Your experience with YAZ birth control pills

renee alex · Newbie Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

I am almost finished with my first pack and I have mixed feelings. I am usually a 32a and now none of my bras fit ... my breast have grown a full cup size, they are also tender. I should be happy but I am not sure if this permanent. Also after two weeks on Yaz I have broken out with some acne and it has not cleared, I thought this is suppose to help with acne. I am also embarassed to say I also got two pimples on my butt cheek, I have never had this before. I have not weighed myself but I don't think I gained any weight and I hope not to . My doctor prescribed this to regulate my period and I may just give it another month. My usually healthy sex drive is not so healthy, I still have sex with my boyfriend but it is not the same and I am need lubrication.

c-mav · Newbie Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

I just cannot believe how similar everyone's story is to mine! I don't feel nuts anymore!! Shocked

I began taking Yaz in April 2007, and will finish my last pack this week. Yes, my LAST PACK. I had never used hormonal bc before. This was recommended by my Dr as basically the newest, best thing. Physically I must say I have felt very good on it (almost no period vs. a horrible one prior), no cramps, etc. BUT. And it's a very big but.
After a few months, I realized I had basically NO sex drive left (quite unlike me prior). This was difficult as I'd just gotten married and suddenly felt like I might as well join a convent for all I cared about sex anymore.
Granted I have always been a somewhat nervous, anxious person, sort of low self-esteem. But, never depressive in a clinical sense. Well, within a few months on the Yaz I noticed a huge manification of my anxiety symptoms, accompanied by heavy feelings of depression that would just swoop over me like a cloud, almost tangible. I have been crying uncontrollably, and hysterically, as well as yelling at my husband, for basically no good reason. On Yaz I have also experienced 'highs' too, where I could tell there was something not right about me - too talkative, almost inappropriate - again, unlike me. What has also scared me is some impulsive tendencies lately, such as having an urge to drive too fast, or feeling unusually aggressive in an interpersonal sense.
I have, too, been going through some life transitions, such as finishing grad school, getting married, job hunt, but, I don't believe that I should be reacting psychologically in such an extreme way. I know in my mind that I am a bright person and so is my future.
So, all things weighed in, I began to feel that any risk of pregnancy that may be associated with condoms, etc., is not nearly as hard for me to deal with, as compared to how I have been feeling on this pill. I have work to do and cannot take a few more months to play around and 'see' if another pill will be less bad.
Anyway, this turned into a book. I'm just sooo glad to know that I am not alone. -cmav

Guest · Guest

I just cannot believe how similar everyone's story is to mine! I don't feel nuts anymore!! Shocked

I began taking Yaz in April 2007, and will finish my last pack this week. Yes, my LAST PACK. I had never used hormonal bc before. This was recommended by my Dr as basically the newest, best thing. Physically I must say I have felt very good on it (almost no period vs. a horrible one prior), no cramps, etc. BUT. And it's a very big but.
After a few months, I realized I had basically NO sex drive left (quite unlike me prior). This was difficult as I'd just gotten married and suddenly felt like I might as well join a convent for all I cared about sex anymore. Next, the depression. Granted I have always been a somewhat nervous, anxious person with some low self-esteem. But, never depressive in a clinical sense. Well, within a few months on the Yaz I noticed a huge magnification of my anxiety symptoms, accompanied by heavy feelings of depression that would just roll over me like a cloud - almost tangible. I have been crying uncontrollably literally every other day, and hysterically/sobbing. I have also been yelling at my incredibly sweet husband, for basically no good reason. Equally disturbing, on Yaz I have also experienced 'highs', where I could tell there was something not right about me - too talkative, almost inappropriate - again, unlike me. What has also scared me is some impulsive tendencies lately, such as having an urge to drive too fast, or feeling unusually aggressive in an interpersonal sense, and, again, for no really substantive reason. I have experienced paranoia as well - that someone has plotted against me. Starts to sound a little psychotic, right?
Yes, I have, too, been going through some life transitions, such as finishing school, getting married, and starting a job hunt, but - I don't believe that I would normally react in such extreme ways. I know in my mind (even if I don't feel it right now) that my future is nothing but bright. So, all things weighed in, I began to feel that any risk of pregnancy that may be associated with condoms, etc., is not nearly as hard for me to deal with as compared to how I have been feeling on this pill. I have work to do and cannot take a few more months to play around and 'see' if another pill will be less bad. What if it makes me WORSE?
Anyway, this turned into a book. These pills were designed to liberate women and make our lives so wonderful, and they are still marketed that way. We are told in the packages that symptoms like mood swings and anxiety are 'minor side effects.' Drug co's are powerful.
I'm sorry so many of us have had this happen, but am glad to know that I am not alone, wrong, or crazy. -cmav

