Okay, I’ll admit I was drawn in by the slick advertisements for Yaz, a new type of birth control pill that promises relief from those dreaded PMMD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a more sever form of pre-menstrual syndrome with the following symptoms: irritability, fatigue, bloating, cramping, et al. I had not been diagnosed formally with PMMD until I asked my doctor about Yaz. She then asked me to keep a calendar for a month. Based on that calendar, she did feel Yaz was appropriate for my symptoms.
I’m over 40, generally healthy with no history of breast cancer or liver disease, so my gynecologist thought I would be a good candidate. I’m now on my third pack. Just for the record, I am just a layman…a 40 + woman who is tired of dreading five days every month. I have no medical expertise and this product review is just based on my opinion.
The good news is that Yaz does make your periods much lighter and shorter. The pills are now, 90 days after starting them, actually beginning to have an impact on my PMS symptoms. This month, my period started on time, but without the usual build-up. That was a good relief. The pill is also 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. You can start the day you start your period or the Sunday following your start. Each pack contains four placebo pills, which
Now, the bad news. Yaz doesn’t work immediately. My doctor told me that seldom were the promised results achieved during the first month, but were almost always achieved by the third month. So, you have to be patient (which may be very difficult in those days leading up to your period). The contraceptive does begin working in the first month of use.
The drug also has a lot of side effects. I personally experienced these symptoms during the first two months: some flu-like symptoms (runny nose, headache), a rash and dehydration. I called my doctor and, since my side effects were tolerable, she advised me to give my body a chance to adjust. All side effects went away by the third month.
Looking back, I think the benefits I’m enjoying now were worth experiencing the side effects for a few weeks.
One good thing…I experienced no weight gain when I started taking Yaz. The last time I was on an oral contraceptive, I gained about eight pounds.
If you’re insurance covers oral contraceptives, it likely will pay for Yaz. However, a generic equivalent isn’t available, so it will probably fall at the high end of your co-pay. Whereas many oral contraceptives are available for $5, this one cost me $20. I imagine without insurance that it is one of the more expensive birth control pills currently on the market.
In conclusion, I’m not quite ready to go clubbing on the same day that I get my period. I am, however, able to get out of bed, put in a productive day at work and get through the day without chewing out my friends and families. If you don’t have series pre-menstrual issues, perhaps you would be better off going with a lower hormone dose.
But, if those issues are severe enough to interfere with your life, talk to your doctor. There are extra risks after age 40, but I didn’t have any of those. It’s well worth the price and the 6 p.m. alarm clock reminder for me.
Reference:
- www.yaz.com – drug company’s official Web site
