Yaz and periods

I am in the 5th month of taking Yaz. My dr put me on this because I was complaining that I didn't feel right as I am getting older. I am 36. I was on triphasil and was starting to feel more intense symptoms during my periods. Heavier bleeding, cramping, extreme moodiness and of course, migraines. Dr thought Yaz would help and switched me. The first couple of months were fine. Then I started having anxiety, Occasional blurred vision. I have felt "wrong" for a long time now. The worst has been "constant" migraines. I have taken some sort of over the counter medicine every single day for months now. A friend told me her doctor took her off Yaz after her blood pressure sky rockited. I decided to check mine and sure enough it was way over what is considered high. That explains a lot!!! I have stopped taking this pill. It made everything so much worse.

Glad to find that I'm not the only one!

I was on Yaz for a year and a half, but I just stopped taking it two and half weeks ago. I'm already starting to feel better. I had quite a few symptoms creep up while I was on it and I guess I just attributed them to other things until recently. The first couple months I was on Yaz, it seemed great. I didn't gain any weight, my periods were lighter, my moods seemed relatively stable. But then about nine months ago I started getting frequent heart palpitations and anxiety. My doctor saw me three or four times about it and couldn't pinpoint what was wrong. (It didn't even occur to me to ask if Yaz could possibly do that.) Around the same time, I started to get bad muscle fatigue and muscle cramps. My muscles felt sore and tired during the day for no reason. And sometimes at night I would wake up yelling because of sharp cramps in my calves. And over the last year, my moods became horrible. I lost my patience completely and became really weepy and depressed at other times. And my sex drive was totally gone. Then very recently, I started getting horrible completely debilitating headaches like I'd never had before.

But the thing that finally made me realize that Yaz might be effecting me this way, was that I actually felt BETTER right before my period, during the four days of the inactive pill. During these days - the days when most women feel moody and fatigued - I actually felt like my old self. I did a bit of research and quickly realized that Yaz is likely responsible for quite a few of the negative feelings I've had the last year and half.

I'll report back after I've been off of it for a couple months and I know it is completely out of my system.

I have been on YAZ for about four months. It has been a horrible experience with me. I use to be a happy person. Now I am the totally opposite where it is effecting my relationship with my family as well as my boyfriend. To the point it is driving them crazy. The slightest things will make me snap or I would take things the wrong way. It started the second month taking it and I thought if I keep taking it my body would get use to the hormones. I was VERY wrong. It has been worse. Also my periods are still not regular as well or if I do have any at all, they are light which is the only PLUS for YAZ. I am also experiencing MAJOR weight gain, I have gain 20 pounds more than I was before I was on it and my eating habits and exercising habits have no change. After this last month of depression, moody, and just being tired all the time I have decided to make another doctors appointment to get switch off a YAZ. YAZ may work for some women but not all, so be aware to what it does to you as well the people around you.

I started taking Yaz 4 yrs. ago after the birth of my daughter. I thought I had postpartum & began taking Lexapro too. Then I gained weight almost 40 pounds. My doc. thought the Lexapro stopped working & prescribed Cymblata. I stopped getting my periods & when I did have them I was crampy & irritable. In addition, I was experiencing menstrual migraines. Decided to change my pill. Now 3 weeks. exactly on another BC & I'm a NEW WOMAN. Too bad I lost my marriage in between as a result of my eratic/psycho behavior. I read this could cause respiratory symptoms too...I always have sinus infections I contributed to where I live. I HATE YAZ. It has wrecked my life!!!

I just stopped taking Yaz after being on it for a year and a half. I thought I was just going through normal ups and downs, but after reading this I realize that I was wrong. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't be alone. I had panic attacks. I was a horrible person on Yaz. I cried at least 3 times a week for the stupidest reasons. I snapped at my family and my boyfriend. It got so bad that my boyfriend broke up with me because he could no longer stand my mood swings. Yaz ruined a year long relationship. In addition I have terrible physical side effects- over the past year and a half I gained thirty pounds, my periods were never regular, I was thirsty all the time, I had horrible leg cramps and pains in my upper arms...I am now off Yaz and on Lexapro. I lost 15 pounds and have only cried twice in the past 3 weeks. I haven't felt this good about myself since I started Yaz.

I have been on Yaz for over 2 years. I am 20 years old. At first, I was extremely happy. I had tried multiple birth controls before Yaz, but all of them had made me depressed and angry. Now, however, my periods are heavy, my acne is back, my sex drive is completely gone, which is the worst part, I'm extremely tired all the time, I'm angry and often get frustrated, I'm gassy, my limbs often fall asleep and I get cramps in my feet and legs, and I feel sick all the time.

I'm quitting Yaz. I've looked in to IUDs, but the negative side affects scare me. I just want to feel normal again.

