Yaz and fatigue

I was on YAZ for about 4 months. And like all medications, i gave it time. In the beginning i experienced a lot of nausea, fatigue, headaches, and severe diarrhea. And instead of clearing my skin, it made my skin absolutely terrible. i stuck it out in hopes that my body would change, and begin to get use to the hormone but it didn't. I have been having GI issues August, have been through a Colonoscopy, and everything came back normal. Ever since stopping this pill, my body has felt so much better overall, but the GI issues are still there which concerns me greatly. Has anyone else ever experienced this? My bowel movements have changed completely, and all of the specialist i have seen, say that the pill wouldn't do this. I do not believe it. I believe that the pill has messed up my GI tract so much, that i can't have a normal bowel movement. I honestly do not recommended this pill to anyone. I am 18, and to be experiencing what i am especially going to school, is so not fun. Could YAZ have been the cause of all of this?

I thought i was losing my mind, i started YAZ 22 days ago and since i started severe fatigue & no sex drive., My skin also has started to break out plus i have on & off cramps. I have to find another BCP!!

I was on Yaz for about 2 years or so. I decided to take a break from it and then decided to look up the side effects. I found this site and another one like it. I can't believe I didn't know all the problems I was having could be from this pill.
After reading about all the side effects I decided to get off it completely.
At first when I was on it, I was great. My major adult acne FINALLY went away. No other B.C. pill worked for that. My moods right before my period were so much better.
I had been depressed a lot and this pill seemed to help a great deal.

Then about a year into the pill, I developed major food allergies. I figured out I can't eat anything with soy (or only very small amounts). I had always been lactose intolerant, but now I can hardly eat any milk products at all. Dairy and soy products completely dry me all up. I can't breathe anymore. My eyes are always dry now, especially when I wake up in the morning. I sleep with a humidifier and the Breathe Right nose strip every night now. My chest is a lot tighter and my upper back hurts a lot now. Not sure if that is related to Yaz or not.
I also have asthma, which was well controlled for years, but now it seems this pill has made me a lot worse.
I also had heart palpitations, dizziness, and severe fatigue. The fatigue seemed to come on in the last year. I could still go to work, but got so tired easily. When I got home I just wanted to do nothing. If I slept all night, it still felt like I didn't sleep at all when I woke up in the morning.
My sex drive in the last year was piratically nothing as well. That among other things ended my long term relationship.
I thought all these things were due to getting older. I'm only in my late 30's.
I also had severe headaches all the time. I thought my head was going to explode.

I've only been off the pill for just over a month, so I hope things improve.
I feel my energy is slowly coming back and the headaches are getting less frequent.
Thanks for all of you on this site and others I have read.
I think it has saved my life.

I have been on Yaz for over a year now and it's been less than pleasant. First the mood swings which I attributed in the beginning to lots of stress (I started taking Yaz about a month before my wedding). The mood swings continued. My anger has been uncontrollable at times and I get upset for nothing. I have always been a reasonable person but Yaz has taken all that from me. After giving it more than enough time for my body to adjust to this pill I have finally decided to get off Yaz next week and talk to my doctor about an alternative option. Apart from mood swing I've experienced severe fatigue no matter how many hours of sleep I get. I can't stop eating, have severe problems with heartburn and constipation. My sex drive is pretty much gone and I am negative about pretty much everything. I really hope that I will get back to my old self once I get off this pill. To everyone out there with similar experiences, I feel for you.

I'm 30 I've been on Yaz for 1 month. While I'm a trooper and willing to give things a chance, I cannot let myself do that in this case. I went off Loestrin 24 bc of spotting, switched to Yaz. The first week was fine (my skin cleared up) then the side effects set in. Nausea upon awakening. No appetite. While some people would like the low appetite side effect, I find it unhealthy. In some instances, I have made myself eat. I love food, and not wanting to smell it, cook it, or ingest it is a problem. Then other problems set in. Chills for no reason, hot flashes, rapid heart rate upon standing, and daily dull headaches (did not have cold/flu/infection). Reduced sex drive, painful sex, and a yeast infection that doesn't seem to be going away. Continued the pill for the rest of the pack where symptoms waned. No psycho PMS symptoms, but was over emotional during my period. Symptoms came back and got worse week of period. Great trade off! I also had bad cramping during my period, still feel the fatigue, and mental fuzziness. I feel as if I am just floating around in space. I'd rather spot everyday and breakout on my face then feel like someone kicked the s*it out of me everyday. I am 2 pills into a new Yaz pack, but throwing it out and going back on Loestrin for the remainder of the month until I get a doctor's appointment.