siva418 · Newbie Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

Irish_Rain · Newbie Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 13

I've been on Yaz for a year now. It is the first form of hormonal birth control that I've used. Before Yaz, I had excruciating periods. They would last 5-7 days which is normal, but it was very painful and caused me to have fatigue and a general feeling of icky-ness. During high school, I even missed some days of school just because I couldn't get out of bed due to the cramps. Since taking Yaz, my periods aren't as bad. They last 4-6 days, but they aren't near as painful. I also had semi-bad acne before taking Yaz, and it's gotten a lot better. And oddly enough, after taking Yaz I actually lost about 5-10 pounds, contrary to popular belief that birth control pills always make you gain weight. I'm a natural pessimist and I have issues with depression, this was neither inhibited nor forwarded by Yaz. I'm still the same pessimistic person. I also had Iron Deficiency Anemia and after taking Yaz the lighter, shorter periods have helped me to fill my iron stores back up. I have a little bit more energy and I don't feel quite so lethargic. Remember that it's different for every woman and the only way to know which pill is right for you is to talk with your doctor.

Guest · Guest

I've been reading all the posts of people claiming to be crazy, nuts, sad, depressed by taking yaz. i also hear of everyone saying they're going to try it out too.

yaz isn't for everyone.

if you're having negative side effects, it wasn't meant for you. so stop bitching.

yaz is meant for people with a certain type of PMDD... not everyone has it.

if you have only mild periods, moods, etc... there is no reason you should take yaz. it would absolutely change your lifestyle. it is MEANT for people that are ALREADY that way and want to go the opposite.

stop complaining and do some research.

i take yaz. it helps me. i'm less depressed and angry before my period starts. it helped me because i NEED to be on it for all the hormones that come in our food, water, etc. these extra hormones wrack my body. and yaz fixes it.

if you're not already in the lineup for bed ridden, moodiness, depression, anxiety, acne and weight gain. then stop complaining. get on something else.

it just wasn't meant for you. obviously all of you who are complaining need to seek a new gynecologist, as why they were prescribe something you don't need is the question i would ask.

puppylove86 · Newbie Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 10

I realize that Yaz is intended for women with PMDD. I was diagnosed with PMDD when I was younger, around the age of 14, I'm now 21. My mom doesn't know why I was taken off of it, because she says that a week before my period and during, I'm very hard to live with. I've noticed this too, but I've just taken Midol for it. I'm currently on Seasonale, and considering changing bc pills. Before Seasonale I was on Yasmin. I don't know if I should go back to Yasmin or try something else, like Yaz. I know I'm going to have to talk with my doctor about this, the thing is I've been reading a lot of posts, and the majority is negative and it kinda scares me to NOT want to try it.

scarlet.begonias · Newbie Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

When I was at the OB/GYN for a checkup, I told him I wanted to try Yaz, based on what my friend told me about her daughter's experience with it (she loves it, after having tried several other brands). He seemed hesitant, said they don't like to really prescribe it, and I asked why, and he went into something about how everone reacts different, its a new pill, etc., but he gave me 2 months worth of samples to try anyways and said to call if I have any problems. I am now finishing my first pack (on my period/white pills) and up till now I had zero problems... I loved it, too, in fact! Other pills had given me strong negative emptional reactions, as well as noticable weight gain, both of which bothered me alot. I actually seem to have LOST weight on this pill, despite this past Thanskgiving, and my skin and hair and nails are all in great condition. HOWEVER, yesterday was the first "real" day of my period after two days of light spotting and it is HEAVY like it has never been in my life... I thought this pill was supposed to help with that? I'm gonna buy stock in tampax soon, because I'm goin' through a super plus every hour-2 hours! I hope this lightens up quick.. and I hope it means heavier, but shorter period... ay... well, I'll go through with the 2nd month and see fr there I guess. Good luck to everyone, we're all different ad experience different side effects, I guess...

Guest · Guest

I have been on Yaz for 6 months and I have had absolutely no side effects, good or bad. Mood, sex drive, weight, bra size, complexion, period duration and flow are all exactly as they were before I started taking it. How you react to Yaz will be different for everyone, so if your doctor prescribed it and you're worried about all the negative experiences posted (I was!), it's not a guarantee you'll experience the same. Lots of people do great on Yaz.

Guest · Guest

I'm 20 years old and (geez it feels so strange to say that b/c I just turned 20 :/ sorry for the random stray from topic) I'm on a generic brand of Loestrin right now, and I haven't had any "really" horrible side effects other than my acne exacerbated and I gained a little bit of weight. But after the acne got worse for a month or so, it started to get better.

Well, now that I think about it I also experienced moodiness/depression when I first started it, but things have seemed to even out.

I'm not using bc for contraceptive reasons, I'm on it to regulate my cycle because I tend to have really heavy, painful periods, terrible bloating (up to 6 pounds in 4 days, then I'm all skinny again a week later)and I get really depressed right before my period which is something that just started a couple of years ago.

Tomorrow morning I have an appointment with my doctor and I'm going to ask her if Yaz would be right for me. I just want to try something else because one birth control pill can't be right for every single woman. If Yaz doesn't work for me after a few months, perhaps I'll switch back to Loestrin, or maybe try something new once again.

Thanks to everyone for posting your experiences. Smile

Your experience with YAZ birth control pills

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