample of a month's worth.  I have read several horrifying stories of the side effects associated with this medication.  I as scared as heck to take this pill.  I don't want to gain weight and suffer from blood clots, stroke, or worse.  I am very seriously thinking about asking her if there is another form of birth control to take that doesn't have as many harmful side effects.    

[brittch]

I am in the same situation, only I have been on this for a little over a week. I wanted to start it because of my terrible PMS symptoms & irregular periods. Since I have been on Yaz, I have been nauxious, feeling depressed/anxiety, overly tired, and have been breaking out like I never have before. I thought it was just me, but now that I have been doing some more research, I am so glad to have found that I am not the only one.
I would like to know if any of you have found a better form of birth control? I am nervous to be trying all different kinds and sending my hormones through a roller coaster...it's just not a healthy thing to do.

[Sarsquirrel]

Hey guys, I just wanted to kind of update everyone who might be interested...

I quit the Yaz in late August, so I've been off just a little over a month now, and I feel SO much better.  I'm only now starting to feel more motivated, and my first cycle post pill was twelve days late, but I figured that was something I had to expect anyway.  My headaches have mostly gone away, and I'm not nearly as tired anymore....I'm still not 100% back to normal, but I think, given more time, things will definitely improve.

I also made a point of getting checked out at the doctor; everything seemed normal, so it looks like I won't be dropping dead anytime soon.  Thanks, Yaz!

By the way...for those of you who are interested in a natural method of birth control, you may want to give the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility a try.  It's a little complicated, but I've heard good things about it, AND it doesn't involve feeding your body extra hormones....

Anyway, good luck everyone, and hang in there!

[purplegirl33]

i've read in a couple of the posts that yaz stops your period?

i'm on yaz right now and i havent had any of the side effects which im thankful for but i havent started my period yet this month and i shouldve and ive been kinda worried that even though im on birth control that i might be pregnant...but  you said yaz stops your period right?

[NikkiO007]

I also was on YAZ for 2 years and have been experiencing the same things, weight gain and inability to loose even one pound, mood swings, hungry all the time, severe headaches, loss of period.  I just went off about a month ago and have been feeling so much better! I got my period again (late) and I have actually been loosing weight!  I haven't found another form of birth control yet, I have a dr appt and was going to ask for advice then.  Keep you all posted.

[Satine5505]

I am so glad I have started reading up on this birth control. I also started yaz due to my pms and was excited to here about this pill. Now to be honest I have not put two and two together until now. I have been on yaz for like 3-4 years off and on and to me it never helped with my pms. I have been on it now for 2 years straight and my mood has worsen... depression.... i have gained almost 50 lbs in two years can't lose any of it. My vision went from being able to see with out my glasses to now not even being able to see my bf sitting right next to me with out them. I'm 23 and have almost no sex drive which let me tell you is inconvient at my age or any age. I just feel like now i have all i need to finally quit these pills. My bf and i talked about it and we're going back to traditional contreceptives. I'm thankful for everyone who has posted their expierances about this pill i don't feel so alone anymore.

[mirichan]

EEP!
I just started the pill a few hours ago today and I'm going to quit now. Nothing happened but I'm scared ******** of all these horror stories!
Has ANYONE had a good experience with yaz?!??

[beebs679]

I have been on YAZ for sometime now.  Originally when I started taking YAZ it worked great for me, however recently I have been experiencing so many side effects life started to seem so humdrum.  Out of no where I became severely depressed, which was odd because I had nothing in life to be upset about.  I also experience severe anxiety and stress as well as severe anger, again I had nothing in life that could be contributing to this.  However, every little thing seemed to send me off into a downward spiral.  There were countless days that I just sat and cried, I had no idea why I was even crying.  I also noticed a disturbance in my sleep patterns.  For the past two months I have not slept an entire night.  I would sit and think about why I was so depressed, but could find no reason which inturn made me even more depressed.  I went on a two day retreat and had forgotten to take my YAZ with me.  Those two days I slept full nights and experienced no stress, anxiety or depression.  The day I came home and took my pills it all returned.  

[brittmc77]

I'm into my second month on YAZ and am having a real issue. I read through a bunch of the posts, but didn't see anything like what I'm experiencing. Aside from the nausea and constant dizziness I've been having horrible pressure behind my eyes. My husband says I "press and rub" my eyes all the time. Everything seems fuzzy for some reason. Also I have gained 8 lbs in 6 weeks. This is coming from someone who was on extra carbs 6 months ago to gain for my workout routine. And besides that, I have been on a very rigorous exercise routine for 3 years and haven't had the motivation to go for about 2 weeks. I feel very very strange. Thanks for all of your posts!!! I thought I was going crazy!! Last night will be my last pill since I don't need it for birth control just period control!