I stopped Yaz about a month ago after being on it for a year and a half and should have had my period a week ago. Freaking out, I took a pregnancy test but it came back negative and I couldn't think why I would be late.Even before I went on Yaz I always had very regular periods, always on time and always for the same length of time, Yaz did help with the severity of my periods and the length of them. My husband suggested that it may be something to do with me quitting Yaz...has anyone else who's quit taking it had these side effects??

I was on Yaz for two years, and gained a total of 17 pounds from the day I went on it, to the day I went off of it. I'm sure some of the weight gain can be attributed to other factors, but I didn't really change my diet or exercise regime at all and the piles still packed on. I also always looked really swollen, almost pregnant, like you could see the water retention in my tissues. I had issues with my hair falling out, too. The plus was that my moods did feel more leveled out, but then the weight gain and hair loss caused other emotional issues so it was a no win situation.

I went off of it about a year ago, I've lost 15 pounds of the weight and my hair loss has pretty much subsided. But now I have very short periods, lasting three days tops. I worry that Yaz did something to my body that may affect my ability to get pregnant long term, as it seems my hormone levels have seriously depleted...

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.

Reading all these messages makes me reflect on my symptoms. I have been on Yaz for less than 1 year. I switched from Desogen for no major reasons than wanting shorter, lighter periods. Wrong choice! A few days ago I began having issues breathing fully throughout the night. I had been experiencing a bit of heartburn and thought it was something I ate or ate too late. However, reading all of this makes me very concerned over the control Yaz has on your body. I have also experienced moodiness which I never had before with Desogen. I realize every pill is different but not being able to take a full deep breathe is not okay. I nearly had an anxiety attack last night. Not to mention, I thought I was having some asthmatic issue but never had asthma a day in my life before! I am a healthy 27 year old. I work out and eat right with no family history of heart issues. I am discontinuing Yaz this evening and hopefully these crazy symptoms will go back to the way they were....gone! I think if we write more about these experiences, the FDA needs to step in and study this!

morning sickness, heavy tiredness with heavy sleep, periods with brown discharge and dark pink brown urine, stomach heaviness why

i was on the depo shot, and LOVED it! for the first few months i spotted All throughout the month which got really annoying, but after a few months my periods stopped completely!! it was AMAZING!!!! i didn't gain any weight on the shot, but i was Always hungry and Never felt full. after going off of the shot i still didn't have a period at all for like 3 or 4 months! :D .... but then.... i started bleeding ALL the time. off one week, on for a whole week, off one week, on for a whole week...etc. this happened for 2 to 3 months. finally i went a gyn and she recommended that i go on yaz to regulate my period. ... it worked for a little while, but for the passed 3 or 4 months i bleed at least twice a month! both for about a week at a time. this sucks!! and sadly any hormone makes me a little moody :/ i was at a really steady weight of 111 and sky rocketed to 120 when i went on the pill. i go to the gym at least 2 to 3 times a week (as i did before i started the pill)... and im down to 115. but it seems to want to stay at 115 :/ so still a little weight gain involved. sometimes my sex drive is super amazing to where i almost climax at the snap of a finger. but lately... a lot lately, its almost impossible to climax! :( which is super disappointing and frustrating!. (any advice for the climaxing part? :( lol seriously. ) ... i don't want to go off of birth control, because sadly i Hate rubbers! my mom wanted me to try microgestin cause i bleed a lot on yaz, but those pills don't look or sound appealing to me. any suggestions?? lol... overall i would recommend either yaz or the depo shot. both have ups and downs. :)

I originally started YAZ about two years ago primarily to help with irregular or extended periods. I went off for about 8 months and had very light if any periods until about two months ago when my symptoms started back up. I went on YAZ for a month and my first week on the white or placebo pills the bleeding was extremely heavy. I'm sorry if this is graphic but I went to sleep for 5 hours with a tampon in and woke up soaked in blood. I freaked out and went to the ER and was told this is a normal side effect of this pill. Just prior to this I experienced:

terrible migraine headaches
brain fog
loss of focus
inability to think and communicate clearly
increased sensitivity to sound
terrible anxiety around people
mood swings- I didn't realize this until reading everyone else's posts

From my hospital visit I also learned my blood pressure was extremely high which could be a result of this pill.

I am so thankful to everyone on here that were so brave and kind to share their stories. I hope my post will be just as helpful.

thanks,

S

For me, mostly, Yaz has been heaven sent. I had a horrible case of PMDD and it is much more manageable now. My only complaint is that after 15 months of being on Yaz, I have been bleeding now for 17 days with no end in sight. This bleeding started mid-pack and is much more severe within a couple of hours of taking a pill. Anyone else experience this?

