Yaz and Weight Gain

Doctor Elizabeth B.Connell, M.D in her book “The Contraception Sourcebook”, describing the future trends of female oral contraception, suggested that newly developed types of progestin, such as drospirenon, which is one of the active ingredients in Yaz and Yasmin, may potentially be associated with the stable or even slightly lowered body weight.1 In looking at the available studies,it does appears more likely that women taking Yaz have lower chances to suffer from weight gain, than those, taking other oral contraceptives.

Does Yaz Make You Gain Weight?

Drospirenon has been on the market for over 8 years as the component of Yasmin and its newer version called Yaz. Consequently, now we have additional post-marketing data and clinical trials results, which can tell us more about the association between Yaz and weight gain in women taking this particular contraceptive medication.

Mayo Clinic suggests that “the effect of the birth control pill on weight is small — if it exists at all”.(2) The analysis of three placebo-controlled studies, performed by Gallo MF and other scientists, “did not find evidence supporting a causal association between combination oral contraceptives and weight gain”.(3) On the other hand, Scientists believe hormonal components in oral contraceptives, especially estrogen, are responsible for water retention effect. Estrogen (ethinyl estradiol in Yaz) can stimulate the specific substance in kidneys, called renin-angiotensin, resulting in water retention. Generally speaking, estrogen in birth control pills can really affect the fat cells in human body, but it simply increases their size and not the quantity.

In this regard, Yaz represent certain benefits in terms of weight improvement, since it contains lowered dose of estrogen (0.02 mg in comparison to 0.03 mg in Yasmin and other oral contraceptives). However, there is also another aspect to consider when speaking about Yaz and weight gain. Yaz also contains a type of progesterone, called drospirenone. This substance is relatively new to the U.S. pharmaceutical market, thus its profile may still be not very well studied. Some experts believe that this specific progesterone analogue may have a role in weight gain through its influence on insulin. Itis notable that when speaking about progesterone and weight gain, some scientists usually speak about lesser weight gain risk, but not about its presence or absence.(4)

On the other hand, Bitzer J and Paoletti AM from the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, at their three multi-centre report, published at PubMed, stated that drospirenone-based oral contraceptive “prevents water-retention-related weight gain”.(5) Additionally, one study of 768 healthy women showed that those, who took Yasmin (which is the older version of Yaz with the same active ingredients), actually experienced weight lost (-0.28 kg on average). For comparison, women, treated with desogestrel-based contraceptive increased their weight by 0.57 kg on average.(6) And A clinical study on Yasminelle (the brand currently unavailable in the USA, but which is absolutely similar to Yaz), conducted in Ireland, showed that 69% of women, who started to take Yasminelle after some other oral contraceptives, reported weight loss.

In sum, it appears more likely that women, taking Yaz, have lower chances to suffer from weight gain, than those, taking other oral contraceptives. Some studies even report body weight improvement, associated with Yaz. However, there have been a substantial amount of reports of weight gain submitted to the FDA Medwatch that must be considered.(8)

Even if weight gain may not be a proven side effect of Yaz, it is necessary to remember about other adverse reactions, associated with the use of Yaz novel contraceptive. For example, there are warning clinical studies reports about the increased risks of blood clots and serious cardiovascular problems, such as pleural embolism, deep vein thrombosis, strokes and heart attacks, and gallbladder disease and injury in women on Yaz.

It is critical for every women and her doctor to clearly understand all the warnings, provided by the manufacturer and the FDA on Yaz and to ensure the benefits of the medication outweigh its possible adverse reactions.

References

“The Contraception Sourcebook”, 2002, Elizabeth B.Connell, M.D.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/birth-control-pill/WO00098/NSECTIONGROUP=2
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16437470
http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr11.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19133702
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19563061
“User satisfaction with the combined oral contraceptive drospirenone 3 mg/ethinylestradiol 20 microg (Yasminelle) in clinical practice: a multi-country, questionnaire-based study”. Rock Court Medical Center, Dublin, Ireland.
http://www.medications.com/se/yaz/weight-gain

Yaz and Weight Gain

Practice Areas