I had switched from Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo to Trinessa, and Trinessa was making my OCD and anxiety go through the roof. I was thinking that Yaz would be the best choice for me. I decided to talk to my doctor, and she gave me a month trial to see if I liked it or not. I messed up my pills a little bit, so I was late starting. I took my last placebo pill and finally started. It's been a lot of very light bleeding, and brownish discharge. This is my main annoyance with the pill. My periods are normally mildly heaving and last about five to six days. This period has been very light, almost non existent, and I am currently on day two. I have also experienced some mood swings, fatigue, and anxiety.
I will be switching back to Ortho this week.

I am getting married this month and I started taking Yaz a few months ago. The immediate effects I noticed were horrible heartburn, fatigue, moodiness (I mean there were points where I hated EVERYONE), anxiety and headaches. Eventually my body evened out and the heartburn went away, but the appetite did not, I craved sugars and could easily keep up with my fiance on food intake, it was sorta embarrassing, but I realized I had to eat more carb oriented foods to not have bad side effects (heartburn). Well I packed on a solid 8 pounds and needless to say that didn't make me very happy, and I decided to go off of it. I feel like a veil of darkness has been removed from me, I have energy, I'm not miserable, I don't hate everyone or get angry for no reason, and I don't stay up all night worrying about nothing. Everyone is different, so for some people this pill may work great. But, if you're on this pill I just recommend that you be very careful, you may not even realize the change in yourself until you stop taking it.

OMG! Thought it was due to my age. Thought I was going crazy! Everyone of these issues I have.
Headaches, fatigue, fuzzy head, incredible appetite, quick weight gain. I also have lost a lot of hair and have hair damage (very dry and breaking off).
My doctor actually suggested this product to help with my PMDD. Did not help me just created another set of issues. I do not need birth control I need the hormones but not that bad.

Has anyone else had problems with their hair?

Ive been using YAZ for almost a year now and before reading all these side effects from other women I thought i was falling apart at the age of 24.

Since ive been on YAZ these symptoms have occurred:

Some weight gain, Eyesight from great to HORRIBLY nearsighted, discharge, periods sometimes are twice a month and is a brown gross color, migraines, terrible skin problems: like blisters on my face & neck that crust over and last for weeks, GI problems right before my period, Severe Fatigue, pussy blisters under my armpits, numbing in my fingers and toes, very itchy skin, random sex drives (for months there will be no sex drive then one month ill have a very high sex drive), very mild mood swings (but noticeable), and ive become allergic to deodorant & sulfa drugs.

Before using this BCP : i had great skin, perfect eyesight, athletic & energetic, normal periods, and was never allergic to anything.

Ive had so many doctors visits to try to figure out what was wrong.... i got allergy injections, antibiotics, surgery options...........but no doctor could really tell me what was causing it and its very frustrating to have so many things go wrong and no one can tell know why or how to fix it!. Anyways, im going to call my OB/GYN TOMORROW......

This is truly amazing-reading a lot of these posts feels like I should have researched this BC months before. I too have experienced the night sweats, the lack of memory, the weird attitude changes, the lack of concern for life and the constant state of fatigue. I started researching this drug yesterday after my last rashy episode (it feels like I'm itching underneath my skin). I'd never had joint pain before but now it's over the top. I'm creaking and cracking like crazy and here I thought all of these symptoms where characteristic of aging..but hold up! I'm only 34! So it is with my chagrin that I took my last YAZ pill ever!
I initially took it to help ease my breakouts which it initially did-but now I'm breaking out again all over my face and chest area--and I'm experiencing 3weeks worth of menstruation. I have been on this pill for over a year and a half and really when I sat down and analyzed a lot of what was posted here and in other sites, I could only point my symptoms back to one common denominator. I even started on Nexium for heartbearn and indigestion and constant stomach irregularity..and now that I think about it--it all started after Yaz. Wow-who knew so much could happen from one little pill. Women beware...I can only share what I've experienced. Hope it helps someone else.

