Yaz and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Acn...
• August 3, 2020

For Acne "Since I’m spending so much time reading through reviews on this page, I thought I would add in my experience from this pill! I am currently halfway through my second pack of a random generic for Yaz. Like a lot of you, my doc put me on this pill to help reduce acne (I tend towards blackheads, close comedones, as well as those dang cysts that stick around forever). Hate to say it, but I am definitely one of the ones experiencing worse skin, since beginning, I have had pretty constant cysts on my cheek/jaw area. Right now, I can count about 8 different spots that are very red and will linger for weeks (as well as my original congestion). I am hopeful that, like others have said, by pack 3 I will wake up with that magically clear skin. AS A SIDE NOTE: I am miraculously side effect-free other than the acne! No nausea, weight gain, moodiness, headaches, nada! I even started mid-cycle and didn’t get any breakthrough bleeding. I will update with this same name around the three-month mark."

• JB3...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been experimenting with different brands of birth control for 15 years. I took every pill under the sun, including the shot but always suffered terrible side effects from nausea and vomiting, to crazy mood swings, depression, anxiety and weight gain. Yaz is the ONLY pill I've been able to tolerate. I have very minimal side effects (some breast tenderness, occasional spotting). My skin looks great, I have more energy, I haven't gained a single pound, my periods are light, I still have a sex drive, and my emotions are not all over the place. I get that everyone is different and what works for some may be a nightmare for others, but if you've not been able to tolerate any other brands I'd give Yaz a try."

• Joa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 10, 2014

For Birth Control "I was taking Yaz for almost 7 years, and I loved it! My weight never changed, my skin was beautiful, normal sex drive, no cramps, 3-4 days periods. In 2013, I saw some weird spots on my face, after the consultation with a doc, it turned out to be melasma (nothing dangerous, but it doesn't look good). One of the most common causes is oral birth control. It wasn't the Yaz, just birth control with a higher amount of progestin. I switched to Mirena, and that was the worst decision ever! Acne, mood changes, gained 20 pounds in 3 weeks. I'm going back on the pill this month, and we will see how it goes, I will post about it in about 6 months."

• lan...
• November 14, 2019

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I've been struggling to find a pill that works for me for ages. I get anxiety about getting side effects like weight gain and depression, as I have experienced them before on Levlin and Yasmin. The doc suggested Yaz due to its lower dose. I have had minimal side effects so far and feel pretty great on it, except that I have been bleeding for the past 2 months. Sometimes it's really light (spotting) and others not so much. I'm hoping that if I wait it out, my periods will become more regular. After hearing so many negative comments about Yaz, I asked my doc about the blood clots, and she said that all pills increase the risk of blood clots and that it's just because Yaz is a newer pill, it's getting more attention. Also, you are at a much, much higher risk of getting a blood clot if you are pregnant. Everyone's hormones are different, so if this pill works for you, then great, if not, then try another one."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I've gotten into a serious relationship this past year, and I opted to get birth control. I have had the Xulane birth control patches and the generic Yaz, Gianvi. Xulane gave me every side effect possible-mood swings, nausea, and headache, and Gianvi made me have mood swings. I asked my pharmacist to give me the non-generic version, and I finally got Yaz. I've had zero side effects, no mood swings, no weight gain, and glowing skin! If you're hesitant to try because of previous bad reviews, give it a shot! I am the person who has every possible bad side effect of every drug, and I highly recommend it!"

• Anonymous
• November 5, 2009

For Acne "I have been on Yaz for a year, and it has been a good pill for me. I originally started taking it because of acne. I really used to think that my skin was a hopeless case, and I never even wanted to leave the house. It took about 2 months to see any real improvements in my skin, but after the third month, I completely stopped breaking out, and now I can't even remember the last time I had a pimple or a breakout when I used to break out every single day, and I'm talking bad acne all over my face. This pill has been wonderful in curing my acne, but the only complaint I have is that it caused me to gain weight quickly: 130 to 145 (in 4 months), and now my thighs and hips are covered in stretch marks. My advice is to work out regularly and eat right."

• I...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 7, 2020

"It’s been almost 2 years on the pill (Yaz). I started taking Yaz because of my period and acne. I would bleed so heavily I could never control it, horrible back pain and cramps. I also had acne so bad I hated going anywhere. After about 6 months to a year being on the pill, my acne cleared up, and I just was getting small pimples every once in a while. I gained weight in my butt, sides, and thighs. Now, being on the pill for 2 years, I have realized how much it has affected me emotionally. Every month at the end of my pack, I get very depressed and cry for reasons I can’t explain. The depression and crazy mood swings affected me, my parents, and my boyfriend. I’m not myself, and I’m not sure what to do. I feel like if I talk to my doctor about it, I’m gonna have to be taken off the pill, and what if my acne comes back and my period gets bad? At this point, I don’t care. I’m tired of not being me and feeling depressed. Any help?"

