Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
Nausea (especially in first 3 months; take with food or at bedtime)
Breast tenderness and swelling
Headache and migraine
Intermenstrual spotting / breakthrough bleeding (especially in first 3 months)
Decreased libido
Mood changes, depression
Weight change (fluid retention due to drospirenone's anti-mineralocorticoid effect may cause temporary weight changes)
Vaginal discharge
Contact lens intolerance (corneal curvature changes)
Venous thromboembolism (VTE): DVT and pulmonary embolism — drospirenone-containing COCs may carry slightly higher VTE risk than levonorgestrel-based COCs
Arterial thrombosis: stroke and myocardial infarction — risk markedly elevated in smokers ≥35 years
Hypertension
Hyperkalemia — drospirenone has aldosterone-antagonist properties; monitor potassium in at-risk patients
Benign hepatic adenomas (rare)
Hepatocellular carcinoma (rare, with long-term use)
Gallbladder disease
Cervical cancer (risk slightly increased with long-term use; returns to baseline after stopping)
Retinal vascular thrombosis
Chloasma (skin darkening, especially with sun exposure)
Cholestatic jaundice
Like all medications, Yaz can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: