--- title: Yaz vs Yasmin: Differences, Side Effects and Which to Choose description: Yaz vs Yasmin compared on ingredients, evidence for PMS and PMDD, side effects and switching. url: https://niyora.com/treatments/yaz-vs-yasmin/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Treatments](https://niyora.com/treatments/) - Yaz vs Yasmin: the differences that matter for PMS and PMDD Treatment # Yaz vs Yasmin: the differences that matter for PMS and PMDD Yaz and Yasmin both combine the progestin drospirenone with estrogen, but Yaz uses a lower estrogen dose, a shorter pill-free break, and is the one with FDA approval for PMDD specifically. Yasmin hasn't been studied the same way for premenstrual symptoms. The right choice depends on what you're treating, not the brand name alone. Updated 13 October 2026 Niyora editorial Mixed evidence Strength of evidence Mixed Trials disagree, or the effect is small. - None - Limited - Mixed - Moderate - Strong ## At a glance - Yaz and Yasmin share the same progestin, drospirenone, but Yaz has a lower estrogen dose and only 4 placebo days instead of 7. - Yaz is the pill with FDA approval for PMDD; Yasmin's approval covers contraception only. - Evidence specific to Yasmin for premenstrual symptoms is limited: one trial found it eased bloating and water retention compared with another pill. - Side effects like nausea, breast tenderness and mood changes overlap between the two since the progestin is identical. - Switching between them is usually straightforward, but let a doctor guide the change, especially if PMDD is the reason. ## Strength of evidence Mixed evidence - None - Limited - Mixed - Moderate - Strong Yaz has FDA-reviewed trial evidence specific to PMDD. Yasmin's evidence is limited to one 2010 trial showing improved bloating, water retention and well-being versus another pill. A Cochrane review found hormonal approaches to PMS overall have a mixed, often small-trial evidence base. Side by side Yaz and Yasmin Progestin Yaz Drospirenone Yasmin Drospirenone Also compared in the table below - Estrogen dose - Pill-free interval - FDA approval for PMDD - Evidence for premenstrual symptoms - Shared side effects | Compared on | Yaz | Yasmin | | --- | --- | --- | | Progestin | Drospirenone | Drospirenone | | Estrogen dose | Lower dose | Higher dose than Yaz | | Pill-free interval | 4 days (24 active pills) | 7 days (21 active pills) | | FDA approval for PMDD | Yes | No | | Evidence for premenstrual symptoms | Trials specific to PMDD | Limited; one trial showed eased bloating and water retention | | Shared side effects | Nausea, breast tenderness, mood changes, clot risk | Same, since the progestin is identical | ## How do Yaz and Yasmin differ? Yaz and Yasmin are both combined oral contraceptives built around the same progestin, drospirenone, paired with the estrogen ethinylestradiol. The difference is in the dose and the schedule. Yaz carries a lower estrogen dose than Yasmin and shortens the pill-free break to four days instead of seven, so you take 24 active pills in a pack instead of 21. That shorter break matters for premenstrual symptoms. A longer hormone-free interval gives estrogen and progesterone more room to drop and rise again before the next pack starts, which can let premenstrual symptoms creep back in. Yaz's shorter break is part of why it's the pill specifically approved by the FDA for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), alongside contraception and acne. Yasmin is approved for contraception only. Yasminelle, sold in some countries, uses the same lower estrogen dose as Yaz but keeps the shorter 21-day cycle, so it sits between the two. If you're comparing Yasmin and Yaz specifically for mood or premenstrual symptoms, the estrogen dose and the length of the pill-free week are what matters, not the brand name itself. ## Which works better for PMS or PMDD? Yaz has far more evidence behind it for PMDD specifically, because it's the pill that went through FDA-reviewed trials for that diagnosis. Yasmin wasn't developed or tested the same way for premenstrual mood symptoms, so there's no matching body of research to compare against. What evidence exists for Yasmin comes mostly from contraception trials that measured premenstrual-type complaints as a secondary outcome. In a 2010 trial of 768 women, the 573 who took Yasmin showed improved water retention and appetite scores between periods, and improved water retention and general well-being during their period, compared with the 195 on a desogestrel-based pill. That's useful, but it isn't the same as a trial designed around PMDD. A separate Cochrane review looked at non-contraceptive estrogen patches, gels and implants for PMS (not birth control pills) and found the evidence mixed and limited by small trials. That's a different treatment path from Yaz, which has its own FDA-reviewed trials for PMDD specifically. For PMS rather than PMDD, [PMS treatment: what actually helps](https://niyora.com/treatments/pms-treatment/) covers the fuller range of options, including non-hormonal ones. If you're in the thick of a rough week while you decide which pill, if any, to try, it can help to have somewhere to put it. Niyora is a PMS and PMDD support app. Its Moon feature lets you write down what's happening and see it from another angle before your appointment, so you can show up with a clearer sense of what you want to ask. ## How do the side effects compare? Because Yaz and Yasmin share the same progestin, most of their side effects overlap: nausea, headache, breast tenderness, spotting between periods, and mood changes in the first few cycles. Any combined pill containing drospirenone carries a small increased risk of blood clots compared with pills using levonorgestrel, and that risk applies to both Yaz and Yasmin equally since the progestin is identical. The estrogen dose difference between them is too small to change that meaningfully. On weight, the trial comparing Yasmin with a desogestrel-based pill found no sign that Yasmin caused more weight gain. If anything, water retention and appetite scores improved slightly on the drospirenone pill rather than worsened. That lines up with drospirenone's mild diuretic-like effect, one reason it's sometimes chosen over other progestins. Breast tenderness is common in the first month or two on either pill and usually settles. It's a temporary soreness from fluid shifts, not ongoing breast growth, and it isn't a feature that's specific to Yaz over Yasmin or the other way around. [Yaz side effects, including mood](https://niyora.com/treatments/yaz-side-effects/) goes through the fuller list and timeline for Yaz, most of which applies to Yasmin too given the shared progestin. ## Can you switch from one to the other? Switching between Yaz and Yasmin is usually simple because they contain the same progestin. Most people can finish their current pack and start the new one without a break, though a doctor may suggest starting right away in some cases. Because the progestin doesn't change, your body isn't adjusting to a new hormone, only a different estrogen dose and a different length of pill-free week. Yasmin doesn't carry the same FDA approval or trial history for that diagnosis, so moving from Yaz to Yasmin for mood reasons isn't backed by the same evidence as the reverse direction. [Yaz for PMDD: does it work?](https://niyora.com/treatments/yaz-for-pmdd/) covers what that approval is actually based on. Yasminelle, where it's sold, sits closer to Yaz in estrogen dose than Yasmin does, which is why some people switch there instead when a doctor wants to keep the lower dose but try a different pill-free schedule. [How long does Yaz take to work?](https://niyora.com/treatments/how-long-does-yaz-take-to-work/) is worth reading too, since any switch resets that waiting period. ## Which one fits what you're treating? Bring the specifics of your symptoms, not just the brand names. If what you're dealing with is five or more symptoms in the week before your period, including a mood symptom, that eases within days of bleeding starting, that pattern fits PMDD, and it's worth naming it that way, since it points toward Yaz's FDA-reviewed indication specifically. If your symptoms are physical, like bloating or breast tenderness, without the mood component, that's closer to PMS, and either pill, or a non-hormonal option, might apply. [Birth control for PMDD: does it work?](https://niyora.com/treatments/birth-control-for-pmdd/) and [What is PMS? Premenstrual syndrome, explained](https://niyora.com/premenstrual-syndrome/) can help you sort which description fits before the appointment. Track your symptoms by day for a cycle or two before you go in. That daily record, more than the pill name, is what helps a doctor tell PMS from PMDD from something else entirely. When to see a doctor If this takes a week of every month, or you have thoughts of hurting yourself, see a GP or gynecologist and bring two months of daily notes. From the research library ## Research on the pill 490 studies in the library look at the pill in PMS and PMDD. They were published from 1970 to 2026, and each one is summarised in plain English. 490 studies, 1970 to 2026 How strong the studies are Strong study design 54 Moderate study design 167 Early or limited evidence 269 - [Systematic review, 2026Does continuous paroxetine or birth control work better for PMDD?Both antidepressants and birth control pills are effective for PMDD. Continuous paroxetine (an antidepressant) and DROS/EE 24/4 (a specific birth control) showed the strongest effects in studies reviewed, though the evidence comes from relatively few studies.Strong study design](https://niyora.com/research/papers/comparison-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-treatment-with-antidepressants-and-2026/) - [Cohort study, 2026Does sleeping longer improve mood and fitness in elite athletes?Yes. Sleeping longer was linked to better mood and fitness across all athletes, regardless of menstrual cycle status. Sleeping less than 8 hours was linked to below-average mood and fitness.Strong study design](https://niyora.com/research/papers/sleep-duration-impact-on-sleep-quality-mood-and-fitness-in-elite-athletes-with-a-2026/) - [Randomised trial, 2025Does mood, well-being, and sexual function change across the menstrual cycle?No, there were no meaningful changes in sexual function, mood, or well-being across menstrual cycle phases in healthy young women. Being in a stable relationship predicted better sexual function overall, but cycle phase did not.Strong study