Yaz and yaz

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 just wanted to let you know tha I am a RN. I have been on YAZ for 3 months only. In this time frame, I have had severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and back pain. I at first blamed it on the hormones but now attribute it to bad side effects from YAZ. I have already had my Gallbladder out when I was 18 yrs old (side effect of BC pills). Anyway, my doctor just sent me for an upper GI and small bowel follow through....but, I think that it is all related to YAZ. The MD thinks I am just being a "know it all" nurse, but I have research this med. I have lost 12# in 3 months (bonus), lol....but I am sick of being sick...my husband thinks I am a big complainer, but its real and it hurts. I would have been in the ER also, but being a nurse, I am a little more stubborn to go to the hospital. I did go one night because the pain was sooo bad but the wait was 3 hrs and I vomited 3 times while waiting, The pain was now tolerable so I left! I have 5 days left of YAZ, I was going to try to last out the rest of the pack, but after getting severe pain, again, tonight....after eating soup only all day and throwing it up...I am DONE WITH YAZ. I am stopping cold turkey...the body will regulate itself. I want to feel better. I hope once this stuff clears my body, I will feel better once again! Good luck!

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 3 months starting in Aug.2008. Within the 3 months I was in the emergency room 4 times for severe Pain with my kidneys, and twice for my galbladder. I also got pregnant the last month I was on Yaz.

I am 17 Years old. I began YAZ two months ago. I'm usually very athletic, outgoing, fun, and EXTREMELY energetic. Since I began YAZ my life has been turned upside down. I HAVE HAD MY PERIOD FOR THE LAST MONTH STRAIGHT! I felt like I was going insane, I'm so grateful to know that I'm not the only one. I wish I could have found all of this out BEFORE hand, my symptoms are just like everyone elses. Im depressed, cry over everything and anything, I'm angry ALL the time, have no energy, fight with my family and boyfriend over EVERYTHING. I feel like SHIT. Can I just get off of it? Or do I have to talk to my doctor or finish 3 months first? I don't know what to do :'(

I have been on Yaz for almost two years - I quit last week. I was put on it after being diagnosed with PMDD and, for the most part, it helped a lot and I thought it was the answer to all my problems. After the first year I was on it though, my symptoms started to return and worsen. I started having severe anxiety issues. It was as if my body couldn't process the stress in my life anymore (which was no more than any other college student with a medium-heavy workload) and its only reaction was to go into full-fledged panic mode. I experienced a steep drop in my self-esteem to the point where I'd sit and look out at everyone else wondering how it was that they could find so many things to be happy about. My life is pretty great - no severe illnesses, functional family, graduated with a degree, great friends, great church - and I couldn't think of any reason to be happy. No one should have to consciously and objectively list things to be happy about and then try to convince themselves that they just forgot about them. I found that I'd rather be alone than be with even my closest friends and family members. It was the sad version of my angry PMDD anti-socialness. Anyway, months of chronic stress and depression led to a panic attack last year that took me nearly two months to recover from (nausea; tingling sensations in my arms, legs and face; lack of appetite; tightness in my chest; trouble sleeping, etc...) and the sensation of detachment that comes with a panic attack has only recently begun to subside. This detached feeling lends itself well to having a cruddy memory. I'll look at pictures from a year ago and not remember what has happened between now and then - it feels as if those pictures are just from the other day or the other week. I don't really remember the semester of my panic attack. My memory feels second-hand, like someone told me about it but I never really lived it myself. I sometimes have moments where I just forget where I am when I'm driving to my sister's house, 15 minutes away. It only takes about a minute to regain my sense of direction and remember what street I'm on - but it's a scary minute! I don't think that all of my experiences were caused or made worse by the pill (I hope not, since when I actually need birth control for birth control purposes I'll have a hard time finding a low enough dosage that doesn't screw me up), but I'm going off of it to see how I feel on my own. I'd rather be mad for a week every month and combat it with more exercise, music and a fleet of vitamin B12 than be sad all the time.

