Yaz (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol) is a brand-name oral tablet. It’s prescribed to help prevent pregnancy and treat other conditions in adults and certain children. As with other drugs, Yaz can cause side effects, such as headache and nausea.

Yaz can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Yaz in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Yaz. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Yaz’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Yaz when taken to help prevent pregnancy and acne. These can include:

Mild side effects that have been reported with Yaz when taken to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder. These can include:

  • headache
  • nausea
  • breast tenderness
  • fatigue
  • mood changes
  • low libido (sex drive)
  • irritability
  • weight gain
  • discomfort while wearing contact lenses
  • blotchy areas on the skin, especially on the face
  • menstrual irregularities*
  • mild allergic reaction†

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Yaz and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Yaz. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials, but has occurred since the drug was approved. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Yaz may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Yaz’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Yaz, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† Yaz has a boxed warning for this side effect. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
‡ An allergic reaction is possible after taking Yaz. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of the drug, but has occurred since the drug was approved. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

The side effects of Yaz are expected to be the same in adults and children.

Yaz is approved for treating acne in children ages 14 years and older who are able to become pregnant.

Yaz is approved to help prevent pregnancy and treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder in females* of any age who are able to become pregnant.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the term “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

Yaz may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Can Yaz cause long-term side effects?

It’s possible. Yaz belongs to a class of drugs known as combined oral contraceptives. These are hormonal birth control pills that contain both progestin (a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone) and estrogen.

Long-term treatment with combined oral contraceptives, such as Yaz, may increase the risk of certain cancers. These include a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, and cervical cancer.

Yaz, as with other hormone birth control pills, may cause blood clots. Blood clots can happen at any time during treatment, but the risk is greatest during the first 6 months of taking the drug. This risk should decrease gradually after you stop taking Yaz.

Blood clots can lead to serious cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack or stroke. These problems could require long-term treatment or recovery time. (To learn more, see “Side effect specifics” below.)

If you have questions about the long-term side effects of Yaz, talk with your doctor.

Will I experience certain side effects after stopping Yaz?

It’s possible for you to experience side effects after stopping Yaz. After stopping treatment with any hormonal birth control, your body will need time to adjust to the change in hormone levels. This can cause side effects such as acne, cramping, or headaches. These side effects are temporary and should go away over time without treatment.

Some side effects, such as menstrual cycle changes, may last longer after stopping the drug. It can take several months for your typical menstrual cycle to resume.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or are experiencing side effects that aren’t going away after stopping the drug.

How long do side effects of Yaz typically last?

Most side effects of Yaz are mild and typically don’t last long. They tend to be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, in some cases, side effects may not go away.

It’s possible that Yaz may cause serious side effects that can lead to long-term problems. For example, blood clots can lead to serious cardiovascular problems such as heart attack or stroke. These problems could lead to long-term treatment or recovery times. (To learn more, see “Side effect specifics” below.)

If you have questions about long-term side effects with Yaz, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You should contact your doctor right away if you develop symptoms of a serious side effect while taking Yaz.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Yaz may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Yaz.

Increased risk of serious cardiovascular events due to cigarette smoking

Yaz has a boxed warning about the increased risk of serious cardiovascular events due to cigarette smoking. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Boxed warnings alert healthcare professionals and patients about the most serious side effects a drug may cause.

Taking Yaz or other combined oral contraceptives was shown in rare cases to increase the risk of serious cardiovascular events in clinical trials. Cardiovascular events are problems that occur in your heart or blood vessels, such as blood clots, heart attack, or stroke. Symptoms can include:

  • persistent leg pain
  • sudden shortness of breath
  • severe pain in your chest
  • sudden or severe headaches that are different from your typical headaches
  • weakness or numbness in an arm or leg

What you can do

You may have a higher risk of cardiovascular events during treatment with Yaz if you’ve had blood clots in the past or have certain risk factors for developing them. (To learn more, see “Precautions for Yaz” section below).

Talk with your doctor about your risk factors before deciding which birth control option is right for you. If you are older than age 35 years and smoke cigarettes, your doctor will likely recommend other birth control options for you.

Menstrual irregularities

Menstrual irregularities were a common side effect of Yaz in clinical trials. This side effect can occur at any time, but was more commonly reported during the first 3 months of treatment.

Symptoms can include:

  • spotting
  • breakthrough bleeding
  • lighter or heavier periods
  • not getting a period

What you can do

In most cases, these changes in menstruation are not harmful. This side effect is temporary and will typically resolve over time. If you have concerns about bleeding or are still experiencing spotting or other irregularities after a few months of taking the drug, talk with your doctor.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Yaz can cause an allergic reaction in some people. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of the drug, but has occurred since the drug was approved.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Yaz. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

This drug comes with several precautions. Below is important information you should consider before taking Yaz.

