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!

[prosperityforall]

I have an appointment today with my Gyno, I wish that I had gone off this pill a while ago.  I first started taking Yaz at the recommendation of my dermatologist about 2 1/2 years ago.  Which as a side-note, if anything my acne has gotten worse.  

For the man who posted a comment regarding 'sad hubby', I can imagine how you feel.  My husband too has been the recipient of my severe mood swings, which I can only attribute to this pill.  I several times have mentioned to him that I think I need to see a psychiatrist because I can't figure out why I'm so sad.  I will pick fights with him sometimes for no reason.  I'll sit and cry for several hours for no reason.  For the longest time I thought maybe I needed to be put on anti-anxiety/mood disorder pills.  Thankfully I haven't gone that route.  But I will say that my mood changes in an instant and I am allover the place.  I can sit and just cry for long periods for no reason at all.  I 100% attribute Yaz to this.

I have also experienced the severe headaches that apply pressure behind the eyeballs.  I will sit and rub my eyes to try to make it go away.  I'll take like 12 Advil or Bayer Aspirin a day and most of the time it doesn't help.  A lot of times I would drink to try to mitigate the pain.  For anyone that has experienced eyeball headaches you know what I'm talking about.  The pain is soo severe you can't do anything.  Maybe the Bayer intended this and put it on the market to help sell Bayer Aspirin pain medication.  As it is, I've built up a resistence to Advil and have had to switch pain medicines.  I have taken advil/aspirin for ~ 2 years now, every day.  That can't be good.

I am also angry with the dermatologist that originally recommended this 'super' drug, since I'm sure she got a nice kickback for the presciption she filled.

When I started taking it, my periods were very irregular and I was told it would just take a little time to adjust.  As I started taking it, I noticed that I lost a lot of weight and then I gained a lot of weight.  It just seemed to fluctuate quite a bit.  I didn't realize how much my weight fluctuated until I saw my gyno last May and I was down to 105lbs.  The year before I weighed in at 135lbs.  My period was very irregular.  I also noticed that my skin wasn't clearing up and that I had a vein towards the bottom of my ankle that seemed to really stick out and looked extremely disturbing.  When I asked my gyno about it, she said a lot of women get that and it's nothing to be alarmed about and definitely wasn't life threatening.  But it did cause me a lot of pain and often my leg would stiffen up there and I would have to stay still for a while, it was like the blood was getting cut off.

It's not been ~ 2 1/2 years that I've been taking it, and I've noticed that my side effects have gotten considerably worse.  I haven't really been able to exercise because of the vein issue.  

I am concerned about the future and what side-effects still linger because I've been taking this drug for so long.  I am very angry that this drugs side-effects were covered up and promoted by doctors who should've known better but were getting a kickback dispensing it as a pre-scription.  

What are my options?

[kritee]

It's crazy that I stumbled upon this page. I have had a lot of unanswered questions that are now very clear! I just moved in with my boyfriend and I have been very sad. I have been very depressed and anxious and I can't stop crying. I want to go home so bad but I can't figure out why. My sex drive went from a 10 to a 0. My acne that was supposed to be cleared up has done nothing but get worse. Thank you all for your 2 cents on this horriffic BC and giving me answers to my depressing problems!

[Rehamattya]

OH my god. I thought i was going crazy till i found this web site. I GUESS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. I am 23 years old. Last year was my first time going on Birth Contro. Before yaz i used to go though massive pain from my cramps that i actually ended up in the ER a couple of times. So yaz helped me get though the pain. But I have noticed something odd. During the whole year i was on yaz i honestly had no sexdrive. I didn't have a bf and actually didn't care. I never noticed that difference till i ran out of yaz and had to go without it last month and i noticed my sexdrive was changing for the better but i started having acne and bad cramps from my period cycle... I didn't think much of my sexdrive though over all.. Till just 2 weeks ago I became less interested again. And just last night i thought maybe it is yaz. So I don't know what to do. I have been seeing someone and during last month we were doing great but over the past two weeks i have been more distant from him and not interested what so ever. I am become ruder to him and finding excuses not to pursue him intimately.  

[H2Ogot_a_flow]

im 15, my doctor prescribed yaz to me (for unregulated periods and PMDD) and i am about to start my first pack. ive read over the site, and googled the side effects and other women's experiences with the pill, im so scared! is there anyone who started taking this at my age? how far into taking yaz did you start having side effect? did it work at first? my mom wont let me not take them, i dont know what to do!

[chevyjax]

I have been on Yaz for just over 1 yr. It has helped me a lot with my PMDD and my periods are not nearly as heavy and the cramps are not as bad. I also do not get the lower back pain or as much acme as I use to. The problem is I am not able to loose weight to save my live and I have not had a sex drive at all since I started on the Yaz. I have been hearing a lot about the negative side effects and am not sure if I should get off it or not. I have had a pain in my side now for about 6 months, and I don't know if I should be worried about it or not.

[Anne2327]

I have just finished my first cycle on Yaz and it will be the last! I have been on birth control pills for almost 10 yrs and recently switched due to my doctor's suggestion, even though I was wary. It has been a slow deterioration, mood-wise since I've started this new pill. Severe depression out of the blue, anxiety to the point of wanting to call an ambulance and go to the hospital in the middle of the night!!!! HORRIBLE. I'm going back to Marvelon asap, worked wonders for me for years and should never have switched, great for acne, etc. Not to scare anyone, but ladies be careful, and pay attention to your bodies/moods. You'll know pretty quick if something is going to work for you or not. Don't believe in this wait for 3 months business. Any pill you take should be a slow positive progression, or else get off of it. Best of Luck everyone

[jean867]

I have been on Yaz for more than a year i have alreadly had a storke my vision went bad and it caused me to had gallbladder stone which got removed last week. I Feel that they should stop wiht the Yaz birth contorl. My sex life went upside down after i got on the pills. i had to ask my Dr. why couldnt i get wet anymore during intercorse. My boyfriend dosent really mind but i do. It is really tearing my relationship apart because it makes me so moody and most of the time i dont feel like doing want he want. SO LADY HOW WONT TO TRY YAZ THINK TWICE. something i wished i did.

[kulik]

Hello All,
My daughter is 18 years old and on YAZ for almost a year.  She just called me up to tell me that all of a sudden her right arm felt like it was falling asleep (she was studying at the time, nothing unusual) and she could not control the arm or lift it up. She could not grip a pencil for about 10 minutes, and her hand was shaking.  No other symptoms.  I have no idea, but am wondering if by some awful chance this could be a blood clot?  any thoughts?  Thank you so very much.

[laprincesa81]

I have been on Yaz for one week.  I was very excited to take it because of my acne problems.  My OB suggested that I take it for three months, but I'm already feeling the affects! My mind is constantly racing, I have bad anxiety, I feel extremely tired all of the time, and I've been crying out of nowhere.  I thought I was losing my mind, and I've been trying to figure out if this is just regular depression/anxiety of side effects from YAZ.  I have a strong inclination its from YAZ.  I appreciate everybody's posts, since I have been majorly doubting myself.