YAZ (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol)

Pronunciation: (droh-SPY-re-nohn / ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ol).

Generic name
drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol
Brand names
YAZ
Drug class
Combined oral contraceptive (progestin + estrogen)
Legal status
Prescription-only

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: India

Australia: · Full directory

What drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol is and how it works

YAZ is a combined oral contraceptive ("the pill") containing two hormones: drospirenone 3 mg (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol 0.02 mg (an estrogen). Each 28-day pack has 24 active hormone tablets and 4 inactive tablets. YAZ works mainly by stopping ovulation. In the United States it is approved to prevent pregnancy, to treat symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in those who choose an oral contraceptive, and to treat moderate acne in women at least 14 years old who also want oral contraception. Because it contains estrogen, YAZ carries a boxed warning: smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events, and women over 35 who smoke should not use it. (1)

What drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol is used for

Prevention of pregnancy

For females of reproductive potential who choose an oral contraceptive. (1)

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Treatment of PMDD symptoms in females of reproductive potential who choose to use an oral contraceptive for birth control. (1)

Moderate acne

Treatment of moderate acne vulgaris in women at least 14 years of age who have started menstruating and desire an oral contraceptive for birth control. (1)

Before taking drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • The boxed warning states that combination oral contraceptives should not be used by women over 35 years of age who smoke, because smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events. Tell your prescriber honestly about smoking so they can decide whether YAZ is suitable for you. (United States) (1)
  • Not for use with kidney (renal) impairment or adrenal insufficiency — drospirenone can raise potassium. () (1)
  • Not for use with a history of, or high risk for, blood clots or clot-related disease: prior DVT or pulmonary embolism, stroke or cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease, clot-promoting heart conditions, or inherited clotting disorders. () (1)
  • Not for use with uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes with blood-vessel disease, unexplained abnormal uterine bleeding, current or past breast cancer, or liver tumors/liver disease. () (1)
  • Not for use together with hepatitis C regimens containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (with or without dasabuvir). () (1)

Tell your clinician about

(1)

How to take drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol

  • Take one tablet by mouth at the same time every day; active (hormone) tablets for 24 days, then the 4 inactive tablets.
  • Start packs on schedule with no gap between packs.
  • If vomiting occurs soon after a tablet, follow the missed-dose guidance in the patient leaflet or ask your pharmacist.
(1)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1)

Missed dose

Contact your prescriber or pharmacist for guidance whenever pills are missed — they will confirm which of the label’s steps applies to you. For reference, the US label’s patient instructions describe: for one missed active tablet, taking it as soon as possible and the next at the regular time (no backup contraception needed); for two missed in a row during weeks 1–2, taking two tablets as soon as possible and two the next day, then one daily, with backup contraception for 7 days; for two missed in a row during week 3–4, discarding the pack and starting a new pack the same day with backup for 7 days; and for three or more missed, starting a new pack with backup for 7 days.

Overdose

Contact a poison-information service or seek medical advice promptly if more tablets are taken than prescribed, especially by a child. (1)

Side effects

Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.

Headache or migraine

What to notice: Reported by 6.7% in contraception/acne trials and 13.0% in PMDD trials.

What to do: Report new or worsening migraine to the prescriber — it can change the decision to continue. (1)

Menstrual irregularities

What to notice: Spotting or irregular bleeding — 4.7% in contraception/acne trials, 24.9% in PMDD trials.

What to do: Usually settles; discuss persistent changes with the prescriber. (1)

Nausea or vomiting

What to notice: 4.2% in contraception/acne trials; nausea 15.8% in PMDD trials.

What to do: Taking at the same time daily can help; discuss persistent nausea with the prescriber or pharmacist. (1)

Breast pain or tenderness

What to notice: 4.0% in contraception/acne trials, 10.5% in PMDD trials.

What to do: Discuss persistent or severe tenderness with the prescriber. (1)

Mood changes, fatigue, irritability, decreased libido, weight increase

What to notice: Each reported by roughly 2–4% of users across trials.

