Yaz general information
What is Yaz used for?
Yaz is a low dose combined oral contraceptive pill and is used as an effective means of birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Yaz contraceptive pills contain a combination of two hormones at low doses in a single pill. Each pack of Yaz contains one month’s supply of pills (28 days) of which there are 24 hormone-containing pills and 4 placebo (non-hormonal) pills, to allow each monthly cycle to end with a withdrawal bleed. When using Yaz for contraception, you will probably find that your periods become regular and you may also experience lighter, less painful menstruation and an improvement in pre-menstrual symptoms, like bloating, swelling or weight gain related to fluid retention, also improvement in acne and reductions in greasiness of the skin and hair.
How does Yaz work?
Yaz contraceptive pills contain a combination of two hormones, ethinyloestradiol (20mcg), a synthetic oestrogen, and drospirenone (3mg), a synthetic progestogen, which work together to protect against pregnancy. Preparation for pregnancy depends on a complex interaction between the female sex hormones produced by the ovaries; oestrogen, which stimulates ovulation, and progesterone which prepares the endometrium (lining of the uterus) for implantation of an embryo, as well as other regulating hormones, produced by the hypothalamus in the brain and the pituitary gland. Yaz combined hormonal contraception works by disrupting the normal menstrual, preventing egg maturation and suppressing ovulation, as well as preventing development of the endometrium, so that a fertilised egg would not be able to implant and grow. Another contraceptive action of Yaz pills is that the cervical mucus, which normally changes consistency at ovulation to become thinner, remains thick, forming a physical barrier to sperm. Drospirenone, the progestagen component of Yaz is one of the newer synthetic progestogens and has very little androgenic activity, unlike natural progesterone and therefore has a beneficial effect on androgen-related skin disorders such as acne and hirsutism (unwanted hair).
What does Yaz contain?
Yaz contraceptive pills contain the active ingredient combination of two hormones, ethinyloestradiol (20mcg), a synthetic oestrogen, and drospirenone (3mg), a synthetic progestogen, which work together to protect against pregnancy. There are 24 hormone-containing pills per pack, which also contain lactose, maize starch, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, purified talc, titanium dioxide, iron oxide red. There are 4 placebo (non-hormonal) pills per pack which contain lactose, maize starch, povidone, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide.
Taking Yaz as a contraceptive pill
Yaz contraceptive pills contain a combination of two hormones, ethinyloestradiol, a synthetic oestrogen, and drospirenone, a synthetic progestogen, which work together to provide effective birth control by protecting against pregnancy. Yaz contraceptive pills work by preventing egg maturation and suppressing ovulation, as well as preventing development and thickening of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) in preparation for implantation, so that a fertilised egg would not be able to implant and grow. You must take your Yaz contraceptive pills continually to ensure effective contraception, with 24 days of hormonal pills followed by 4 days non-hormonal pills, during which time you will have a menstrual bleed, which may be light and less painful than usual.
Can you get pregnant if you miss a Yaz pill
Yaz contraceptive pills provide effective contraception when taken correctly and have a failure rate of approximately 1% per year. The failure rate may increase if you miss a pill and may result in an unwanted pregnancy. To prevent this ensure that you take your Yaz contraceptive pills correctly and continually.
Yaz for contraception
Yaz contraceptive pills contain a combination of two hormones, ethinyloestradiol, a synthetic oestrogen, and drospirenone, a synthetic progestogen, which work together to provide effective contraception. Yaz contraceptive pills work by preventing egg maturation and suppressing ovulation, as well as preventing development and thickening of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) in preparation for implantation, so that a fertilised egg would not be able to implant and grow. You must take your Yaz contraceptive pills continually to ensure effective contraception, with 24 days of hormonal pills followed by 4 days non-hormonal pills, during which time you will have a menstrual bleed, which may be light and less painful than usual.
What are the side effects of Yaz?
The most frequently reported side effects when taking Yaz contraceptive pills are: breast tenderness, breast pain, abdominal pain, nausea, oedema, and headache, skin rash and itching, insomnia and depression. Less common side effects include: migraine, fluid retention, changes in body weight, changes in libido.
When should Yaz not be used?
You should not use Yaz contraceptive pills if you:
- are allergic to ethinyloestradiol or drospirenone or any of the ingredients in Yaz contraceptive pills
- have a past or family history of carcinoma of the breast, endometrial carcinoma or liver disease
- have high blood pressure, lipid disorders or migraine
- have had deep venous thrombosis, thromboembolic disorders, heart attack or stroke
- have diabetes with changes to the blood vessels;
- abnormal genital bleeding of unknown cause
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- are taking other medications that may interact with Yaz, such as anticonvulsants like phenytoin and carbamazepine, barbiturates, anti-infectives like rifampicin, rifabutin, nevirapine, the antifungal griseofulvin, antibiotics like penicillin, preparations containing St John's Wort
What medicines interact with Yaz?
Some medications interact with Yaz contraceptive pills and prevent them working effectively, increasing your risk of becoming pregnant. If you are taking any of the following you may need to take other contraceptive precautions:
- anticonvulsants like phenytoin and carbamazepine
- barbiturates
- anti-infectives like rifampicin, rifabutin, nevirapine, griseofulvin
- antibiotics like penicillin
- preparations containing St John's Wort
What are the health risks of Yaz?
Combination contraceptive pills like Yaz can increase risk of thrombosis (blood clots), which can have serious consequence depending on where the clot forms. There is also an increased risk of breast cancer.
How should Yaz be taken?
Each pack of Yaz contraceptive pills contains 28 pills for a complete monthly cycle and should be taken continually to ensure effective contraception. The first 24 pills contain the contraceptive hormones and the last 4 pills are a placebo, which do not contain any hormones. While you are taking these placebo pills you will have a menstrual bleed. When you have finished one pack, start a new one the next day. If you have gastrointestinal problems like vomiting or diarrhoea within 3-4 hours of taking your hormonal pill, this is the same as missing a pill and you should take other contraceptive precautions for the next 7 days.
How long should you take Yaz?
Each pack of Yaz contraceptive pills contains 28 pills for a complete monthly cycle and should be taken continually to ensure effective contraception. You should take Yaz contraceptive pills for as long as your doctor recommends.
Missed dose of Yaz
If you miss a dose of Yaz follow these guidelines to help you decide what to do:
- If you are less than 24 hours late in taking your pill, take it as soon as you remember and take the next one at your usual time. You are still protected against pregnancy.
- If you are more than 24 hours late in taking your pill, follow these detailed instructions:
Day 1-7 (pink hormonal pills)
Take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if this means taking 2 pills at the same time, and then take your next pill at the usual time. Contraceptive protection may be reduced and you are at risk of becoming pregnant, unless you use other contraceptive precautions for the next 7 days.
Day 8-14 (pink hormonal pills)
Take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if this means taking 2 pills at the same time, and then take your next pill at the usual time. You are still protected against pregnancy.
Day 15-24 (pink hormonal pills)
Take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if this means taking 2 pills at the same time, and then take your next pill at the usual time. When all the active pink pills are used up, discard the last four inactive white pills and start a new pack right away.
Day 24-28 (white non-hormonal pills)
Take the next pill as usual and discard the missed pill. You are not at risk of becoming pregnant.
How should Yaz be stored?
Keep your Yaz contraceptive pills in their calendar pack until use. Store at room temperature below 25°C.