Overview
Yasmin, Yaz & Beyaz are oral contraceptive pills manufactured by Bayer. They are extremely similar and have small, but significant differences between them. Below, we discuss the differences in detail and why you may be prescribed one or the other.
Yasmin
- Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03mg
- Drospirenone 3mg
- 21 active pills & 7 placebo pills
Yasmin was the first product of the three to be available on the market. It was, and still is, widely used due to the progestin used in the product, drospirenone. Drospirenone has anti-androgen and anti-aldosterone effects, which may help to reduce acne, and excess hair growth. Drospirenone can also help to reduce irritability and anger.
In addition, it is a good choice for women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) as drospirenone can significantly reduce the symptoms from these conditions.
Why You May Be Prescribed Yasmin: Yasmin is a good option for reliable birth control and is dosed in the common 21 day 'on', 7 day 'off' format. It is beneficial in reducing unwanted hair growth, acne and the symptoms from diseases such as PCOS.
Yaz
- Ethinyl Estradiol 0.02mg
- Drospirenone 3mg
- 24 active pills & 4 placebo pills
A few differences from Yasmin can be seen here. The estrogen content is reduced when compared to Yasmin (0.02 mg vs. 0.03) and it contains 24 active pills versus the more common 21 that Yasmin contains. In addition, Yaz carries the FDA approved indication for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a more severe form of PMS. Yasmin is also used 'off-label' for PMDD, but only YAZ has the FDA approved indication.
As mentioned in the section for Yasmin, drospirenone can reduce irritability and anger. To further assist with symptoms of PMDD and PMS, the amount of estrogen is decreased in Yaz as well. A high content of estrogen can cause nausea, bloating and breast tenderness. In theory, decreased estrogen content may help reduce these symptoms.
Lastly, Yaz has 3 more active pills than Yasmin, resulting in a shorter 4 day placebo interval. This is thought to minimize hormonal fluctuations.
Why You May Be Prescribed Yasmin: If you suffer from PMDD or have particularly difficult pre-menstrual symptoms.
Beyaz
- Ethinyl Estradiol 0.02mg
- Drospirenone 3mg
- 24 active pills & 4 placebo pills containing levomefolate calcium 0.451mg
Beyaz contains the same ingredients as Yaz except for the addition of levomefolate calcium to the 4 placebo tablets. Levomefolate calcium is an absorbable form of the B vitamin folic acid and is added to reduce the risk of neural tube defects in infants. It is generally recommended for women of reproductive age to supplement with an adequate intake of folic acid.
It seems somewhat counter-intuitive to add levomefolate as Beyaz is a contraceptive, but many women who want to become pregnant try to do so immediately after stopping their birth control. It is recommended that women get at least 0.4 mg per day of supplemental folic acid for at least one month before becoming pregnant to reduce the risk of neural tube defects.
Why You May Be Prescribed Beyaz: If you are taking oral contraceptive pills temporarily and you may decide to become pregnant shortly after discontinuing birth control.
Final Words
In conclusion, all three products (Yasmin, Yaz and Beyaz) are very similar but their small differences are significant and each has a place for a specific indication. It is important to note that each product has approved generics available. We list these below for your reference:
Yasmin Generics
- Ocella
- Syeda
- Zarah
- Drospirenone/Ethinyl Estradiol 3mg-0.03 mg
Yaz Generics
- Gianvi
- Loryna
- Nikki
- Vestura
- Drospirenone/Ethinyl Estradiol 3mg-0.02 mg
Beyaz Generics
- Rajani
- Drospirenone/Ethinyl Estradiol/Levomefolate and Levomefolate Calcium 3mg-0.02mg-0.451mg and 0.451mg