I have been on Yaz for 8 months and up until reading this website I thought I was either a) falling apart physically or b) a crazy hypochondriac!
I have had severe GI issues (gas, bloating, constipation, diahrrea etc.), headaches, neck pain, irrational irritibility, depression, anxiety, dizzy spells, unexplained weight gain (about 10 pounds, especially in the belly area), COMPLETE loss of sex drive, vaginal dryness, lack of ability to become aroused and if I do delayed orgasm (20-30 or stimulation before I can climax), fatigue and insomnia, skin rashes, shortness of breath, decreased immunity etc.
I am stopping this pill tonight after reading all of these other entries confirming the fact that I am not crazy!

Ive been on Yaz for one week and by the third day, I started noticing I was tired more than usual. The days that followed got worse and worse! My symptoms include: Fatigue, Irritability, Chest Pains, No Sex Drive, Dryness, Nervousness, Acne, Insomnia, Increase in Appetite, Loss of Focus, Pulsating Headaches, Short Temper. I worry about quitting mid-cycle but these symptoms are unbearable and thats a risk I don't mind taking. I mean after all, who wants to live like this? NO ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im quitting TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been off YAZ for 3 weeks and am so happy to be rid of this drug. It has caused me so much suffering. I was so emotional - crying and upset all the time. I was so depressed. I never got my period once during the 5 months I was on it. I work out all the time and have actually gained weight while on this pill. I have had a cold twice during the 5 months and each time it lasted 3 weeks. I am a normally healthily person, but every day on YAZ was a bad day. I do not recommend this drug for anyone. I haven't slept well in months and I have had fatigue as well.

I am 38 and took YAZ for two years. At first it seemed like a wonder drug. I didn't have a period the entire time I took them and my MD said that was normal for some women. After about a year, I started having night sweats, leg cramps, and increased moodiness...like things that should just aggravate me made me down right angry. I also started having considerable swelling in my hands and feet that was present most of the time. After a night of research on the internet trying to figure out what was wrong with me (my thyroid?) I landed on a few sights about YAZ and felt like my prayers were answered. Every single thing that was happening to me: sweats, swelling, cramps, low sex drive, fatigue, headaches, GI upset...could be attributed to YAZ. I stopped taking it immediately. It's only been about a month and I'm still feeling a little tired and moody, but my legs don't cramp, my rings fit my fingers, no more night sweats, and I have the hots for my hubby again. Life if Good! :)

Hi I have been taking Yaz since August of 2007. I never connected any of my symptoms with my bc until I recently saw an advertisement on TV for a lawyer who is filing a class action law suit. I then begin to research side effects of Yaz and everything made sense. For the past 1 and 1/2 years I have been to doctor after doctor trying to find out what is wrong with me. It started with fatigue, muscle aches, and a fever that wouldn't go away. I was tested for every disease and problem in the book and sent to doctor after doctor and they never could find out what was wrong with me. Shortly after that in September of 2007 I developed chronic hives that they also couldn't find a reason for. When I asked my dr. if the Yaz could be causing the hives and other problems I was told that it wasn't possible. So I continued to take the Yaz and suffer. I continued to have more and more medical problems. My hair began falling out, I became depressed and tired all the time. I have gained 20 pounds during the time I have been on Yaz. I am only 30 years old and I have always been very healthy and active and been able to maintain a healthy weight with diet and exercise but since being on Yaz it doesn't seem to matter how little I eat or how often I exercise I continue to gain weight. I have been very frustrated. I have had my thyroid tested numerous times because according to my doctors that is what the symptoms that I have been having seem to be but those tests were always negative. I even had doctors and people I know suggest that it's in my head. I just stopped taking the Yaz and I am hopeful that my life will go back to normal. I am now on medication to control the hives and I am hopeful that they will go away once I have been off the Yaz for awhile.

