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.