Experiences with YAZ

Updated on May 03, 2009
T.B. asks from Spring, TX
16 answers

Can anyone share their experiences with the birth control Yaz along with timelines as to when your side effects happened.
I am having very mixed emotions on staying on it. I do not need it for birth control but am using it for ovulation pains and mood. But from what I have read things may only get worse. I have gained about 8 lbs in 5 months I have been on it. I do exercise 5 days a week and eat very healthy.
HELP!!! Very confused.

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So What Happened?

Well I have decided to stop taking the Yaz and start on an herbal regime and do a full body cleanse. We shall see what happens. Hopefully I do not turn into a raging maniac. Thanks to all of you for shring you experiences with me. It just amazed me how there were so many different reactions. The most stunning to me were those of you who lost weight. I am glad that YAZ worked for some of you.
Again many thanks to all of you who took time out of your day to help.

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H.P.

answers from Houston on

I tried it for two or three years around age 30. Before that I took something else. I never experienced any "negative" side effects with birth control, and I was on it for about 10-12 years. In fact, I always gained weight when I would take a break from it. I stopped using anything about three years ago.

My doctor initially gave me that because I always wanted to have the lowest hormone dosage. I had a couple of ovarian cysts years ago and for years experienced terrible menstrual cramps. I believe that these prescriptions might have helped.

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K.K.

answers from Killeen on

If you are concerned about your possible reaction to the YAZ you can discuss it with your doctor.

If the only reason you are on the medication is to control your ovulation (which I am not entirely sure you mean by this - that you do ovulate, pain associated with ovulation, there are some many things you can mean when you say that) and you mood swings associated with mestruation, there are other types of medication aside from BC that can help. You can take low dosages of anti-depressants or other mood stabilizers to control the moodswings if they are severe enough, for instance..

But I would seriously tell your doctor you are uncomfortable with the side effects you are experienceing and ask what other options there are including options that are not BC related...

Good Luck... ;-)

1 mom found this helpful
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M.A.

answers from Houston on

My daughter takes Yaz for the same reason as you. It has worked great with no side effects for her. She did try a different med at one point (can't remember name, but would have once-a-year period)but she had terrrible migraines with it. I used Yaz for a few months before my hysterectomy and had no side effects. Everyone is different. There are several other meds to choose from and another may work much better for you. Talk to your doctor.

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L.P.

answers from Austin on

well don't due birth control anymore but just wanted to say check this site out and read the info. I don't know if you are going threw Menopause or just need a stress relief but you can try reading this info on these products it may help it's better to be healthy than to snap i know how that can be just check it out
http://www.shaklee.net/healthydesire/product/82098
http://www.shaklee.net/pws/library/products/20645_brief.pdf

http://www.shaklee.net/healthydesire/product/82097

hope this helps
take care

LaShonda

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B.G.

answers from Austin on

I cannot speak from experience but my girlfriend and our personal trainer were just talking about it last week. Both were saying it was bad news. I don't really know why but they both hated it.

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D.C.

answers from Austin on

T.
I had a terrible time on Yaz. I had more painful periods than before and felt bloated all the time, it also affected my sex drive (lowered). I tried it for four months then happily stopped! Every woman is different and sometimes you have to test drive a few different kinds to find one that doesn't give you all the side affects. I have found Loestrin (one of the more low dose pills) to have very few additional symptoms but not everyone can take or wants to take a lower dose BCP. Good luck!
D.

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K.F.

answers from San Antonio on

i have not been on YAZ, but my friend was, and we finally told her the medication was making her crazy. her normally calm in control demeaner turned to very strong mood swings. at one point we thought she would hurt herself. i am not trying to scare you, but it really did scare us!
as with any medication, discuss thoroughly w/ your doctor and read all the materials. and if you don't like how it works, stop taking it right away and contact your doctor!
good luck

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D.H.

answers from College Station on

I was having a bunch of mood issues, pains, tiredness, sick to my stomach....apparently I started "the change". So I am on hormone replacments. Not the ones getting all the bad press. I would check with your Dr to have blood work done, and see where all your levels are, and go from there. If you don't need birth control, then don't go there. Maybe you just need a lttle homone boost. I am loving life now that I got all that straight. If you think that you are too young for it, well...I'm only 35. My Dr says the preliminary symptoms start anywhere between 35 and 42.