I AM NOT CRAZY!!!!! I literally started crying once I read the first post. I started taking YAZ 6 months ago after giving birth to my third son. I cannot believe that I have finally found an answer to my insanity. I haven't taken my pill today and I will never take birth control ever again. I cannot believe that so many woman are having life threatening side effects and doctors are still prescribing this medication! I have had horrible mood swings, no sex drive, headaches, back and neck pain, fatigue, low energy, irritability, depression, crying spells, anxiety, pain whenever I do have sex, loss of hair, and hot flashes. I truly am elated to know that finally the clouds will soon disappear and I will see the sun again.

Ok-let me just say that I am so happy that I have found this website and so many other people out there with negative symptoms as a result from taking Yaz. (I WORK FOR AN OB/GYN!) When I was young, I was diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia (EXTREMELY TIRED) that was related to heavy bleeding - the treatment: birth control.The doctor I work for recommends Yaz as "the best pill out there." So, trusting his opinion, I started taking Yaz around 2 years ago. In the beginning, I guess I really didn't notice any new symptoms. But, it seems like the longer I am on Yaz (I am taking no other medication) the worse my symptoms get. I started noticing symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: alternating constipation and diarrhea, abdominal distention, gas, and soft stools. Lately, my symptoms resemble both IBS and Celiac Disease - which is very scary to me. I've been researching IBS, Celiac Disease, and Lactose Intolerance; while trying to change my lifestyle and diet to try and make my symptoms better - according to the treatment to these illnesses.
Not to mention, I am ALWAYS tired. I've had my hemoglobin checked and am no longer anemic, so where is the fatigue coming from? I could sleep at any time, any place. I have muscle pain that comes and goes and a seriously decreased libido. What?! I have pain with intercourse and feel horrible trying to explain these symptoms to my boyfriend. It wasn't until I read the symptoms (listed on the Yaz website) that included an abnormal reading in pap smears! How can a doctor prescribe this?
It wasn't until recently that I thought my symptoms could be linked to Yaz. I have a yearly appointment with a new OB/GYN in a couple of days and will definitely let her know of my symptoms and will most likely change to a different oral contraceptive.

I started using Yaz a year and a half ago. I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia within a few months of starting the Yaz. I have lost my job, and my health thinking it was the fibro. I had to stop taking Yaz due to financial restraints, but I have found that most of pain has subsided and I am feeling almost back to "normal". Has anyone else had any similar problems taking Yaz? I was exhausted all the time and in constant muscle spasms and pain.

I am 41 and have been taking Yaz for about 6 months. My skin is much clearer and that is nice, but on the other hand I have had a continuous headache for two weeks now. Just in case, I took meds for a sinus infection but the headache has stayed... so now I am being treated for migraines. The problem is: the meds for migraines don't work. I am wondering now if it is the Yaz. When I first started taking it I got headaches at the beginning of each new packet, but now it's non-stop. After reading some of these posts, I am worried that coming off it will also have side effects, but it can't be anything (I hope) like the pain and fatigue associated with a long, drawn out headache. I am deeply scared that this headache will turn into a stroke or a tumor or something.

I have been on Yaz for three months, first two were okay, not I totally feel prego, morning sickness, sore breasts, moodiness, weight gain, odd bowels. I tried to talk to my OB Tuesday and she got a page in the middle of my appt. Babies don't wait. She said to keep taking it she'd see me in month. AHHHH I can't do this, I totally broke down to my hubby last night and he said to stop it now. I have two beautiful girls, am 26, and am crazy!
Yaz has made me feel like my gestational diabetes is back, my head hurts often, I am cramping, lower back pain, irritably, want to sleep all the time, am short tempered with my kids....this is nuts!!!! Trying to get ahold of my doctor again, might just go back to my childhood family doctor. Good luck, I was on depo before my second child and had a horrible reaction to it too, even miscarried after I had been off of it for a year and still hadn't had a period. Birthcontrol stinks, I feel like I am poisoning my body, and why, so I don't have another baby. So I am experiancing, nausea, headache, stomach cramps, depression, crazy feelings, irritability, fatigue, sore breasts, decreased sex drive, morning sickness.
Good luck with your decisions.