I am quitting Yaz tomorrow. All totaled, I've been on it for about 3 years (I quit a year and a half ago because I was getting terrible yeast infections and gross brown discharge every month, but then after I quit I didn't have a period for three months, and that drove me nuts, so I got back on). I've recently realized that I have EVERY symptom. I have zero sex drive (actually, less than zero--the thought of sex makes me sick to my stomach) and I used to be way more "excitable" than my boyfriends. Now my bf thinks I don't find him to be attractive, which couldn't be more false! When we do have sex, I do not get wet (ever) and do not have an orgasm about 90% of the time (I used to have multiple EVERY time). I get foot cramps every night (no joke), sometimes multiple times per night. I've gained 20 lbs since I started. I get migraines every month with my period, and sometimes as many as one per week. Though it cleared up my acne, I still get really big cystic acne around my period, so that small benefit isn't enough to outweigh all of the horrible side effects.

Like someone else said, it also has taken away my feelings. I don't feel much of anything anymore...no happiness, no sadness...nothing. I'm always exhausted, no matter how much I sleep, and even with regular exercise and an extremely healthy diet. I get sore nipples and cramps...something I never got pre-Yaz. I just can't take it anymore (literally). I'd rather be zitty than be a fat, sad lady with ZERO sex drive.

I was on Loestrin 24Fe for 1 1/2 years. I had chronic urinary tract and yeast infections, gained a crazy amount of weight and had an increase in cup size. I was already large breasted so this was an unwelcome increase. My doctor switched me to Yaz. I suffered from awful mood swings and cried uncontrollably for an entire day right before my period started. I had cramps and excessive bleeding during my periods. After 6 months, I developed a blood clot and had a mini-stroke. I am 34 years old and not a smoker. Birth control pills are unnatural and dangerous.

I started with YAZ to regulate my horrible periods. Before YAZ, I had horrible cramps, heavy bleeding throughout my full period, and severe cramps, extreme bloating, and it was very irregular. When I started the pill, it helped with all of these problems, and even helped my acne. However, lately I've been suffering from extreme bloating, even when I'm not on my period. My family has a history of bloating about 8-10 pounds while on a period. I just feel HUGE! It kinda makes me depressed. I tell my mother that I am bloating way to often. Thats the only problem I have. Sooo I started to freak out. I've been researching. I even tried numerous pregnancy test, that came out negative, because I feel soooo huge. Well I used birth control, a condom, and Plan B when I had sex. I have been having periods every month at my normal period time as well. So I doubt I would be pregnant. However, I just can't get over the extreme bloating. I am wondering if the pill can cause this issue? I read on YAZ's website that bloating is a cause at the beginning, however I have been on the pill for about 2 and a half years! The bloating has just been a recent issuse. Also, I have been having and extreme amount of discharge, ewww. I looked on YAZ's website and saw it's normal. I'm super confused on what to do. I plan to go to a Dr. I just want to know if anyone else has the same problem as me...?

After not being on birth control for about 13 years due to previous complications, I decided to go on YAZ since theyre were SO many rave reviews. it was to clear up my skin, lessen my periods and make my chest a bit bigger... also to not get pregnant ;) after being on it for 7 months i FINALLY realized all the harm it was doin to my body. the reason why i started to look for answers was because i had ZERO sex drive which has *never* been the case for any reason. i found that it can be a side effect of the pill but when i started looking at other side effects of YAZ i just kept nodding my head and saying "so THATS why i my vision is getting worse... so THATS why im completely depressed all the time and don't want to go out like i use to... so THATS why im having horrible leg cramps at night and awful joint pain... so THATS why my period is heavier, longer and more painful... so THATS why i started getting horrendous MIGRAINES out of no where!!!" i would lie in bed all day, instead of doing my every day routines, i stopped talking to my friends, didn't want my bf near me and couldn't go to work when i had my period because the bleeding was uncontrollable. after being off of it for three days, my sex drive was back, i wanted to go out with my friends again and most of the joint pain stopped. i made the foolish choice to "wait it out and see what happens" but my doctor told me to stop taking them immediately when i told him of my symptoms. It took me far too long to come to this conclusion and if you are suffering from multiple side effects, just stop taking it as soon as possible and go from there. There is NO reason to have to live like this from a birth control pill. i made that mistake and hope others wont in the future.

