Q. I have been taking Yaz for about a year now. Since starting the drug, I have been less interested in the things that I love, especially sex.
During foreplay, it takes me forever to get ready, and I’m still not 100 percent there. I also get severe headaches on the week of my reminder pill. Are these problems related to the Pill?
A. The oral contraceptive Yaz contains drospirenone (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). These compounds can counteract hormones such as testosterone that contribute to a robust sex drive (Journal of Sexual Medicine, online July 12, 2012). Other women have also reported diminished libido as a consequence of Yaz and other birth control pills.
Headaches are among the most common side effects women experience on Yaz. Other complications include irregular periods, nausea, breast tenderness and mood swings.