I am 25 years old and have been on Yaz for 3 weeks now, taking my first white pill today. So far I have experienced nausea everyday like it was morning sickness, I even threw up at least four times. I have experienced headaches, dizziness, back and shoulder pain, fatigue ... but the nausea is the worst. I couldn't even look or smell my boyfriends dinner the other night because I thought I would get sick. Also, for three weeks straight, everyday I have had bleeding ... EVERYDAY! I've also been overly emotional ... even watching Survivor last night had me crying ... a lot. Lastly, I have had no sex drive, don't even want to be bothered. POSITIVES: My boobs grew out of all my old bras, and my acne has disappeared (which is the reason I began Yaz). Honestly, because I am having relief from acne, mind you I'm 25 and have only had this problem for the past couple years, I am going to continue Yaz for another month and see if things get better. But I fear the visit of my period! Good luck to you, and thanks for sharing!

I was on Yaz a few years ago, and decided to stop because I was no longer sexually active. However I just went back on, and within a week on the pack I started experiencing these weird headaches, next to the irregular bleeding, cramping, and fatigue like symptoms. I know that the bleeding is supposedly normal, however the headaches/migraines felt worse than my usual caffeine withdrawals. I just spoke to my doctor and he told me to get off the pill RIGHT AWAY. He said that what i'm experiencing right now could possibly lead to a stroke.

I was on Yaz a few years ago, and decided to stop because I was no longer sexually active. However I just went back on, and within a week on the pack I started experiencing these weird headaches, next to the irregular bleeding, cramping, and fatigue like symptoms. I know that the bleeding is supposedly normal, however the headaches/migraines felt worse than my usual caffeine withdrawals. I just spoke to my doctor and he told me to get off the pill RIGHT AWAY. He said that what i'm experiencing right now could possibly lead to a stroke.

I have taken my 15th tablet this morning.

I already knew i was sensitive to new products, and if a small percentage of people have side effects, I'm likely to be one of them.

I browsed through the potential side effects on a my fact sheet and then put the paper away and focused on the positive effects i was looking forward to. I was keen for improvements of any sort!

Well here i am on day 15 and had to start googling to see if it is my imagination or something else.

I commend those women who stick it out for 3 months, but i just can't risk waiting around for an improvement or for it to settle.
I can handle the mid nausea that comes and goes, even the breast swelling, which has been quite extreme. I got a rash -acne like - on my face, initially my face became abnormally greasy too- like i had olive oil on my face! But the following is just not on. i can cope with physical issues, but not mental ones.

1. Moods- Depression and irritability - what a change- I am angry, nasty -want to leave my husband, say mean things to my young children. Don't care about my kids. No warmth. Feel overwhelmed by usual tasks like housework. Feel really negative about everything in my life. Feel sorry for myself for anything that is not positive or terrific. Don't feel motivated, don't care. Resent things that normally i would just go ahead and do.

Foggy brain- can't think clearly

My husband has clinical depression so this is not helpful- two of us being self centred can't work.

Anxiety- unbelievable. I'm like another person- I allow irrational negative thoughts take over. Each day is different, some worse than others.
I've been tempted even a week ago to ask for anti-depressants for anxiety and depression when i saw my doctor for something else. i thought I was going mad.

Fatigue,- some days i just don't want to do anything.

Sleep- a couple of unexplained nights of insomnia and really negative stressful dreams.

Probably other symptoms.

Everything described is an extreme and unbearable change in me, and this effect took place probably with 24 or 48 hours (I didn't keep a diary unfortunately, but the symptoms began almost immediately.

I wish it was a good experience but i am not willing to wait and see what my mental health will be like in a month or two. Not with young kids who need a mum. I just took a herbal laxative to hopefully flush out the Yaz I took this morning. No more for me.

I took YAZ for 2 weeks and for the first week i felt kind a drunk and experienced mood swings,crying ,fatigue,dizziness,migraines.intense anxiety,panic attacks and depression and severe Acne on my face and back. I decided to get off Yaz 3 days ago. I am still experiencing many of these symptoms,and yesterday while shopping I got really panicky and turned pail and dizzy thought i was going to pass out :( that sick feeling to my stomach.Today I got my period 1 week early. I used this drug in hopes to help my PMDD,but instead it magnified everything i had 10x worse. Im confused??? I called the doctor and she said you aren't even supposed to start getting symptoms of side effects for three months of being on the pill??