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2013

For Acne "Having been on Estelle-35 for nearly a year (which gave me the worst acne of my life, 10 times worse than it already was), I decided to change to Yaz. I'm in my third month of taking it, and I think I've broken out (4-6 spots at the same time) twice, whereas before I was getting 4-6 new spots per day. No initial breakouts. Only had one cyst in nearly three months. The only side effect was my fault - I didn't wait until my period to start taking them and had breakthrough bleeding for around three weeks. I haven't experienced any weight gain, headaches, etc. If you're deciding whether to try the pill for your acne, just do it. Seriously. It's done wonders for my confidence and anxiety, and I can actually look people in the eye now!"

• Jan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 4, 2019

For Birth Control "I can't believe there are so many negative comments about Yaz... I started taking it a year ago due to my very painful periods (I would throw up, couldn't eat, or go to school and work, and popping large doses of painkillers). These pills, Yaz, literally changed my life. I used to have awful PMS, and I would get really depressed a week before my period. Everything is gone now. The terrible moods, cramps, everything. I feel great, actually, I've never felt better. Only bad thing is I gained 6 kg since I started taking it, and I'm really afraid of those blood clots everyone's talking about. I don't ever want to stop taking this pill, but I'm afraid I'll have to due to its well-known side effects. But for now, I enjoy my life with Yaz"

• Ken...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 30, 2019

For Acne "I started taking the Yaz pill on Oct 1 of 2018 to treat my moderate cystic acne. While my skin has cleared up considerably, I do still experience the occasional 2-3 pimples a month. I experienced no side effects, none, from taking this. Maybe a small weight gain, about 10 lbs, but I attribute that to diet. I just thought I’d drop by and rate, as this site was extremely helpful to me when first starting out. Good luck, ladies."

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2012

For Acne "I've been on Yaz for about 3 months, and so far, it has been great. I've suffered from acne since I was 12 (I'm 30 now) to the extent that it's really had a negative effect on my life, but now it's almost all cleared up. I barely even need to wear makeup anymore. There has been no weight gain, except for slightly bigger breasts, and it's great knowing when my period is going to come. Previously, it would come randomly. It also doesn't last as long, now only 4 or 5 days when before it could be 7 or 8."

• Sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 4, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve been on this birth control for about eight months, and I believe my acne is a lot clearer. It does make me quite emotional for no reason sometimes, and when I get my period, I get painful cramps, which I’ve never had before. I’ve also seemed to gain weight and dislike myself. But my boobs did go up a few sizes."

• gui...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2012

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "This is my second day on Yaz. I have been on countless other birth control methods such as Marvelon, Tri-Cyclen Lo, Demulen, and most recently, Aviane. When I was on Marvelon, I never noticed anything while I was taking the pills side effect-wise, but my periods were unbearably heavy. On Tri-Cyclen, my period was light, but it never stopped for three months! On Demulen, I went into a deep depression that I am still getting over. And finally, on Aviane, it was great, but I gained about 40 lbs in the past year. I went on Yaz to help keep me upbeat and happy (coupled with my daily dose of Prozac) and to hopefully help me shed some weight and give me comfortable and short periods. So far, so good. High libido and no negative side effects except slight headache."

• Kan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 30, 2020

For Acne "I’ve been on Yaz for almost 2 months now. I was hoping it would clear my skin up and help me with my cystic acne, but I’m not sure. I usually get pimples 2 weeks before my period, so obviously I broke out the 2 weeks beforehand. But before that, I felt like my skin was getting a little better. I definitely am still getting breakouts, though. I’m getting my period tomorrow, and I got a few more pimples coming in, as well as this one pimple on my chin that will NOT go away. I haven’t noticed any weight gain or depression, but my boobs definitely got bigger, lol. I’m gonna do another update after month 3. I hope it will finally kick in, but I guess we will see:/"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2020

"I wasn’t able to get my usual birth control, so I used Yaz and had a terrible experience. I got bad anxiety and depression, headaches, nausea, moodiness, and I gained several pounds around my lower belly in a matter of weeks. I would not recommend this birth control."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2009

For Birth Control "I would rate this above 10 if I could. This is the best birth control I have ever taken. I suffer from PMDD, and my time of the month without Yaz, I feel like I could hurt people for no reason at all, just because I didn't like the way they looked at me or whatever. Anyways, Yaz has helped that out so much. My husband is so happy with the results. I have had no weight gain, no cramping, and only 3-day periods with very little bleeding, and the best part is no irritability or major mood swings."

• NDa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2020

For Birth Control "The first month I took this was really rough. It made me feel like I was a zombie. I started it on the first day of my normal period in hopes of regulating it. This gave me a two-week period, but at least it was pretty light. At first, my skin broke out really, really bad, but has since started to clear up, and I do not get acne around my period like I used to. At the end of the pack, before the placebos, I got a very heavy period that got worse when I started the placebos. It was heavier than I had ever had and hurt a lot. But since starting the next pack, my skin has continued to clear up, no more spotting, not feeling like a zombie. Also, there has been no weight gain on this pill either. The first month of this is terrible, but stick with it, and it will start to get better!"