After not being on birth control for about 13 years due to previous complications, I decided to go on YAZ since they're were SO many rave reviews. it was to clear up my skin, lessen my periods and make my chest a bit bigger... also to not get pregnant ;)

after being on it for 7 months i FINALLY realized all the harm it was doing to my body. the reason why i started to look for answers was because i had ZERO sex drive which has *never* been the case for any reason. i found that it can be a side effect of the pill but when i started looking at other side effects of YAZ i just kept nodding my head and saying "so THATS why i my vision is getting worse... so THATS why im completely depressed all the time and don't want to go out like i use to... so THATS why im having horrible leg cramps at night and awful joint pain... so THATS why my period is heavier, longer and more painful..."

i would lie in bed all day, instead of doing my every day routines, i stopped talking to my friends, didn't want my bf near me and couldn't go to work when i had my period because the bleeding was uncontrollable.

after being off of it for three days, my sex drive was back, i wanted to go out with my friends again and most of the joint pain stopped. i made the foolish choice to "wait it out and see what happens" but my doctor told me to stop taking them immediately when i told him of my symptoms. It took me far too long to come to this conclusion and if you are suffering from multiple side effects, just stop taking it as soon as possible and go from there.

There is NO reason to have to live like this from a birth control pill. i made that mistake and hope others wont in the future.

Before I had my son I had been on Orth-TriCyclen off and on for about 4 years. My periods were always normal and when I went off the Pill it was so easy to become pregnant. After my son was born in Dec. 2007, my doctor recommended Yaz. I've had all the symptoms everybody here has talked about: anxiety, depression, weight gain, very high blood pressure, no sex drive, and just overall not feeling like myself. I just attributed it to post-partum and my body trying to readjust to not being pregnant. But the biggest fear, but secret relief, was the fact that I NEVER HAD A PERIOD!!! not once!!! I think I spotted twice in the course of a year. I would like to get pregnant again in June so I went off Yaz in January. It is March and still don't have a period - don't get me wrong it is kind of nice, but I am also very worried. My doc says its normal, and to just give it time, but I still feel worried that Yaz may have messed up my fertility and I may have a hard time getting pregnant again if I don't get my period back. I haven't received any good info about this - maybe someone else is in this situation -

I started Yaz November 2007 since my periods were heavy and I had really bad cramps. I am a medical student and I was starting my surgery rotation so I thought I couldn't deal with the cramps during surgery, so that is why I started. It seemed great at first I had no appetite, my weight has been stable. I read a lot of different books saying hormones shouldn't be taken since it isn't natural and it will cause weight gain etc. One thing for sure is that the distribution of my fat has changed, now I have more belly weight (like the other person who mentioned the yaz roll), more weight in my arms and a little more in my breasts and less in my legs. I have been contemplating for a long time if I should stop taking it also because I am someone with A LOT of scalp hair and I noticed that I lost A LOT of it while on Yaz (but could it also be from the stress of medical school?). My life has been crazy, my father died in September. I cant differentiate if I am crazy/sad/moody bc of my life circumstances or bc of the pill because sometimes I do feel like I am over reacting. I wonder too if I stop the pill if my fat will redistribute again. I am so unsure what to do. I have also noticed that I cannot wear contacts for a long time, sometimes I get debilitating headaches where I cant even lift my head.

I started taking YAZ about about 5 months. The biggest side effect I notice is SEVERE migraines 2 days before my period starts. I am a speech therapist and found it almost debilitating to try to work with my clients today because my head was pounding out of my head. I was also experiencing some blurry vision while driving (not good). On the bright side my adult acne has cleared up and periods have shortened by about 5 days. Regardless, I've decided that if something inflicts head pounding migraines then it is not worth it. I'm going to drop birth control for good as I haven't found any that I like at the age of 37.

I have something that Yaz does..its kinda embarrassing but I know it has to be the Yaz. In November I noticed this funny discharge. It didn't smell. but I was wondering if it was a yeast but then I figured it might be the Yaz so I quit taking it and it went away. Well this month I decided to start taking the yaz again and sure enough my discharge is back. What is that? also I have chest pains, leg cramps, overwhelming nausea, brain fog, and breast tenderness. But unlike most the others it did help my sex drive which was very little, helped my PMDD, and periods became lighter. I also don't think I gained weight on that but I don't know. I have been craving a lot of sweets and am afraid to check my weight..lol.

I've only been on Yaz for about 1 week now. The following may seem strange, but I've been paying very close attention as my pmdd was so bad that my fiance was contemplating leaving me. What I experienced right away: more balance in my mood meaning that I nothing was too high or low, at the same time though in the mornings i woke up feeling depressed. High sex drive and two of the best orgasms I've ever experienced. Slight constant headache. Become teary at least once per day, but the thing is...these are feelings I used to just stuff... but now I am expressing them so it's actually a benefit. I asked him tonight,... "have you noticed a difference?" He said "Oh yeah". I'm laughing most of the time (he's really funny), i'm more light hearted and less serious! I'm more balanced in my thinking. I hate the headaches though.