Talk about an enlightening site. I am so thankful to have found this site and everyone's posts. I was on Yasmin then switched to Yaz the moment it was released. I switched because of low libido, fatigue and other symptoms possible associated with the Yasmin. So, I think it's been 3 years now and I guess things have come to a head because my sex drive is non-existent and I have now missed 2 periods (3 pregnancy tests - all negative), all I want to do is sleep, dizziness, and lower abdominal cramping to the point where my internists tested me for Celiac disease and other digestive problems. Tests turned up negative. So, after calling my gyno, and explaining my symptoms to the nurse, another missed period, and neg preg test, she suggested I take some time off of BC. She also said that one of the side affects of BC are low libido. Well, I think I'm going to take my chances, because I feel so dried up inside, not feeling sexual is causing major problems with my boyfriend. I have an ultrasound scheduled this week to rule out cysts or blockages possible causing the lower abdominal cramping. But my big question... HOW LONG BEFORE MY LIBIDO RETURNS? Can anyone give me some assuring words that I'll want sex again?

I am so glad this site exists! I thought I was losing my mind with all my side effects. I really didn't think to blame my birth control but all the side effects kept adding up! Enough to make me google search them! I'm 25 years old and have been on YAZ for 13 months. I have experienced the following side effects: NO SEX DRIVE! Even when I try... I "dry up" quickly! =( Breakthrough bleeding(which can be three weeks of spotting). Headaches. Sinus pain. Breakouts. Fatigue. (I can sleep for more than 12 hours at a time!) Anger/rage issues (resulting in physical violence). Emotional mess! I was prescribed YAZ because I was getting very painful ovarian cysts. Prior to YAZ I was on Ortho Lo which made me a crying, screaming, hairbrush throwing lunatic. But at least I has a sex drive! I noticed how different I felt when I was on a week long prescription of antibiotics for an infection of my foot. My YAZ wasn't working and I felt like a million bucks. I obviously need to be on some form of birth control for the cysts but I will be contacting my doctor asap to get this changed!!

I can't tell you how happy I am that I Googled this. Reading all of your posts is helping me determine what's going on with me! I started Yaz about 3 months ago and lately I have had no desire to do anything. Nothing has excited me at all. My mood swings have been just awful and the fatigue has taken such a toll on me. I am only going to be 30 in a couple of weeks and I just can't get a hold of what makes me happy anymore. I haven't had any suicidal thoughts but the feeling of absolute anger and depression has gotten a hold of my entire life. I used to be so happy. Everything made me laugh. Nothing has that effect on me anymore and I hate that. Since this pill has settled into my body I have been a completely different person. Reading everything all of you have posted has made me realize this pill is killing my happiness. Looks like I'll be calling my gyno tomorrow. I thank you for all of your posts, as you've helped me see what needs to be done.

I just quit Yaz 8 days ago, was on it for 6 months. I had the copper t iud in for 4 months but the pain and non-stop bleeding was too much so I thought I'd give the coolest, newest pill out on the market a try. First week was awful; headaches, fatigue and nausea, but I knew I had to give it 3 months. First 2 months it really helped with cramps and bloating, but slowly the mood swings crept in. I was very emotional, depressed, random bouts of anger, bloating, cramping, 2 periods per month and spotting, gained 8lbs, uncontrollable hunger, appetite was ridicules. But the reason I felt I HAD to stop taking it was the fatigue, I could no longer do my 6 mile jogs, I struggled to walk to get the mail, I was for the first time in my life a couch potato. Before I began Yaz I was 115lbs, 5'7, have always been very active and eat only 100% organic health food, drink only green tea and water. Needless to say I was in shape, cellulite free my entire life till now. On the 5 month of Yaz I noticed cellulite on my legs!!! I was know as a sweet and very patient lovable girl, NOT ANYMORE! I used to never use bad words, now I use the F-word all day long, I pick fights with everyone and feel sooo angry all the time. I hope sharing my story helps other women understand that it's not them, it's this awful drug. I am going to use the LadyComp for bc, I will NEVER again put synthetic hormones in my body.

