Yaz is a form of birth control known as a combined oral contraceptive (COC). Like other COCs it combines the hormones, estrogen and progestin.

In the case of Yaz the two specific hormones it contains are drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, but other COCs will use different combinations.

Yaz increases your body’s levels of drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, the two hormones it contains. By increasing these hormones, Yaz can stop ovulation, the process of eggs being released from your ovaries. 

Yaz also changes the lining of your uterus and the mucus surrounding your cervix, to make it more difficult for sperm to enter into your uterus and cause pregnancy.

Yaz is a brand name drug, but a non-branded equivalent is Mya.

Yaz comes in a pack of 28 tablets. There are 24 active tablets in each pack, along with four inactive tablets that do not contain any hormones.

You may start the pill on any day of your cycle, but you should use backup birth control (like condoms) for two weeks until the pill becomes effective. If you miss a pill, please refer to this website from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada about what to do next: https://www.sexandu.ca/sos/.

With Yaz, there is the rare but serious side effect of blood clots.

Shortness of breath, chest pain (particularly with deep breathing), coughing up blood, persistent leg pain, or redness, swelling, or warmth in your lower legs (usually one-sided) can all be indications of a blood clot in the legs or lungs, and should never be ignored.

Please seek medical attention promptly if this occurs, in the emergency department.

Yaz also works as an acne treatment thanks to its ability to suppress your body’s production of androgen hormones.

Acne develops because of fluctuations in your levels of androgen hormones. When your body produces too much testosterone (a powerful androgen that’s present in men and women), the amount of natural oils called sebum secreted by your pores can increase and cause acne.

You can read more about birth control for acne here.

You should not take Yaz if you’re pregnant or if you smoke and you’re over 35. You should also not take Yaz if you have a history of uncontrolled high blood pressure, liver disease, breast disease, unexplained vaginal bleeding, migraines with aura, or a history of blood clotting disorder or clots in your legs or lungs.

If you have any questions about whether Yaz is suitable, you can ask your doctor during your online visit with Felix.

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada provides this website to read about different forms of birth control: http://www.sexualityandu.ca. It can also help you choose different forms of birth control if you are interested in switching.

The cost of Yaz oral contraceptive pills will depend on your insurance coverage if you have it. If you opt to get your Yaz prescription written and filled online through Felix, you will see the estimated cost of Yaz (along with any other contraceptive options you discuss), during your online visit. Felix charges $40 for your online visit, but you will only be charged this if and when you are approved by a healthcare practitioner. The visit fee includes a prescription that will be valid for 12 months as well as ongoing support from a doctor or pharmacist at Felix. The estimated cost of Yaz that you will see during your online visit does not include insurance or benefits coverage that you may have, which may bring the cost down or even cover it entirely. In Canada, it is illegal to display market pricing for prescription medication, but during your online visit you can clear up any questions you have about Yaz, including the price. The prices you’ll see will include the pharmacy fill fee on the refill schedule that you choose for having it delivered to your home.

You can get the oral contraceptive Yaz by talking to a doctor and getting a prescription. You can discuss your oral contraceptive options with your healthcare practitioner to determine if Yaz is the best choice for you. To get any prescription-only forms of birth control, such as oral contraceptives or IUDs,  you’ll need to meet with a doctor who will ask about your medical history and any other medications you may be taking before writing you a prescription. If you’ve already taken oral contraceptives before and have experienced side effects, a doctor can also help you determine if there is an oral contraceptive that you may feel better taking. Once you have your prescription, you can get it filled at any pharmacy. An even easier way to get Yaz (or another oral contraceptive of your choosing) is to use an online healthcare platform like Felix. With Felix, you can set up an online visit, get your prescription, and order Yaz all from the same place. This way, you can skip the visits to the doctor and the pharmacy, and you never have to worry about running out of Yaz before you’ve restocked. 

Yaz is available in Canada with a prescription. You can get a Yaz prescription through a licensed healthcare practitioner. If you have a family doctor, they will be able to prescribe you Yaz or a different oral contraceptive of your choosing. A walk-in clinic can also provide a Yaz prescription. You may be asked when your last pap smear was, and if you’re overdue for one the doctor may only give you a prescription for a few months, encouraging you to get your regular pap smear and then come back for a longer prescription. The easiest way to get Yaz in Canada is through an online healthcare platform like Felix. Your prescription will still be written by a licensed healthcare professional, as is legally required in Canada, but you don’t have to visit them in person to get it. Instead, you can set up an online consultation, provide the necessary information about your medical history and anything else that may be relevant, and get your Yaz prescription without having to leave your home. You can then have Yaz delivered directly to your doorstep through Felix, so you can skip the pharmacy trip, too. With recurring deliveries, you don’t have to worry about realizing you’re at the end of your pack of pills without a refill ready to go.