I've been on Yaz for 3 months now and have had lower back pain , and major stomach pains that I'm keeling over in pain I did some research on this pill and see all these comments and lawsuits oh my god .. I went to my doctor and she said that birth control don't cause these kind of side affects and she thinks it could be an ulcer and she put me on meds for an ulcer and I'm waiting for blood work results before I go for a scope I don't know what to believe or if I should stop taking the pill and see if this pain goes away any suggestions out there email me at ******

I just started my second month of Yaz, and this last week or so I have been experiencing side effects, such as; mood swings, irritability, loss of patience, sudden crying fits, and headaches. I think it is too soon to notice any weight change, but I am just not happy with myself. I have read through the posts, and I am happy that all of you have posted, but I haven't seen anyone talk about other options. I am wondering if anyone else has been given any recommendations. I have been on Yasmin in the past (high school, I am now 24), but never experienced these side effects before. The pill does clear up my mild acne, but only until I hit the last four pills. Not a concern of mine, I would rather not be so moody and irritated all of the time. Can these side effects happen so soon? I thought that it took longer for birth control to be in your system. Any comments back would be great. As of today, I am off Yaz, and have scheduled an appointment with my gynecologist to discuss further options.

i started taking it in January, for mild acne. Initially it worked wonders on my face, but eventually like three months ago I started feeling extremely depressed. I was not happy with myself and appearance, which ultimately lead to having a problem with eating. Every time I get near food my stomach cringes and I get nausea. I just got off the pill but was wondering if anyone has ever experienced this feeling. Beside my loss of appetite, I have secluded myself and have become more and more depressed. I thought it would get better but it hasn't. It has just made everything worse and more complicated. It has affected relationships with friends and family. Has anyone else felt the same way?

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 3 years. I am now 39- I took it to help with Pre menstrual tension and moodiness, and mild acne. I have done nothing but shed like a DOG since I have been on it, I have no sex drive, I have gained 5 pounds, which is a lot since I am only 5ft.4 in. I just found out the real kicker... I have signs of kidney disease now, high creatinine levels, and can only link it to the use of YAZ. There is a class action law suit forming against Bayer Co., and anyone using this should check it out. They are talking about the possible RECALL of this medicine, and I would hate to think of any young girls out there ending up with kidney damage like me. Please be informed before you continue to take it.

Not only have I been experiencing horrible depression and moodiness from this drug, but this week I found out I'm pregnant!! I took 5 pregnancy tests and their all positive. I'm on this birth control and we used a condom so how the hell did that happen?? I'm 17 years old, a student, a model.. this pregnancy has turned my whole world upside down. I'm seriously considering suing this company!!!

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.

I started taking YAZ for PMDD two months ago and it has helped so much. It has seemed to mess with my menstrual cycle, though. The first month I took it my period started on the second day of the white pills, I had light spotting a couple of days before that and now I am on my 2nd month and I am on my third day of white pills and no period and no spotting.. no sign of period so far. I seems to be messing up my cycle... ugh!

Any thoughts anyone?!

I can't believe that I finally found the solution to my problem! I didn't know what was happening to me its like I am a whole different person.
My side effects:
mood swings
weight gain
decreased sex drive dramatically
depression
not caring about anyone
feeling like i am the biggest loser in the world
i cry at everything
I take the pill at night and it seems like night time is the worst time. I cry to my boyfriend about how I want more attention from him when he gives me the most attention ever lately. I cry about the stupidest things and he even said somethings wrong with you emotionally.
It's effecting our relationship because I been on Yaz for years and up until the last 2 months i been a complete nut case. I am a freaking psycho and hate everyone. I am so glad I found out what it was and I am stopping this and changing my birth control or just stopping it completely for a little while because I want my life back before I ruin it all.

I'm 22 years old and have been on YAZ for 1.5 years. I was originally on Yasmin and was fine but my Gyno suggested that for my body type and slight anemia I was taking more estrogen than necessary, so I agreed to try YAZ. I was excited at first, hoping it would help with my mood swings (which were not as severe as experienced with those who have PMDD). Everything was fine (clear skin, light periods, etc) until I noticed that in the past few months I was getting severely emotional (which is the complete opposite from the kind of person I am). For a while I thought it was just a phase and something that would pass but it has gotten progressively worse, to a point where I have become overly sensitive, crying with out reason and was experiencing anxiety. All out of the ordinary and very scary. Since I am an active healthy individual with no other medical concerns or on any other meds I realized that I may have been suffering side effects from the YAZ. The mood swings were particularly worse on days leading to the placebo pills and into the first week. I have been off of it for the past three days and will talk to my Gyno on Monday to either go back to Yasmin or try something new. Of course it will take up to a month for the YAZ to be processed out of my body.