[Jes82]

I have been on Yaz for about a month, my doc put me on it for my terrible periods that i have. I have been having the worse migraines ever and have been going to physical therapy for them but the more i read of these side effects i think that the Yaz might be causing them. I dont have the weight gain or the mood swings but i have had the feeling of what restless leg syndrome mostly at night but some during the day! Are these some "side effects" that has happened to anyone else? i think i will just take myself of of them until my appt with my GYN in Dec and just bare the horrible periods because i cannot live like this anymore, its starting to effect my life very much!!!

[lissa6969]

Hi gals,
           I have been on Yaz for almost 6 months now and my symptoms are wanting to cry every 5 minutes of the day,i am also 14 days late for my period i am not pregnant took a test and came back negative,headaches and nausea so needless to say i'm going to see a doctor and getting off this stupid thing!

[ohp4696]

I have been to numerous sites to get some information about not only Yaz, but other types of birth controls. It seems to me that everyone's body reacts differently.  For example, I have been on Ortho-Tricyclen Lo (one year), Loestrin 24 Fe (3 months), and I am currently taking Yaz.  I thought I was crazy and hormonal with the first two, but I am doing fine on Yaz.  My gynecologist said that every female has problems due to body types varying, but that even she had to switch 6 times before she found one that worked.  One birth control may work or not work for another person regardless if you have heard good or bad things about it.  Most of the posts I have read from this website has indicated negative side effects from Yaz, but I am thankful I am doing well on it.  If it doesn't have positive side effects, then request to be switched to something else.  One thing I have made note for each birth control I have been on is documenting my side effects while on the pill, but after being off of it, I also documented my PMS/PMDD symptoms.  I have a serious case of PMDD and that is why my gyno recommended Yaz.  I didn't mention my PMDD to her in the first place, because I thought all birth control helped to control it.  Just be in tune of your symptoms and side effects to share with the gyno--this will ensure a better idea of eliminating certain hormones and in hopes of finding the right one for you.  Keep in mind that if you're constantly switching, you're also messing with your body's hormones because it hasn't really been able to adapt to one constant use of a birth control (especially if you didn't use it for the recommended 3 months).  Just remember to be patient and that it does take more than 3 months for a birth control to regulate your body's hormones.  Don't be discouraged--you'll eventually find one that works.  I just felt that I needed to post this so that other people would see that Yaz does work--it just may not work for everyone.  Good luck!

[ash122034]

I have a love/hate relationship being on Yaz. I love that it cleared up my skin, stopped my horrible PMS symptoms, and that my mood seems to be normal all the time. The negative side effects were definitely the weight gain, I get some pretty bad headaches every once in a while and sometimes I feel nauseous. The worst side effect was learning that the Yaz was the cause of my Vulvodynia. What is the point of birth control if sex is too painful to bear? I would recommend Yaz to anyone but if you start having a horrible burning sensation during sex, know that Yaz is probably your cause.

[team77]

Please look at my post under Team77 under the 0-200 posts from June 2008.  Yaz is terrible and now we finally have lawsuits against Bayer.  I did everything Yasminsurvivor told me to do, plus worked with a integrative medicine MD and now have found a supplement that has given me my life back from Yaz.  THank God for giving me the things I need to heal my body from Yaz.  

I have posted several times over the past year and a half and have counciled many women on how to heal after Yaz.  I am here for any of you that would like to know my journey and how God finally healed my body from anxiety, heart palpitations, and lymphadema.  All from taking Yaz for only 6 weeks!  Many women do not have problems until after taking it for about a year.  The problems are so suddle they don't realize them before it is too late.  There are so many other options out there.. get off of Yaz NOW!  

If you feel you have not recovered from the horrible things Yaz does to your body (no energy, anxiety, depression, pain, etc) please email me and I can give you all the things that worked for me!  
Here's to your health!  Take it back from YAZ!!!!!!!!!!!
Windy

[bwine292]

I have been on Yaz for 3 years.  I am almost 18 now.  I started using Yaz to minimize the pains I was having from my periods.  It worked fine to start and it seemed like everything was great, about 3 months after I started using Yaz I started getting a burning feeling every time I would have sex, I thought it was a type of STD from my boyfriend so I went to my doctor and had test ran and he said the only thing he could think it would be is because I was too young to be having sex or that I had a tender spot.  I was having sex before this and had no problem.  After reading over some information about Yaz I see how come I have the pains.  I also started getting really bad stomach pains when I would eat, I had acid reflex before all this so my doctor just thought it was Acid Reflex, but then my pills stopped working and we couldnt find any pill that would work.  My doctor sent me to a gastroenteritis, and after doing many test i found out my gallbladder was spasming when ever i would eat (aka my gallbladder wasnt functioning).  On January 5 2009, at the age of 16 I had my gallbladder removed, my doctor said this was very odd for someone my age to have it removed.  I have to also agree with everyone else, I am almost 18 and I am not interested in sex anymore.

My opinion to anyone thinking about using Yaz, pick a different product or just have safe sex a different way because Yaz is not worth it.