What to do: Discuss troublesome or persistent symptoms with the prescriber. (1)

Possible blood clot

What to notice: Leg pain/swelling, chest pain, breathlessness, coughing blood, sudden severe headache, weakness, vision or speech changes.

What to do: Seek emergency care immediately. (1)

Possible liver problem

What to notice: Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine.

What to do: Contact the prescriber promptly; jaundice leads the clinician to discontinue the medicine. (1)

Serious warnings

Smoking and serious cardiovascular events (boxed warning) — serious

Symptoms: Smoking while using combined oral contraceptives increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious cardiovascular events; risk rises with age and with heavier smoking.

Action: The label directs that combination oral contraceptives are not used by women over 35 who smoke — a suitability decision your prescriber makes with you. Discuss smoking status honestly before starting and at reviews. (1)

Blood clots (venous thromboembolism, stroke, heart attack) — emergency

Symptoms: Leg pain or swelling; sudden chest pain or breathlessness; coughing blood; sudden severe headache, weakness, numbness, or trouble speaking or seeing.

Action: Seek emergency care immediately for these symptoms. Drospirenone-containing pills may carry a higher clot risk than some other pills, and risk is highest when first starting or restarting; the prescriber decides on treatment after any clot event. (1)

High potassium (hyperkalemia) — serious

Symptoms: Often silent; can cause irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, or palpitations.

Action: Drospirenone can raise potassium. If you take daily ACE inhibitors, ARBs, potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements, heparin, aldosterone antagonists, or NSAIDs, the care team checks a potassium level in your first cycle. (1)

Migraine changes or jaundice — serious

Symptoms: New, more frequent, or more severe migraine; yellowing of skin or eyes.

Action: Report these to the prescriber promptly — either can lead the prescriber to discontinue the medicine. (1)

Interactions

Medicine or testEffectAction
Enzyme inducers: some anticonvulsants, rifampin, St. John’s wort and other herbal productsMay decrease contraceptive effectiveness or increase breakthrough bleeding.Tell the prescriber about all medicines and herbal products; extra precautions may be needed. (1)
Potassium-elevating medicines: ACE inhibitors, ARBs, potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements, heparin, aldosterone antagonists, NSAIDs (chronic daily use)Combined with drospirenone’s anti-mineralocorticoid activity, these raise the risk of high potassium.The care team checks serum potassium during the first treatment cycle. (1)
Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (for example azole antifungals)Can increase plasma concentrations of the hormones.Provide a complete medicine list for professional review. (1)
Hepatitis C combinations containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavirContraindicated with YAZ.The prescriber selects a different contraceptive during and after such treatment. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Pregnancy

YAZ is not for use during pregnancy — contraceptives are discontinued if pregnancy occurs, a step managed with the prescriber. (1)

Breastfeeding

Drospirenone passes into breast milk at low levels (about 0.1% of the maternal dose), and combined hormonal contraceptives can reduce milk production. The choice of contraception while breastfeeding is made with the care team. (1)

Postpartum

Women who are not breastfeeding start no earlier than 4 weeks after delivery because clot risk is higher postpartum. (1)

Adolescents

For acne, approved from at least 14 years of age (after menstruation has started) when oral contraception is also desired. (1)

Kidney_or_adrenal_disease

Contraindicated in renal impairment and adrenal insufficiency. (1)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Blood pressure check and review of clot risk factors, smoking status, migraine history, and liver health
  • Full medicine and supplement review, including potassium-raising and enzyme-inducing medicines

During treatment

  • Serum potassium in the first cycle for women on chronic daily potassium-raising co-medications
  • Ongoing review of blood pressure, migraine pattern, and any signs of clots or jaundice at routine checks
(1)

Storage

Store the blister pack as directed on the pack and pharmacy label, and keep out of reach of children.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. This section does not replace current product labeling.