Honestly it was a scary experience and it was good to know that my sudden bouts of sadness and anxiety wasn't all in my head. While YAZ may not be for me I know people who have not experienced any side effects while on YAZ. So if you are considering it I would suggest giving it a try but keep track of any changes in mood or side effects.

I have also noticed that people who were actually suffering from PMDD have like their experience with YAZ and women without PMDD have seemed to experience it while on YAZ, of course this is simply an observation and nothing else.

I am a 25 year old female who at 24 had never had any experience with birth control other than a quick prescription to a generic hormone to take care of a long period at 16 (due to stress.) Only a few pills were taken and I was fine. Now, at 25 I have been on YAZ for a year. I began taking it because I became sexually active at 24. Why? Well, I was mature both mentally and physically. I have had friends who became sexually active at a young age and who started birth control young. The side effects were pretty dramatic. I had seen a slim friend gain a whole lot of water weight. She even said it was the patch and later monthly injection causing the problem but the side effect was well worth the pregnancy prevention. I was against the use of birth control due to my preconceived notion of horrible side effects. However, once the monogamous sexual activity began I knew that I needed to take something. I had heard about YAZ and knew that it was something new and different. A different hormone used for prevention. I researched the pill and looked into any side effects. The posts I found seemed a little too ridiculous. I decided to find actual accounts and spoke to a co-worker who had been using YAZ for awhile. In fact, the majority of females I know use the product with no problem. Thus, after my yearly checkup I requested YAZ. My gyno welcomed the suggestion and even gave me several packs for free. It’s been a year without a problem. However, this morning I was hounded by my mother because there is a warning and lawsuit against YAZ and YASMIN (seen by a commercial-lawsuit.) This is due to severe side effects and death associated with blood-clots (when presented with heart disease, diabetes, etc.) I am a healthy 25 year old that frequents the gym weekly. I do not smoke. I drink every now and then. NO SIDE EFFECTS. My period starts after the 3rd pill is taken. It is quick and simple. I enjoy being able to plan things around my period. Cramps are light compared to what I use to go through. I can take one Ibuprofen the day of the third non-active pill and not feel a thing. I use to have horrible leg cramps and now I have no problem. My pre-menstrual mood has improved and I think it is because my period is no longer a strong factor in my life. I use to dread it and now I welcome it. I do not have any skin issues, no bloating, and no weight gain. Heartburn occurrence which is slim to none is similar to what I would have had before YAZ. I was appalled to find this site and to discover that people are having problems. I do not understand why people are so quick to blame this pill on everything. It seems like a lot of users who are posting on this site are extremely young. The body is still growing and maturing at 18 and even into the early 20’s. In my late teens, I was extremely moody and stressed due to college, etc. Any hormonal regulation then would have probably put me overboard! I am going for my yearly check up next month and will discuss this lawsuit with my gyno. I am concerned about this lawsuit. More importantly, I am concerned that this pill will be taken off the market. Call me a statistic but I like YAZ and would recommend it.

I have been on this med for about 2 years. Until about 2 months ago, I had zero problems and it was great! About 2 months ago I started having SERIOUS issues. I had never had a palpitation or chest pain in my life and then I started having heart palpitations, chest pains, shortness of breath - sometimes it feels like I'm not going to be able to take the next breath. I was in the ER - they said it was my thyroid and gave me synthroid - that made everything worse so they gave me a beta blocker to cover up those symptoms. I quit taking ALL medication! I am not a pill taker and it doesn't make any sense to take a med and try to cover up those side effects/symptoms with the next med and so on. I can't find a good Dr. who will actually listen. I have been on the heart monitor and it found I was having PVC's all the time. I was then referred to a cardiologist - after a one thousand dollar visit with only an EKG he said my heart is fine - go home. I told every Dr. about Yaz - none of them could connect the dots! I thought I connected them....only by chance. I forgot to take my pill for a couple of days in the middle of all of this and stopped when I finally remembered to take one a couple of days later. I thought to myself.....hey - I've felt a little bit better the last couple of days. I was near the end of the pack so I QUIT taking them!! Best decision I ever made! Within 2 weeks my symptoms had pretty much disappeared! I thought I had it solved. I am 43 years old and in really good health. A few days ago my palpitations are back - but they are different this time. Before I had a "normal" heart rate but it felt like my heart was going to thump out of my chest. Now I have that PLUS a racing pulse! Chest pains are a part of daily life. Mornings and nights are the worst but I think it's going on all day - if I'm moving around I just don't notice it as much. These symptoms reappear a few days before I'm supposed to have my first period after quitting Yaz. I'm wondering if it's hormonal or menopause or if this stuff will just stick around for a while. I'm scared! I've read about people dieing and it's traced back to Yaz! I have a 6 year old precious daughter that I kiss good night and pray like heck that I get the next day with her! It's just not fair - I really wish I could find some answers. Anybody out there got any? Thanks.