• hap...
• November 27, 2014

For Acne "I love Yaz! I was first put on it 2 years ago to help get rid of my acne, and within the first 3 months, my skin started clearing and have been acne-free since. It did make me put on a little bit of weight, but zero mood swings and no change to my sex drive. My periods have become a lot lighter and last shorter days (usually 3-4 days). I highly recommend this pill, but the only downside is you do have to take it every day."

• Cal...
• January 7, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm 18 years old, and I started taking Yaz when I was 14 for the use of treating acne. It did not do much for my acne, so I began taking Accutane. I stayed on Yaz because you need to be on 2 forms of birth control when taking Accutane. My acne went away, and then I got a boyfriend, so I stayed on Yaz. I've been using Yaz for over 4 years in all of my teen years, and let me just say, this stuff is amazing for preventing pregnancy. The pills are a miracle. I didn't really gain weight on this product, I developed breasts rapidly! I've never taken any other types of birth control, but I give Yaz five stars. Good luck!"

• Ela...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2019

For Acne "I used to be on Diane for 4 years; my skin was clear, but I gained weight, which I didn't mind; then my OB prescribed Yaz for my cystic ovary. The first month I broke out; I had tiny pimples on my forehead and cheeks and cystic ones on my chin, which was really unpleasant to look at, especially with makeup on. I had to use makeup for work. I was reading reviews here almost every day just for inspiration, lol. I also started using Aztec Indian Healing Clay, which I think helped as well. I'm now on my 2nd week of my 2nd pack of Yaz, and my skin is clear! Hopefully, it stays like this for years. You just really have to wait for your hormones to adjust."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2016

For Birth Control "Worst pill. Went on it for around 5 months, and it made my life a living hell. Almost immediately, I experienced an annoying, impossible-to-get-rid-of weight gain. Went from a B cup to a D/DD cup, depending on the time of the month. I also experienced some serious bloating around my stomach and could not get rid of it. Around the same time, I also became incredibly moody. As the months went on, this only got worse. Along with my moodiness, I became anxious, depressed, and found that my libido had disappeared completely. Ultimately, I felt as if I had become a different person completely and decided to toss my remaining packs. While my weight and mood went back to normal, my libido took forever to reappear, and I still feel it's not the same."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 14, 2013

For Birth Control "At first, I really loved Yaz. There was little to no weight gain, it didn't make me have any mood swings. I've been taking it for 7 months, and for the last 4 months, I've noticed a decrease in sex drive, very, very little lubrication, and I haven't gotten my period for the last 3 months... which is a scary thing. On top of that, I started bleeding during intercourse. Each month, I went to the gyno to see what was wrong, I took a pregnancy test there each month, and every test came out negative. I got looked at and got other tests done, and everything came out negative and normal. I've now been very tired and irritable lately, and the doctors still don't seem to know exactly what's wrong, which is very stressful. I'm now switching to NuvaRing."

• Pix...
• April 13, 2017

For Birth Control "Best hormonal contraception I've tried. Originally used the cheap Levlen brand, which made me emotional and gain weight. Also tried Implanon, the arm implant, but continually spotted for a year before having it removed. Nurse prescribed Yaz for me after an unwanted pregnancy. It made my periods lighter and shorter, and not as painful; I have no side effects or mood swings; my skin is clearer, and I haven't added any weight because of it. I like that it has 24 active pills and I often skip periods. The only downside is the price - it's quite expensive in Australia."

• Can...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 19, 2014

For Birth Control "Upon requesting a Yaz prescription from my doctor, I was initially concerned as I was very nauseous and threw up a few times in the morning during the first week. Nonetheless, I remained on Yaz, and I am certainly glad that I did. I do not suffer from any acne with the exception of the couple of days preceding my period (minor and unpreventable chin acne due to hormones/menstruation). It's highly effective in preventing pregnancy, and I have not noticed any weight gain. In fact, I felt thinner when I first began taking it. I do not experience any physical pain or health issues (I recently turned 21, I do not smoke, and I am very slim and active). Overall, Yaz is great."

• Anonymous
• April 17, 2010

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I was given Yaz because of my PMDD and misplaced ovaries that made ovulation exceptionally painful. My friend and her mother were instantly concerned because of my friend's bad experience with Yaz. She had migraines, anxiety, and gained a lot of weight on it. I fared much better than my friend. My acne didn't go away, but it's not as bad. My ovaries aren't hurting nearly as much, I don't have any more cramps, my mood swings are much more manageable, and my periods aren't all over the map anymore (the doctor actually laughed when I showed him the calendar I used to track it!). I have gained weight on Yaz. I'm going to guess I've gained about 1/2 a pound, and that is in my boobs. I am finally out of an A cup, and I am thrilled about it!"