United States

Indication: Contraception; PMDD; moderate acne vulgaris (≥14 years, desiring oral contraception)

Dose summary: One tablet orally at the same time daily in the pack order: 24 active tablets (drospirenone 3 mg / ethinyl estradiol 0.02 mg) then 4 inert tablets; start next pack the following day with no gap. Postpartum (not breastfeeding): start no earlier than 4 weeks after delivery.

Renal context: Contraindicated in renal impairment (drospirenone anti-mineralocorticoid activity — hyperkalemia risk); also contraindicated in adrenal insufficiency. Check serum potassium in the first cycle when combined with chronic daily ACE inhibitors, ARBs, potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplementation, heparin, aldosterone antagonists, or NSAIDs. (1)

Frequently asked questions

Is Yazal the same as YAZ?

'Yazal' is a historical misnaming in this site's records — no product called Yazal exists. The medicine described on this page is YAZ (drospirenone 3 mg / ethinyl estradiol 0.02 mg), made by Bayer. YAZ Flex, Yasmin, and Yasminelle are separate products with their own pages. (1)

What makes YAZ different from other birth control pills?

Its progestin is drospirenone, which has anti-mineralocorticoid activity — that is why potassium is checked in some users, why kidney and adrenal disease are contraindications, and why the label notes a possibly higher clot risk than pills containing levonorgestrel or some other progestins. It also uses a 24 active + 4 inactive tablet schedule. (1)

Does YAZ protect against sexually transmitted infections?

No. Oral contraceptives do not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections; condoms are needed for that protection. (1)

What should I do if I miss a pill?

Ask your pharmacist or prescriber — they will confirm the right step for your situation. The US label’s patient instructions describe steps that depend on how many pills were missed and in which week: one missed active tablet (take as soon as possible, no backup needed), two in a row in weeks 1–2 (two tablets now and two tomorrow, then 7 days of backup contraception), two in a row in week 3–4 (new pack the same day, 7 days of backup), and three or more (new pack plus 7 days of backup). (1)

Can I use YAZ while breastfeeding?

Drospirenone passes into milk at low levels and combined pills can reduce milk supply; discuss timing and alternatives with your care team. If not breastfeeding, YAZ is started no earlier than 4 weeks after delivery because of clot risk. (1)

What is the generic name of YAZ (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol)?

The generic name is drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. It is sold under brand names including YAZ.

What class of drug is drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol?

YAZ (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol) is classed as: Combined oral contraceptive (progestin + estrogen).

References

  1. YAZ (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol) tablets — prescribing information, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, revised 2025-05-29US FDA prescribing information via DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) · United States · dated 2025-05-29 · accessed 2026-08-08 · source 1
  2. DROSPIRENONE AND ETHINYL ESTRADIOL KIT [REDPHARM DRUG] — US prescribing information (DailyMed SPL)U.S. National Library of Medicine (DailyMed) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 2
  3. Yaz — FDA approval record (Drugs@FDA NDA021676)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 3

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

India

  • Yasmin3 mg + 0.03 mg · Bayer Zydus Pharma
  • YAZ3 mg + 0.02 mg · Bayer Zydus Pharma
  • Yamini3 mg + 0.03 mg, 3 mg + 0.02 mg (Yamini LS) · Lupin Ltd
  • Crisanta3 mg + 0.03 mg, 3 mg + 0.02 mg (Crisanta LS) · Cipla Ltd
  • Dronis3 mg + 0.03 mg (Dronis 30), 3 mg + 0.02 mg (Dronis 20) · Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
  • Dafadros3 mg + 0.03 mg, 3 mg + 0.02 mg (Dafadros-LS) · La Renon Healthcare
  • Yuvti3 mg + 0.03 mg, 3 mg + 0.02 mg (Yuvti LS) · VHL Pharmaceuticals
  • Drosinex3 mg + 0.02 mg · Indiabulls Pharma
View brands in additional countries.