I just started taking Yaz about a week ago. So far I have noticed both good and bad things about this pill.
The good side to Yaz is: It got rid of my cramps & made my period soo much lighter, I couldn't believe it. You know how your period is usually heavy the first few days, then gets lighter towards the end? Well the entire time it felt very light like how it normally would feel the LAST day of my period.

The down side to Yaz: My mother & boyfriend have both noticed that I am a bit more snappy/moody since I started taking it, and I am very tired and feel fatigued in the morning- I've been having a hard time getting out of bed! Also, sometimes before bed I feel a little nauseous.

As for now, I am going to continue taking Yaz, UNLESS my mood swings get worse or I experience any other side effects.
I am 19 years old by the way, if that helps.

I took yaz for maybe two weeks. after one week my breast blew up a cup size. they were so swollen! then i started noticing i was gaining weight but my diet hadn't changed. i started to swell all over within the next week. but what made me quit taking this pill was that i started getting these sharp intense pain in my upper abdominal region. it would come and gnaw at me for like 2-5 seconds then it would just go away. there was also like this temperature sensation anytime i would eat or drink anything. i've been off of it now for 5 days! i still have not got my period, my breast are still swollen, and my stomach pains are still there. i know im not pregnant, because i haven't had any sex! when is this going to get out of system or has it done something to me? i would imagine if you skip your period in one day and you can get pregnant in that one day... the pill should be out of your system! anyway- anyone else have this same situation?

I was on Yasmin and then YAZ for about 5 years and started when I was 19, and am now 24.

ON YAZ: I got a lot of urinary tract infections, had mood swings, depression, snappiness, and anxiety. I also felt swelling and occasional bruising in my legs ( started when I was 23). I stayed really thin and never felt bloated (5''7 120). I also never got pimples.

OFF YAZ: I have actually gained a few pounds and I KNOW its from going off the YAZ because it happened almost instantly. (5"7 126) YAZ does have a diuretic in it, so it really does help with the water retention. I feel bloated for the first time in my life. I broke out a little bit on my face and back. However, my mood swings have gone away, and my depression and anxiety have been almost non-existent. I am so much happier! I no longer feel swelling and bruising in my legs. My Urinary tract infections are gone as well.

Overall, I am a little bit chubbier, and have a few more pimples. But- I am happier, less irritable, anxiety free, and generally have a better, healthier outlook on life. The swelling in my legs and UTIs have also disappeared.

Any suggestions on a new BC?

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 have been on yaz for 8 days and for 8days i have had my period i had cramps so bad i couldn't get out the bed for 2 days constant headaches leg cramps tired but can't sleep dizzy sick stomach very moody i would not recommend this pill to anyone at all it would be a big mistake to take this pill

I am sitting here reading these posts shaking my head in disbelief! I have been taking yaz for 8 months & have the following side effects: don't care about ANYTHING, snappy & extremely irritable all the time, absolutely HATE sex & I have never ever had that problem, weight gain my stomach has never been this big before, my boobs are HUGE they have increased a bra size at least, all I do is eat, hot flashes for no reason, & just don't like anybody anymore. My memory is gone, & I can't pay attention at all nor do I care enough about anything to pay attention. I took my last yaz yesterday I am all done with this horrible pill & I pray I get back to normal soon!