Boxed warning: Increased risk of serious cardiovascular events due to cigarette smoking

This drug has a boxed warning for increased risk of serious cardiovascular events due to cigarette smoking. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section above.

Cigarette smoking while taking Yaz or other combination oral contraceptives can increase your risk of serious cardiovascular events. These are conditions that occur in your heart or blood vessels, such as blood clots, heart attack, or stroke.

The risk of serious cardiovascular events increases with age, particularly in people over 35 years of age. The risk also increases with the number of cigarettes smoked. Because of this risk, if you are older than age 35 years and smoke cigarettes, your doctor will likely recommend other birth control options for you.

Other precautions

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Yaz. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Risk of blood clots. Talk with your doctor if you’ve had blood clots in the past or are at risk of developing them. You may have a higher risk of developing blots clots during treatment with Yaz if you:

  • smoke and are over 35 years of age
  • have had a heart attack or stroke in the past
  • have any condition that affects blood clotting
  • have certain heart problems that can cause blood clots, such as atrial fibrillation
  • have unmanaged hypertension
  • have recently had surgery or are having surgery soon that will limit your ability to move around
  • gave birth in the past 4 weeks and are not breastfeeding

Talk with your doctor before starting Yaz if you have any of these risk factors. They can help determine whether Yaz is right for you.

Breast cancer. If you currently have or have had breast cancer or another type of cancer that is sensitive to hormones, you should not take Yaz. These types of cancers rely on estrogen to develop and grow and may worsen your condition. If you have or have had cancer in the past, talk with your doctor about other birth control options.

High blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, it’s possible that taking Yaz may worsen your condition. Having high blood pressure can also increase your risk of serious cardiovascular problems, such as blood clots, heart attack, or stroke. Your doctor may monitor you more closely during treatment with Yaz or recommend a different birth control option for you.

Lipid disorders. Taking Yaz can increase the levels of fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood. If you already have high cholesterol, taking Yaz can worsen your condition. Having a lipid disorder may increase your risk of cardiovascular problems, such as blood clots, heart attack, or stroke. If you have a lipid disorder, your doctor may recommend a different birth control option for you.

Liver, kidney or adrenal gland problems. Yaz can cause hyperkalemia (high level of potassium in the blood). If you already have existing problems with your liver, kidneys, or adrenal glands, you may be at higher risk of this side effect. Your doctor may monitor your potassium level during treatment with Yaz. They may also suggest other birth control options for you.

Gallbladder disease. Taking Yaz may increase your risk of developing gallbladder disease. If you’ve had gallbladder problems in the past, talk with your doctor to determine if Yaz is the right option for you.

Migraine. If you get certain kinds of migraine headaches or if you’re age 35 years or older and have any kind of migraine, you should not take Yaz. If you get migraine headaches, talk with your doctor before taking Yaz. They may recommend a different birth control option for you.

Depression. Taking Yaz can cause mood changes and may worsen depression. If you have depression, talk with your doctor before starting Yaz. They may suggest another birth control option for you.

Chloasma gravidarum. Chloasma gravidarum is a condition that causes darkened skin patches during pregnancy, especially on the face. If you’ve had chloasma in the past, you should avoid sunlight and UV light while taking Yaz. Talk with your doctor if you have additional questions or concerns about taking Yaz if you’ve had chloasma.

Hereditary angioedema. Hereditary angioedema is a genetic condition that causes episodes of fluid retention and swelling. Taking Yaz can worsen this condition. If you have hereditary angioedema, talk with your doctor to determine whether Yaz is the right birth control option for you.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Yaz or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Yaz. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Pregnancy. Yaz is a hormone birth control pill taken to help prevent pregnancy. It’s not meant to be taken during pregnancy. There is no known harm if it’s taken in early pregnancy (before you know you are pregnant). If you think you may be pregnant, talk with your doctor right away.

Breastfeeding. Yaz isn’t recommended while breastfeeding. Yaz and other drugs that contain estrogen can reduce the production of breast milk. Your doctor will likely recommend another form of birth control that doesn’t contain estrogen while you are breastfeeding. If you have questions about birth control options while breastfeeding, talk with your doctor.

Alcohol consumption. There are no known interactions between Yaz and alcohol. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about drinking alcohol while taking Yaz.

As with most medications, Yaz can cause side effects. Most are mild and will go away on their own after a few days to weeks. Yaz can also cause some serious side effects. You should talk with your doctor if you have any side effects that last, are bothersome, or are serious.

If you’d like to learn more about Yaz, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

  • More information about Yaz. For details about other aspects of Yaz, refer to this article.
  • Dosage. For information about the dosage of Yaz, view this article.
  • Interactions. To find out about Yaz’s interactions, see this article.
  • A look at your condition. For details about Yaz’s uses, see our women’s health and dermatology hubs.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.