design](https://niyora.com/research/papers/associations-between-menstrual-cycle-phases-and-sexuality-well-being-and-mood-in-2025/) - [Cohort study, 2025Are irregular menstrual cycles linked to lower thinking and memory skills in middle-aged women?Yes. Women with irregular cycles at ages 29-46 and women with very short cycles (25 days or less) at ages 18-22 both had slightly lower memory scores later in life.Strong study design](https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-characteristics-across-the-reproductive-lifespan-and-cognitive-2025/) - [Randomised trial, 2024Does estetrol/drospirenone birth control improve PMS symptoms?Yes. Women who started this birth control experienced significant improvements in pain, bloating, and negative mood symptoms. Women already on other birth control saw minimal improvements.Strong study design](https://niyora.com/research/papers/effects-of-e4-drsp-on-self-reported-physical-and-emotional-premenstrual-and-2024/) - [Systematic review, 2024What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS?SSRIs (antidepressants) and combined oral contraceptives (birth control pills) have the strongest evidence. For difficult cases, GnRH agonists and surgery work. Some alternatives like acupuncture and yoga show promise but need better quality research.Strong study design](https://niyora.com/research/papers/management-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-a-scoping-review-2024/) ### Clinical trials - [Oral Contraceptives for Treating Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in Bipolar DisorderCompleted, Canada](https://niyora.com/research/trials/oral-contraceptives-for-treating-premenstrual-dysphoric-nct05098574/) - [Different Does of Acupuncture on Premenstrual Syndrome Efficacy AnalysisStatus unknown, Taiwan](https://niyora.com/research/trials/different-does-of-acupuncture-on-premenstrual-syndrome-nct04296422/) - [Does Adding Oral Contraceptives to Fluoxetine Improve the Management of Premenstrual Syndrome?Status unknown, Egypt](https://niyora.com/research/trials/does-adding-oral-contraceptives-to-fluoxetine-improve-the-nct02562053/) [See all 490 studies on oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/) ## Questions people ask Is Yaz or Yasmin better for PMDD? + Yaz is the pill with FDA approval and trial history specifically for PMDD, so doctors usually consider it first for that diagnosis. Yasmin shares the same progestin but hasn't been studied the same way for premenstrual mood symptoms, so there's less direct evidence to support choosing it for PMDD specifically. Does Yaz or Yasmin cause more weight gain? + Neither Yaz nor Yasmin has shown a clear pattern of causing more weight gain in trials. A 2010 trial comparing Yasmin with another pill found no increase in weight and even a slight improvement in water retention and appetite scores. Early shifts are usually water, not fat, and tend to settle. Does Yaz or Yasmin cause breast growth? + Breast tenderness is a common early side effect of both Yaz and Yasmin, since they share the progestin drospirenone. It's temporary soreness from fluid changes, not lasting breast growth, and it usually eases within the first couple of cycles on either pill. Can I switch from Yasmin to Yaz, or the other way around? + Switching is usually straightforward because Yaz and Yasmin contain the same progestin. Most people move from one pack straight into the next without a break, though a doctor decides the exact timing. If the switch is for PMDD, know that only Yaz carries that specific approval. How is Yasminelle different from Yaz and Yasmin? + Yasminelle uses the same lower estrogen dose as Yaz but keeps Yasmin's 21-day active pill schedule with a 7-day break. It sits between the two, and where it's available, some doctors use it as a middle option when adjusting estrogen dose without changing the pill-free interval. ## Sources - 1. [Efficacy and safety of the combined oral contraceptive ethinylestradiol/drospirenone (Yasmin) in healthy Chinese women: a randomized, open-label, controlled, multicentre trial](https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03256908), Clinical drug investigation, 2010 - 2. [Non-contraceptive oestrogen-containing preparations for controlling symptoms of premenstrual syndrome](https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd010503.pub2), The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2017 Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗ On this page - [How do Yaz and Yasmin differ?](#how-do-yaz-and-yasmin-differ) - [Which works better for PMS or PMDD?](#which-works-better-for-pms-or-pmdd) - [How do the side effects compare?](#how-do-the-side-effects-compare) - [Can you switch from one to the other?](#can-you-switch-from-one-to-the-other) - [Which one fits what you're treating?](#which-one-fits-what-you-re-treating) - [Research](#research) - [Questions](#faq) Niyora PMS & PMDD support For the hard moment before your period. Private, no account. [Get it on iPhone](https://apps.apple.com/app/niyora-pms-emotions/id6764561688) ## Keep reading Treatment Yaz birth control: what it is and whether it helps PMS Treatment Yaz for PMDD: does it work? Treatment Yaz side effects, including mood Treatment PMS treatment: what actually helps Condition What is PMS? Premenstrual syndrome, explained