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?

I took Yaz for a month and the whole time I suffered from urinary tract infections. After taking 4 different antibiotics and having my doctor say that the cause could not be the birth control pill I decided to discontinue. I'm lucky to be a researcher and have access to journals and research information that helped me figure out that it was, in fact, the pill. Doctors do not know anything and I lived in HELL for a month because of yaz with people treating me as if I'm crazy because they would not admit it was the pill. Their only suggestions was to see a urologist. As I imagined, once I stopped taking the pill the uti symptoms went away. THIS PILL AND THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM INCLUDING DOCTORS THAT CAN NEVER BE REACHED SUCKS. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS THE WORST HEALTH CARE AND THEY TREAT PATIENTS LIKE CATTLE. YAZ is a horrible drug that is overrated.

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 think most of this is all in your heads. It does state clearly in the booklet though that you will have less of a sex drive. But being depressed and all is all own thing. Maybe if you start thinking that its making you happy you will feel happy....

anyone feel like drinking a lot? i've been on Yaz for 2 weeks and im absolutely miserable! I don't like my friends anymore, i hate my job and I want to go somewhere to relax but i cant think of a place that doesn't sound depressing to me. Ive never felt like drinking would help a mood swing issue but i find that im drinking every night and i definitely don't want to become an alcoholic because of this stupid pill. Ive smoked for a few years ..no more than a pack a day and now im smoking a lot more which makes my chest hurt then the paranoia comes in and i think i have cancer and all these other things wrong with me and start crying..at work. i yell at everyone and say really mean things then 2 seconds later i want to take it back cause i really didn't mean to say them in the first place. i think i make things up and dwell on them. im psychotic and so insecure now. I cant be satisfied and i cant make decisions. but hey, i cant get pregnant if no one wants to be around me!

I am a perfectly healthy, 24-year old young lady in excellent mental and physical health. I eat right, exercise regularly and I have no history of any health problems. In August of 2007 I started taking Yaz, it was prescribed by my gynecologist and I always got free samples, so I began taking it. In November of 2007 (almost 4-months after starting Yaz) I began having severely painful and scary gallbladder attacks. After multiple tests, I found out that at 22 years of age, my gallbladder was functioning at 0% and had to be removed immediately. I always thought that it was odd and my family did too because there is no history of gallbladder disease in my family at all and I was way too young and healthy to have my gallbladder fail. During the first few months of taking Yaz, I noticed that I was moody and tired beyond belief. I lost a few pounds though. For the first couple of months, my acne got worse, but then around the same time that I had my gallbladder removed, my acne started to improve pretty rapidly. A couple of months later I was diagnosed with IBS and have suffered digestive problems since.
I was in a relationship when I started taking Yaz and for no reason at all I lost all interest in sex and developed anxiety and an aversion to touch and in January of 2008 I broke things off with my boyfriend for no reason at all. In March of 2008 I started having severe anxiety and panic attacks. At times I even had thoughts of dying and thought that "at least I won't feel this way anymore."
To soothe those feelings I began drinking and partying and found that I felt better with the calming effects of alcohol. I drank at least 4 nights a week for about two months until I started gaining weight from the drinking. I don't have an addictive personality at all and so I just quit drinking cold turkey. It tasted horrible anyways.
In May 2008 I met the most wonderful man in the world, and yet, I was unable to ever really "feel" anything for him and I always felt emotionless and empty. My anxiety and panic attacks continued and I absolutely had no sex drive. We would have sex, but eventually my aversion to it took over and we began fighting for no reason at all and I became panicky and depressed again. In July 2008 I developed a severe allergic reaction to peanuts and had to be taken to the emergency room. I have never had any allergies and have enjoyed peanuts all throughout my life. In August of 2008 I developed an allergy to penicillin and broke out in hives. I had never been allergic to anything in my life, and all of a sudden, I had two allergies!!!
In September of 2008 my immune system went down the drain and I developed a severe and life-threatening MRSA infection. I was in and out of the emergency room for a week straight and didn't get better from it for over 3 weeks. The doctors thought I had to have some sort of AIDS or Cancer to be getting MRSA at such a young age....but all tests came back negative multiple times and they just shrugged me off as an exception to the rule.
In October of 2008 I got a severe intestinal infection called c. diff.
This took two weeks for me to get over and was absolutely horrible!!
What was happening to my body??
What was happening to my immune system??
In November I started having problems with my blood sugar and I always felt like I was on the verge of passing out unless I ate on a constant basis.
It was horrible!!!
By this time, my acne was gone, my periods were shorter...thanks Yaz.