i was taking yaz for about 1-2 years. it was great - my moodiness subsided, lighter periods, no cramps, and it made my acne go away. i noticed that the longer i was on yaz, the more frequent my migraines became (4-5 per month). i didn't realize it at first because i have always gotten migraines (3 per month) since i was a child and i would always attribute the migraines to either stress or stormy weather. with the increase in migraines, i started trying various migraine medications, including zomig and maxalt combined with an alleve. however, i recently switched to nuvaring because my doctor said my blood pressure increased and i was placed on a low dosage of a beta blocker. nuvaring has a lower dosage of hormones and was recommended to me. i used nuvaring for 2 months and then stopped because i had problems with it slipping out. tired of trying differed birth control methods, i simply asked to go back on the yaz. this is when it dawned on me. the entire time i was using the nuvaring, i barely had any migraines (maybe 1 or 2 over 2 months compared to the usual 3-4 per month). i've been back on the yaz for 2 months now and i am having a migraine EVERY week and they last about 2-3 days long. i'm seeing my doc ASAP and getting of this pill immediately. i'm tired of the migraines interrupting my life. they completely immobilize me. i also noticed it completely got rid of any sex drive i have.

I love yaz. Its corrected my depression, gave me my independence back, and gives me shorter lighter periods - which used to be a week to a week and a half long and forget about tampons, I went through a maxi every hour. No more depression, balances me out. Keeps my weight nice and low, I cant say one thing bad about it. Femcon on the other hand can blow me. Im switching back to the yaz tomorrow.

I started taking Yaz about a year ago. I started taking it around the time my brother died in a car accident. I thought that my loss of libido, tiredness, lack of interest in everything, emotional outbursts, arguing with my husband for any reason, crying over nothing, unable to concentrate while studying and unable to remember a thing were all because of my brothers death. I am now thinking that this may be due to Yaz. Does this sound like Yaz side effects? or am I suffering from depression because of my brothers death. I just haven't felt right lately and I cant figure it out.

Hello, I am 22 and have taken Yaz since June. After one more tear-filled, completely irrational, I'm-just-tired, argument with my boyfriend and after reading other posts that exactly reflect my situation, I've decided to talk to my boyfriend about going off this pill. I started taking it to make my periods regular and help clear up my acne. I hadn't had very much luck with bcp in the past and I was really hoping this one would be different. It seems like every month, at least a week before I start my white placebos, my mood changes and my understanding boyfriend says he notices that I act more distant and not like myself. To be honest I personally haven’t felt like myself since May! I feel like I'm taking some kind of mood stabilizer that I don't need, like its making me numb one day and uncontrollably emotional the next. Thank you for all the helpful posts that finally made me realize I'm not completely ridiculous.

I've been on Yaz for about 2+ years now. I'm a healthy 23 year old. Recently I started breaking out in hives and itching all over constantly. After listing every possible allergy it could be, something brought my attention to the one everyday constant thing- Yaz. I went to read about allergic reactions to this medicine and noticed I have at least TEN side effects! Headaches daily as if on a schedule, intolerance to wearing contact lenses (of which I wore well before starting Yaz just fine), weight gain (I eat moderately but crave junk food even when i'm not hungry!), moodiness (yikes.. this one is really horrible.. I owe my friends and fiance a huge apology!) and irritability unlike anything I've ever known. I break at the smallest thing. I've been looking at changing methods for a few weeks now, but now I know it's making me go crazy, I'm stopping immediately! My fiance and I have discussed this and we both think it has to be done. I'm ready to get back to my old, sane self!!!!! Reading other users posts and the Yaz website has really confirmed my decision. I am sensitive to medicines and don't know why it's just now affecting my body. I'm ready to find something else, even it if means longer periods! Do your research before taking this drug!!

I have been on Yaz for over a year. I loved it at first b/c my moodiness was gone. My periods became shorter and shorter but then I stopped having periods all together. It has been 9 months without a period. I went to a GYN 4 months back and she said its okay not to have a period, but then I went to a different one a week ago and now I am having blood work and Ultra sounds. I have stopped the pill. I was completely normal before I got in this pill and now all of a sudden my cervical lining is very thin and I could have problems getting pregnant now. It is heart crushing b/c I am married now and want to have a kid so bad. I wish I never took the pill. I am a nurse and have been reading the physicians guide to medications at our hospital and i think i have been having problems from it for a while and never put 2 and 2 together. migraines, problems wearing my contacts. I find out this evening my results from my US and blood work. I would really do some research before you take it.

My boyfriend and I stated taking Yaz together so I wont have to go threw it alone...Now the problem is, his sex drive is low and mine is so high that I'm always using a vibrator to get off..My periods have been regular and his are not.. He's a heavy bleeder as well. can't keep the sheets white enough. I'm not sure if we can continue this with this method. I think I'm taking him off of Yaz asap!!!! I can't deal with his moodiness anymore..He's a horror story!!!