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S.J.

answers from San Antonio on

I've been taking YAZ for a year and a half and have had no serious side effects. It does have a low dose hormone to stabalize your hormones. From what I understand, it actually replaces your natural hormone production with the hormone of YAZ to ensure your body is has the right amount of hormones every month.

I take it for premenopausal symptoms and it's been working for me.

Some of the obvious side effects are low sex drive and light periods.

Talk to your doctor about your symptoms before you stop taking the medication and they will probably give you another one to try. Every person is different and not all medications work the same on everyone. You have to try different one's to see which one works with the chemisty of your body.

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S.B.

answers from Austin on

I too am surprised that you're having problems on Yaz. I've been on it for years both for BC and for ovarian issues and have never experienced side effects, especially weight gain. Its possible your taking Yaz may just be coinciding with something else going on in your body. Have you spoken to your Dr? Perhaps you can have a full spectrum endocrinological battery of tests run? Maybe its your thyroid? Its really amazing how our bodies can be affected by one chemical/hormone being "off". I hope this helps you.

M.B.

answers from Beaumont on

My teenage daughter was put on it briefly for acne and she had alot of side effects also and we took her off. I can not remember exactly what now, but it did not work for her. She is now on a low dose of ortho tricyclene (sp?) and doing fine.

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D.J.

answers from Austin on

I am surprised you have had a problem with Yaz. . . I have been on it for 4 or 5 years and the only "problem" I have had is that my period has become almost extinct . . . My gyno said that as you get older (I am 3 years older than you) and because of the timing of the pill (only 4 days off), this is perfectly normal.

The weight gain is another issue, when I first started, I lost weight and it wasn't until the last 1- 1 1/2 years (1 or 2 years after starting) that I started having to fight the bulge again - which has by the way been a cyclically normal fight for me - every 5 years or so my body size/weight "shifts" for no apparent reason- so the loss might have been a coincidence.

Anyway, you might consider getting a full spectrum blood test to make sure that there isn't some other reason for your "side-effects". You might be that one in however many people who have a potassium problem when on Yaz.

Bottom line, if it doesn't do what you want it to do and you have tried it for a reasonable amount of time (5 months is getting close to reasonable), then talk to your Doc and switch if she/he agrees. . .

Good Luck.

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J.T.

answers from Killeen on

I have been on YAZ for 5 months also. Since being on it I have noticed that my periods are lighter and I don't get severe headaches like I use to. I haven't gained any weight, I have actually lost over 20 pounds. One downside that I have noticed is it has lowered my sex drive.

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S.B.

answers from Houston on

I did not like it. Low sex drive and migrains.

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V.N.

answers from San Antonio on

My daughter used it also for about 6 months. She experienced light bleeding almost every other week, which totally confused her. She danced alot while on it and it was really upseting to always have a period. Asked the doctor to change her to what I had always used (Ortho Novum) and has not had any problems since then. She has now been on Ortho Novum for a year 1/2 with no problems. My co-worker also used YAZ and didn't like the lack of sex drive while she used it. Needless to say now she is having a baby, but says that now after the baby will use something different. Talk to your doctor for a change.Good luck, V.

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B.R.

answers from Longview on

I'm 25, been on Yaz for almost a year, not for the BC part, but for help with menstrual symptoms. No side-effects that I have noticed...periods are much lighter and shorter, almost no cramps, moods are less "swingy", and absoulutely no boob soreness. Before Yaz, I tried Orthotricylen Lo and Seasonique and I experienced side-effects with both. I think you just have to find something that works for you, and Yaz may not be it. Give it a fair shot, and if you don't like it, don't take it. Good luck, I hope this helps!

-B.

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