But, I had
Migraines/Severe Headaches
Fluctuating Appetite with weird cravings for salty and sweet foods
Low Blood Sugar with light-headedness and weakness
Blurry Vision (even though my eye doctor has told me repeatedly that I have perfect vision)
Brain Fog
Severe Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Nervousness and Restlessness
Inability to pay attention
Moodiness/Snappiness
Depression
Long episodes of ataraxia where I just couldn't feel any kind of emotion
NO SEX DRIVE
An aversion to touch
Hot flashes
Body aches
Thinning hair
My gallbladder quit functioning
I had a very weak immune system
and I had developed allergies to things I had been in contact with all my life...
I had back aches and neck pains
And I had severe Insomnia in spite of the fact that I was exhausted all the time! And when I did sleep it was worth nothing....
In January of 2009 I quit my job and dumped my 'perfect' boyfriend.
In February I was unable to get a hold of any Yaz bc and therefore since I wasn't having sex, I skipped February. I felt better in February and never made any connection and so I got back on in March and since then I have never felt worse in my life!!!! I've been doing research on the effects that Yaz and other bc hormones have on our bodies and it is astonishing how much it can psychologically and physically damage our bodies. I have felt like I am going crazy and slowly dying for NO REASON AT ALL>
Yaz is a nightmare!!!
I have been off of it now for 2 days and even though I still have some of the same symptoms, I can slowly feel myself getting back to normal. I've been told that it can take up to 2-3 months to get bc completely out of your system and for your body to adjust so I'm coping and being hopeful.
During the last month or so, I have even considered taking anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications because my life is a nightmare, luckily I looked deeper into my situation and discovered the culprit b4 I put something else in my body...
Yaz is not worth it.
I will never recommend it to anyone.
The pharmaceutical companies don't give a crap about us!!!
They just want our money and don't give a shit what their chemicals do to our bodies!!!
When I have little girls of my own someday, I will never let them take b.c.
I have been letting all of my friends and family know.
I would love to participate in a class action suite or an anti-Yaz campaign....
Anything. If you know let me know because I don't ever want anyone to have to go through what I have gone through with Yaz.
Ladies....Please do significant research before you ever put anything into your bodies.

I was on YAZ for only six months and decided to stop taking it because I had absolutely NO sex drive!!! I have been off YAZ for about a year and I still have ZERO interest in sex. This is horrible!!! I don't know what to do.

I am 44 have been on yaz for two years at first it was great all my symptoms went away acne, mood swing and lost 10 pounds in two months great, then last year i started different tired and gaining weight i had my blood work done and my thyroid was off the chart and my triglycerides were 267 my doctors said to eat better i have always worked out and ate right then about 5 months ago i started getting belly fat, and a month ago i got my blood work done again and my triglycerides were 300 and my thyroid is still high i went off the yaz after reading all the comments i figured it has to be the yaz i have been off of it for a week i feel really funny light headed jittery.

I was prescribed Yaz for my PMDD. I have been on it 10 days now and have bled for the full 10 days.
I have had no energy, feel paranoid, and have very strong urges to commit suicide.
I am shaking, sweating, can't sleep and terrible nightmares.
I am crying for no reason.
I am so glad I found this site. I really thought I was losing my mind.
I'm going to the doctor in a little bit for a full explanation as to why I was not informed of these side effects?
He made it out to be the cure to so many years of PMDD.
I was excited to have finally found Yaz now I wish I had never started it.

OMG!! This is insane, I thought I was going crazy, I started YAZ about 2 weeks ago, I usually try to maintain healthy and workout a lot, but in 2 weeks i gained like 10 lbs out of nowhere!!! I am freaking out! I completely lost sex drive and as well as other said completely dry, nothing can make me wet, I also notice that I started getting a really heavy discharge everyday, Oh and depression (mood swings, snap at everything I feel like I don't want to live anymore, I don't care for my job as I used to or school...I feel helpless) I stopped YAZ 2 days ago and so far i haven't notice any change...I am still very moody and SSSOOOO tired, I can sleep all day and all night with no problem and when I do try to get up is like a magnet that's keeping me in bed, its awful!!! When does it get better???? Anybody knows??? I am falling apart!!! HELP PLEASE!!!