I started taking yaz last summer about 3 months before i got married. sex drive went down the toilet. absolutely none whatsoever. it also caused depression. and even caused me to get a syndrome that is terrible and marriage threatening! my periods were shorter which was nice. but i got more acne than before. weight gain was probably 5-10lbs in the 4 mos i took it. i would not recommend for anyone to take this pill!
it was absolutely terrible.

I have been on Yaz for over 2 years now and have never experienced one negative side effect. My periods last about 3 days and the mood swings (all PMS symptoms) are gone! Of course there is still cramping, but only for one day, and a simple ibuprofun (?) will take care of that.
Its at least worth a shot, it might turn out to be a great thing in your life!

Almost everyone is affected differently by different types of birth control pills. They are not all the same, please talk with your doctor about what is best for you. Sometimes is DOES take a few tries with different pills to find the best one for YOU.
This is my personal experience with Yaz... I have been on it for 1 year and 1 month exactly. I am 22. I was on Ortho-Cyclen (not tri-cyclen mind you) for a full year previous to Yaz. My periods without birth control were usually very heavy and lasted a week plus a day or two without birth control. My doctor suggested birth control to help with those problem. Ortho-Cyclen helped somewhat shortening my periods to about 5-6 days and made them a "normal-like" flow. After taking it for a year, she suggested Yaz to me help make them even shorter and lighter. Well I switched immediately after the last pill of my Ortho-Cyclen and things proceeded very nicely since I had already been using a method to regulate my cycle.
Yaz has helped me tremendously, my periods are only 3-4 days now and much lighter. I start them after 2 days of placebo and usually have a little bleeding into the first 2 active pills of my next pack.
The only side effects I have noticed are;
1) Weight gain: (I have gained about 8 lbs on this pill) and I even get more exercise than I used to when I was on Ortho-Cyclen. I eat healthy as well.
2) Breast tenderness: I have more noticeable breast tenderness while taking this pill. (But it is not every single day)
3) Cramps: I get cramps now on the first day of bleeding, but they are well taken care of with an aspirin or ibuprofen.
4) Slight depression: I cannot directly link this to Yaz as I am not a professional. However, I do find that a week to a few days before my pill period, there may be a day or two when I find myself crying over some nonsensical thing. (I never noticed this with Ortho-Cyclen.)

Another thing I have noticed though, and it's pretty nice, while I have gained a little weight on this pill, I do not get bloating before/during my period as I used to before I started using birth control pills. And yes, I used to get bloated using Ortho-Cyclen. So I can say that I have to thank Yaz for this "desired effect."
Also, I never suffered from any bad acne problems before using birth control, just the occasional breakout before getting my period, and Yaz actually did away with even that little issue.

I've been on Yaz for almost 3 months now. im 15 and im on it cause my periods would last for 4 weeks and it was heavy and horrible. I didn't have any side effects til about 2 weeks ago when i started getting horrible headaches. they are unbearable. im always tired. im not sure why all of a sudden im feeling this horrible. i love yaz for the first 3 months. but not anymore.

I am 16 years old, and I am on my second week of YAZ. I do not recommend this product to ANYONE. I am aware of the fact peoples bodies react differently to different doses of hormone, I am also aware you should give it some time for your body to acclimate to new drugs, but what i have been experiencing is close to unbearable. I went on the pill to end my terrible periods. They would be extremely irregular, i would have cramps so bad i would have to miss school, and i would have severe clotting (most likely due to laying down during my menstrual cycle.), and to clear up my acne. As promised, my skin is clearing up nicely. Although on the worse end,I have never had a migraine in my life and i have had one for almost 3 days now! Since i have started YAZ i have been on my period for the past two weeks, and it shows no signs of stopping soon. Also, I have had zero sexual drive since i have began YAZ, and as a sixteen year old girl I know for a fact that it is NOT normal by any means. I have always been a naturally thin girl, now i cant eat enough, and i am gaining weight on my stomach and thighs, which is making me extremely self conscious. Anyone who has taken the time to read this, thank you.I am just trying to warn girls my age about what might be in store for them if they begin this pill, and seriously consider if it is worth these side effects.

I am 16 years old and i have been on YAZ for almost a year now. I have had horrible luck with it. In the beginning my mood completely changed! i was really mean to all my best friends and parents. I felt like i was bipolar. Im not a mean person and felt horrible about the way i was acting to everyone at the time. i would say "ITS NOT ME, ITS THE PILL"

about 6 or 7 months into the pill my mood swings changed and i felt normal again. but i kept getting constipated, but i never thought it was the pill. i also started to get headaches, but didn't think it was a side effect.

now i am extremely constipated and get severe headaches everyday! i never can think straight and it effects my school work. Being constipated was the worst part of this pill. i ate TONS of fiber and nothing worked. I looked online for symptoms for YAZ and only a couple said they were also constipated. I would be constipated for 1 or 2 weeks straight. this was way worse then period cramps!!!

i also had nausea almost once a week. Its hard to sleep, i sometimes wake up 3 or 4 times a night. I also get sharp shooting pains up and down my legs and arms. (which is a little scary)

Tonight i have desiced to stop taking YAZ. I would rather deal with my periods then have to deal with the horrible effects of this birth control!!!!