I'm 36 yrs old. I went on Yaz 2 full months ago not for birth control purposes, but to control heavy bleeding, my hair falling out (not hair loss, it grows back), memory problems, period-related fatigue, and extreme moodiness and irritability. So far, I haven't had any negative emotional side effects that others of you have. In fact, it seems to have helped my moodiness and irritability slightly. However, I have experienced two side effects that I cannot tolerate if it doesn't "work itself out" (my doc's words) by the end of my 3rd pack of Yaz. From the first week that I was on Yaz, my libido has been M.I.A. Not only has my sex drive disappeared, but I have found thoughts of sex repulsing me. :( I apologize if this next statement is "TMI" (too much info) but it IS a side effect of this pill that I have experienced! When hubby and I are intimate, I find it IMPOSSIBLE to climax, no matter how hard we try and how "into it" I am. This is not normal for me. This side effect is very disturbing for my husband, who is now insisting that I stop taking the Yaz. I am giving this pill one more month to redeem itself, otherwise it will never set pretty little packet in my house again.

I am 41 years old; I've been on several different birth control pills since I was 19 (never had any problems with any of them). I took a break for 2 years recently while trying to get pregnant. After two miscarriages, I decided to go back on the pill until the genetic tests come back.
I am into my 3rd pack of YAZ pills & all I can say is they are by far the WORST birth control pills I have ever taken. After reading all of the side effects that are posted, I am discontinuing immediately. It also eases some of my worries that I am not the only one suffering. These are the side effects that I have experienced since starting YAZ:

1. Daily migraine headaches.
2. Throbbing pain in my head if I turn too quickly.
3. Sensitivity to light.
4. Frequent cramps in my feet.
5. Clouded vision & sharp pain in my eye sockets.
6. Sinus pain.
7. Constipation.
8. Ringing in my ear.
9. Insomnia.
10.EXTREME mood swings.
11.Depression.
12.ZERO sex drive.
13.Fatigue, along with constant neck & back pain.
14.Painful cyst-like acne on my face.

With all of the birth control pills out there, there is no reason to have to take YAZ. It is the only pill on the market that contains drospirenone, which leads me to believe that drospirenone is causing the side effects I am experiencing.

I have been taking YAZ for about 4 months. I hate it. I am 23 and started taking yasmine when i was 17. Before that I had 2 week periods with very severe cramping. It would cause vomiting and diahreah. I stayed on yasmine for 4 years and I was extremely happy with it. When I was 21 I had a lyproscopy and was diagnosed with endometriosis. It is the cause for my severe cramping and heavy periods. I then was on a shot called lupron for 6 months then started lo estrin. Hated that, switched to YAZ. My symptoms include weight gain, acne (which i have never had) on my face and chest, severe breast tenderness (felt like my nipples were being pinched with clothes pins or something), extreme mood swings (i spend hours crying and being angry), so tired, depression, intermitent nausea, dehydration, fatigue etc. I also have not had a regular period since beginning. My last official period was in November, I then had some spotting and then I had no period for about 10 weeks. I tested over and over for pregnancy but I was not. I finally had a period and it was like i was 17 again. I am just miserable. The ONLY positive is that I gained a cup size!! I was a 34A now I'm a B! I asked my doctor for yasmine but she said she wanted me to try yaz because it has a lower estrogen dose which is favored for endo. I don't care, i would honestly take longer REGULAR periods instead of feeling crazy. I am going back to yasmine. I like my doctor but I will find a new one if she won't help me. YAZ and Lo estrin 24 were both horrible!

I just wanted to give an alternative perspective to the comments on this board.

I've been on Yaz for two months, and I'm very happy with it. The first week or so wasn't great: weird muscle aches, fatigue, lightheadedness occasionally. I had light brownish discharge/spotting for about a week. The second week I had some striking headaches, and over the first two weeks I lost 10 pounds (water weight).

But since then it's been smooth sailing. My period came exactly on time and lasted about 2.5 days. I no longer have any symptoms besides breast tenderness (akin to what my breasts felt like before my period, before).

So - keep in mind when you're reading these negative comments that usually the happy folks don't feel the need to post!