[Debbie619]

I am so glad I found this web site also. I have been watching the TV ads about the side effects of this medication and it really scares me. I have been on YAZ about a little over 2 yrs. I have horrible Migraine Headaches. Insomnia. Weight gain and no sex drive at all which is very dissapointing to my husband of 17 yrs. I feel tired all the time, moody. I have no desire to do anything. I started the pill for PMS, but I think it has made me worse. I have no motivation to do things with the family or play with my kids, which they complain I never want to play with them like I used to. This medication has changed my life in the wrong direction. I wish more people could learn about these side effects along with the ones on the TV.  I am glad to know that it was not just me, but other people feel this way. I am not going to take this pill any longer.
Deborah.

[panda35]

I have been taken Yaz for about 4 month, everything seem to be going good, until I skipped two days, I read what to do and I did what the package told me.  I have had a period everyday sense that day.  I tired to stop the package and start a new when wihich seem to make it worst.  I feel like I am so tired, don't really feel like doing anything.  I thought it was just my job wearing me down but I guess it is the pill.  I am going to see my doctor and find out what other method of pills they have for me to try.  

[hotpinkzombie]

I personally, at age 22 have had absolutely no problems with Yaz since the first week I started, just a little overly emotional, a little anxious, aside from the craziness, as my live in boyfriend was calling it haha..

my breasts have gotten huge in the past 2 months of being on it. My only downfall is my face was a little broken out during the 1st month, I recently just ended my menstrual cycle and my face has cleared up decently..

As far as my sex-drive, I have a few friends whom were having the same problem and I believe I created it a little for myself, but I ended up pushing my way through it and the sex turned out great.. Ever, since then I've had no problems in that department..

I think it depends on your body.. This pill is apparently different with everyone.. Good Luck! Let it build up in your system, before you decide to kick it to the crib!

<3

[floridalady]

I was taking Yaz about two years ago now and will never take another birth control pill ever again.  The problems didn't start until about two months into taking it.  It started off with a strange feeling of pressure followed by a headache every day for about a  month.  My doctor had no idea what it was and actually treated me for a sinus infection.  It was all downhill from there.  The pressure in my head soon gave way to a night of chest pain, waking every 15 minutes because I had stopped breathing, and being covered in sweat.  Again my doctor found nothing and treated me like I was nuts.  A week later I was in the hospital because the right side of my face had developed a droop and that night I had a "headache" that made me break out in a cold sweat and loose consciousness twice.  I have never experienced such pain in my life and as soon as I stopped taking the Yaz all my symptoms stopped.

[miller14]

I was on the third day of my second pack of Yaz.  I had been feeling anxious, headachey and sleepy and my vision went blurry but did not think much of it until the other day when my son and I got out of the vehicle to get the mail I suddenly had a head rush and my vision doubled.  My son had to go knock on the neighbors door to get me help.  She called the ambulance because she thought I was having a stroke.  About 10-15 minutes later, my vision began to slowly correct itself.  The paramedics took all my vitals and said I had a TIA (mini stroke).  I was pretty shook up and could not figure out what caused this.  After discussions with family, the only thing I had done different recently was startt this new BC pill.  Once reading the side effects I put it all together.  One of the more severe side effects was sudden complete or incomplete loss of vision or doubled vision.  Needless to say, the doc will never prescribe me a BC pill again...who would have thought a BC pill would be so scary!

[SadHubby]

I haven't seen anyone address how it effects marriages...It's making it tough for me to deal with as a husband because my wife has horrible mood swings and will find any little detail to get angry about. Its having an affect on me because it puts me always on the defensive with her and I end up yelling at her too! I don't want it anymore.

[alybrensmom]

I am half way through my second pack of sample Yaz that my obgyn prescribed me for my severe pmdd. This is the first time I have ever taken the pill in my life and I am pushing 40. I just wanted something to help me cope with the severe mood swings. I have experienced some of the same symptoms that you ladies have and then some!! Most recently I went to the Dr. for pain I was having under my rib cage and into my upper back. I was also complaining about lower back pain. After a urine sample I was diagnosed with a severe UTI and given Cipro for a week. It's been at least 20 or more years since I've had a UTI. He never discussed the rib cage problems or upper back pain further. Has anyone else experienced this with Yaz. I am totally done taking it....never again.

[Megster83]

Hi all,
I have been on Yaz for about 2 and a half years now and I have been experiencing a lot of the same symptoms that some of you are posting out there.  I feel that these symptoms slowly started coming about at the beginning of this year.  I have been feeling more anxious lately where anything can set me off into a crying frenzy.  I feel that my relationship with my boyfriend is becoming strained because of this.  I have put on a lot of weight that I have never put on before and I exercise and eat right on a regular basis and I am never losing a pound.  I have been getting more frequent headaches and I am not sure if this has something to do with Yaz.  I do not know if it is weird that I did not start really experiencing these symptoms until almost two years on this birth control but I feel I need to try something else....any suggestions!?? Thanks to everyone for putting their experiences out there!