Well, I've been on Yaz for 5 months. I was on Ortho tricyclin lo and was fine with it, but my doctor switch me because I stopped nursing my youngest child. So at first I thought that it was great! I stopped getting my periods! What woman actually wants periods? But at the end of each month I was always scared that I could be pregnant and not even know it because I never got my period, which my doctor said was normal... So on top of the $55 a month the yaz cost me, I was also buying pregnancy test each month!

Well, I started having issues in June about a month after I started Yaz, but I didn't put it all together until right now... I have extreme headaches, nausea, diarrhea, terrible menstrual like cramping all the time and like other people said, during sex I am really dry...At this point I have decided to stop taking yaz and switch to something else... I just feel awful all the time.. getting my period once a month is way better than feeling like this!

All the advantages my Doctor told me about taking Yaz... none of them were true for me...

I've been taking Yaz for the past 5, almost 6 months. I was struggling with PMDD symptoms. There were times when, for a week or more, I would become incredibly depressed, full of rage and anger, I craved anything within chomping distance, and felt like the ugliest human being in the world. My periods were so painful, and I would bleed so much, that all of this just began to control my life. I was literally planning my life around this time during each month. The YAZ has really made a difference in helping solve a lot of these problems, but now I've new problems.

My husband and I have always been very sexually active. We try to make time for sex during the week if we can squeeze it in (we work different shifts), but whether we do or not, we always make up for it a lot on the weekends. However, now, I find myself with no interest. I even encourage him to just skip the foreplay and get down to the deed so I can get it over with. I dry up halfway through, become frustrated if he loses his erection (usually due to my personal lack of interest. I can't imagine that's very arousing. lol) because that just means we will have to work harder to get through this ordeal, and I don't want him kissing on me or doing much of anything to me while we are in the act. It's really damaging our relationship. We are 30 and 31 years old...way too young for this nonsense. I dare say I've even thought a time or two, "Why can't he just have an affair like every other husband and leave me alone?" Yeah, I don't mean that at all, but it's crossed my mind.

That's my biggest issue with it, well, that and the monthly cost. The other side affects I had were dry mouth, dry hair (?? - not sure if this is directly related), lower abdominal pain, mild weight gain, and a rash that broke out on my lower legs and left forearm. These are the CONS so far. I'll list my pro's, too, just to be fair.

PROS" Periods, while still very painful, last about 2 to 2.5 days. The painful part only the first day. The food cravings usually only a couple of days instead of a week or more. Mood swings, if any, are not as severe and are shorter in duration. I feel like a normal woman just having normal PMS mood swings now instead of mood swings you see in those crazy women on those Lifetime for Women movies or something. lol I also suffer from migraines, and these pills don't seem to have affected them one way or another. This is actually good enough for me because usually BCPs have caused them to worsen over time.

So there you have it. It's my own long, personal experience with YAZ.

Hi, I have been taking Yaz for about 6 months. I struggle with PMDD. I was really nervous to try as I've heard horrible things from all of these forums. However, I noticed IMMEDIATE improvement in my irritability, rage, crying, insecurity. For the first time since having children, I feel confident, and my moods are steady through the whole month. My periods are also only 2 days and very light! The only complaint I have is that my sex drive is completely gone. So, I feel I need to make a choice between "faking i'm interested" or keeping my emotions in check.

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?

Im 18, been on YAZ going on three months now. I was actually looking forward to a little weight gain, but haven't seen any. I got on the pill one for BC, which as far as my periods go is fine. But I also wanted to reduce the mood swings and lately it seems they haven't gotten much better. All of a sudden ill be in a great mood like I want to be, then the next ill be in a crabby mood for no reason. I also got in a car accident a few weeks ago (my fault) and have noticed that since I started the pills I haven't been as alert while driving. I always get side tracked and find myself slamming on the breaks and cutting people off, which was not the case before the pills. Does this have any relation to taking Yaz?

I have just recently began taking Yaz and am starting to experience side effects. I am in my third week, and am having a lot of anxiety, heart palpitations, mild headaches and shortness of breath. Sometimes I feel dizzy and I take them at night so that I do not experience the nausea that I know comes along with bc pills. I am on them because of my hormones being out of whack but I think I would almost rather deal with that than all of these symptoms. I think it's time to contact my OB/GYN and get off of these things...