I am telling the story of what has happened to my wife on YAZ....

My wife is a 23 year old female, previously in good health, 5'5", 120 lbs, and a non-smoker. In January 2008 she gave birth to our amazing daughter. She has rebounded back to the same shape as she was before birth. Well originally, she had the non-hormonal IUD implant for birth control. Her body rejected it and it had to be removed after about 2-3 months. After it being removed, the Doctor recommended she take this new birth control YAZ, because my wife had previous problems with hormonal birth controls.

Well, my wife started taking YAZ. Late summer 2008, my wife began complaining about feeling tired and weak all the time. She went to the doctor a few times about it and they could not determine the cause. Well, in December of 2008, while working her job as an EMT on an ambulance, my wife began feeling light headed and weak. They put her on the cardiac monitor and found her resting heart rate to be 160 BPM. They immediately rushed her to the ER.

The ER doctor immediately admitted my wife into the INTENSIVE CARE UNIT! After a couple days, they determined that she had micro pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs) that they believed were caused by YAZ. They informed her that they were a known side effect of YAZ. Well due to her heart trying so much harder to push the blood around the clots, he heart became weakend and began heart failure. Her Ejection Fraction was at 30%, which is about equal to a 70 year old in heart failure. A normal ejection fraction is 65%. The heart is a non-repairing muscle.

As a result of this condition, she was prevented from working by her doctor, she cant drive, and cannot be alone for fear that her heart will stop. Well, of course the FMLA has now run out (March 2009) and her work has informed her they don't intend on letting her come back and her Doctor will not allow her to go back. I am currently working overseas as a US Department of Defense security contractor just to try and make ends meet. Because of the current economy, I cant even come home to take care of my wife and daughter because we wont be able to afford to live.

I encourage everyone to avoid this medication. Please don't let your life get ruined by this birth control. My wife is 23, may need a heart transplant, or may die at anytime and I cant even come home to take care of her. This medication has ruined our lives.

YAZ BELLY!! anyone else got it? I have been on this pill for 9 months now & about to switch back to ortho novum product. Within the first mth of Yaz I developed a very round (almost menopausal or pregnant shape) lower belly. It has increased over the past 8 months to a ridiculous size that no pants fit but go figure....no weight gain for 7 months. How does ones shape change that much with no weight gain?? I actually am diligent on diet & workout 3 - 6 days a week. Have looked the same for 2 years til Yaz. Now I have to size up due to the belly & rollover. Also past 3 months I started to experience ovary pain that has become significantly worse. Ob/gyn brushed off my issues at first & passed me on to GI. I have had every stomach test & all good! Remarkable they say! So back to GI to switch this week. The only plus of this pill has been a much improved complexion & actually unlike the rest of you...increased sex drive. All I want to know is I am the only one with Yaz shape belly??

I've been on Yaz for about two years. I stopped at one point, because it makes me miserable, but wasn't menstruating after six months (and definitely not pregnant) so my doctor convinced me the Yaz would make me better. Who knows - maybe it just takes more than six months for the 'brain fog" side effect to go away, but I agreed to go back on it. I exercise daily, and I've always been a healthy eater and still am during the day, but after this pill I just want to shove junk food in my face all night or anytime something is stressing me. On Yaz, the wind blowing the wrong way can stress me. Still exercising, but gluttonous, I've gained 20 lbs. I don't remember what having a sex drive feels like, and I've lost all ability to be a patient and upbeat person. I have a B12 deficiency from the pill, and possibly vitamin D as well...the D is fun, because occasionally the joints in my feet and hands swell up, eliminating my ability to function normally, and I get hives. Thanks, Bayer!!

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 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.

I am now on my second packet of Yaz. I switched over to Yaz from the Loestrin 24 due to severe bleeding. I can't rave enough about how much better Yaz has been for me. I have lost almost 15 pounds and now have my sex drive back. I am not having anxiety attacks at night anymore either, as I did on the Loestrin. From reading the post here, it looks like no one likes the Yaz, but for me it's been a God send. I guess everyone is different.