I have been on Yaz for eight months and absolutely loved it at first...about three months ago, my boyfriend and i broke up and i had a full blown period when i wasn't supposed to.....I just figured it was from stress. But for the last 5 weeks, I have had two full blown periods that lasted four days each and spotting every week to the point that I have to wear a tampon just so i don't ruin any more underwear...ive heard this could be from stress or weird hormone levels, but its just weird that i did so well on it for the first seven months and now this???? whats going on??

Hi all! I'm 22 and will be starting on my 3rd Yaz cycle...I have noticed a few things about this drug...My PMDD symptoms have seemed to decline quite a bit-although i still get very emotional. My acne has slightly cleared up and my periods last 4 days the most with minimal cramps. I have been experiencing muscle spasms in my calves but this may also be from not having enough potassium in my diet. My biggest concern however, would be the decrease in my sex drive...Yaz was the last thing my boyfriend and i thought it could be but the more we read about it, the more we are convinced. I literally went from having sex a few times a day to not wanting to be bothered with it. this is lame, i'm young and enjoy being fun and playful and spontaneous with my boyfriend but no matter how hard we try, I can't reach climax (something that was never a problem before). since this is the only oral contraceptive I have tried that hasn't given me nausea or headaches, i am hoping this libido change will go back to normal. if it doesn't by the end of this cycle i will have to try something else. any ideas?

I haven't taken BCP's in about 15 years. I recently started due to severe endomistriosis and extreme moodiness (which I believed was PMDD) I went to my gyno and she put me on YAZ. I am on my 2nd month of YAZ. My first month was fine and I actually enjoyed not having my period for the first time in a million years and my moodiness seemed to be gone. I am now into my 2nd week of my 2nd month and I have to say it sort of sucks. Im on the fence about this product. It has decreased the severity of my PMS symptoms as far as the pain goes, but I still got all of my usual symptoms (only less painful) except for the extreme moodiness. And, even though I have been consistent about taking the pill I have had a very very light but steady period for the past 6 or so days (which is actually longer than my normal periods). The other bad things about this pill is I have had a complete drop in libido and very extreme fatigue, to the point where I feel like a walking zombie. I would have to say the only thing good about it is the fact that my severe moodiness (during PMS) was completely gone, and it lightened my PMS symptoms and flow. So, I haven't decided if this is working for me or not.

Oh hey I also get headaches before my period and when I have my period I know that it isn't from yaz, because I have had that already when I get my periods, and for the back pain and stuff I was in a car accident and that is from that, and I did have mood swings to they got better but I do get them once in awhile when I got my period, I don't want to kill myself or anything I have also PMDD and this helps that I think. So the thing I can't stand is the yeast infections do they get better once you have been on the pills? I have had yeast infections at the beginning of taking new pills to.

write ******

Hi I wanted to know if anyone has had any good experiences on the yaz? I have had yeast infections and that is about it I just wanted to know if they go away eventually or not I have had the nausea and back pain in the beginning and I am almost on my 4th month, my periods are light, I don't have the mood swings I did in the beginning and that is gone. Just wanted to know if anyone had any good things being on yaz and about the yeast infections.

Melissa write me at ******

I have been on YAZ for the past two and half months. Over the past two weeks I have become highly emotional, feel like crying for no reason, my skin itches to the point where I have struggled with sleeping at night and now I have been having an itchy sore throat. The entire time my breasts have been sore as well as have grown substantially. I am not sure if the sore throat is a symptom, but I am curious if anyone else has experienced this symptom of an itchy, dry throat. I have heard that after the third month symptoms can subside as your body balances out. However, I am considering just terminating the use of this birth control. Has anyone had success or a decrease in symptoms after the third month? By the way, my periods have been normal.

I am so glad that this site is here. I too was given Yaz not as birth control but as an alternative to mood swings, No periods for months, and heavy bad periods.. I am 31 and the mother of 4. I had my tubes tied at 24 after my last child. I had taken other types of birth control at younger ages and had no problems. Well this was the start of my 4th month. I too didn't get my period till the week after the white pills. It was shorter and lighter at first, but since its terrible. I bleed longer and harder than before I started taking Yaz. I too cry for no reason and get very mad very easily. My sex drive too went from anytime any where to none. My husband has begged me for weeks to stop taking this pill. With the heavy bleeding he was concerned for my health. I stopped taking the Yaz pill one week ago today, and I am still having very heavy bleeding. This is the second week of it. I just want it all to stop. I too was feeling very tired and would catch myself falling asleep in the middle of the day. But at night when I would go to bed I would lie there awake. I was lucky if I could sleep for 5 hours at a time. My only concern now is when will this bleeding stop, and when is it something that I should contact a doctor about. I will never go on this pill again and I will tell anyone who wants to not to. I don't like going for three and four months with out my period, but I am not sure after this experience if I will try another for of the pill or not.