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 have been on other birth controls, and more recently have been off for 8 months. Not trying to get pregnant, just sick of the side effects of my other pills (generics). Doc gave me yaz, I didn't take it until now, 5 months after prescribed. I have been taking it for 7 days, and I feel like crap. I thought my back pain was from sleeping wrong and sitting at a computer, but you guys have it too. I didn't have a BM for the first 5 days, and when I did it was painful and smelled like someone died (completely unlike me). I feel like I don't want to do anything fun. I have gone to bed by 9 every night and have no interest in doing anything else. Even thinking about my Sunday plans, which are normally fun and exciting, all I want to do is lay in bed.

This pill is whack, and I'm going off it immediately. I would rather get pregnant or be stuck using icky condoms again than deal with this crap. Thank you everyone else for sharing. I hope someone else eyes get opened like mine just were.

I just finished my first and now ONLY month of Yaz yesterday. After reading these boards I have found I am not crazy! Since taking yaz I have had more breakout, hair thinning, leg cramps, SEVERE constant headaches, abdominal pain, neck pain, back pain, no period at all, VERY low sex drive, exhaustion, blurred vision, very hard to drive also, anxiety, rage, depression, dizziness. Thats just off the top of my head!

I was put on this because I had abnormal uterine bleeding which had actually started to stop the day I was given yaz. But, I feel this pill will kill me before it will help me! I refuse to take it! Beware!

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 having trouble coming off of YAZ. I am 30 and have been taking YAZ for a year and a half. I've had little to no side effects at all while taking it. I felt great... the best I felt in my life. Little to no moodiness during PMS, very light periods. It was great! I have been off YAZ for a month and a half and I feel like a monster! I have mood swings, anger, and I'm very irritable. It seems that I am experiencing some of the same side effects coming off of YAZ that others are experiencing while on it. .... I am just wondering if anyone else has or had my experience. I'm tempted to go back on it just because I feel terrible being off of it. I would like to try getting pregnant within the year... so I thought getting off of the pill from now would be a good adjustment. Any thoughts? Should I get back on it or "tough" it out? - Laur

GOOD NEWS THE FDA HAS GIVEN BAYER A WARNING BECAUST THIER ADVERISING WAS NOT SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC.
You can find the exact wording at fda.gov under "drugs" than under "consmer" {info or something},
once you're there search Yaz. Anyways I plan on contacting all the lawyers that I did a few months
ago to let them know bayer was warned that their advertising didn't warn women well enough of the
potential dangers. I believe Yaz should be off the market or at bare minimum have MUCH MUCH better
warnings. I am apparently not the only feeling this frustration so I think we should all contact
the same lawyers and anyone who wants a list from me please e-mail me and if the lawyers hear from
all of us and know about the warning the least that would happen is they would be prepared when
more problems were addressed by the FDA and I think we all know what the best out come would be.
IF YOU WANT YAZ OFF THE MARKET PLEASE CONTACT THE FDA, FDC, AND BAYER { EVEN THOUGH YOU'LL FIND
BAYER DOESN'T HAVE ANY INFO FOR YOU}. Let me know if you want the lawyer the list. Thanks to
everyone who has already contacted the FDA {who knew it would really work}.

i started taking yaz in June because ive tried almost every other birth control pill, and patch and my mood and depression seemed to be only when i was on one of these. I wanted to go on that mirana IUD however my doctor told me i shouldn't because i have not had kids, im not married and im only 19 however it seemed anything i tried gave me the same side effects. So they put me on YAZ instead, at first it was great shorter periods, little to no cramps, but now 5 months and i hate it. I live with my boyfriend now and when before my sex drive was high I have ABSOLUTELY NO SEX DRIVE LEFT AND IM ONLY 19, WHAT HAPPENED TO IT. And whats worse my moodiness has come back for example at the store today i lost it and started crying when they didn't have the coat i wanted to buy. I couldn't control myself i completely lost it. i don't know what to do with myself anymore. My emotions are worse then ever before i want them to put me on something that has no hormones my body cant take it. can anyone give me any suggestions.