Yaz vs. Yasmin
Updated August 2026
Quick answer: Yaz and Yasmin use the exact same progestin — drospirenone — so the real differences are estrogen dose and schedule. Yaz has less estrogen (20 micrograms vs. Yasmin's 30) and runs 24 active pills with a 4-day break, which means shorter, lighter withdrawal bleeds and steadier hormone levels. Yaz also holds FDA approvals Yasmin doesn't: for PMDD and for moderate acne in people who also want contraception. Both share the same slightly higher clot risk and the same estrogen rules.
Key facts
- Yaz and Yasmin contain the same progestin (drospirenone); the estrogen dose differs — 20 micrograms in Yaz, 30 in Yasmin.
- Yaz runs 24 active pills and 4 inactive; Yasmin runs 21 active and 7 inactive.
- Yaz is FDA-approved for PMDD and for moderate acne (in people who also want contraception); Yasmin is approved for contraception only.
- Yaz's shorter 4-day break means shorter, lighter withdrawal bleeds and a steadier hormone level through the month.
- Both carry a slightly higher blood clot risk than older levonorgestrel pills — still low overall, but it matters if you have other clot risk factors.
- Both contain estrogen, which can affect mood in some people — low mood, anxiety, or feeling flat — and that's a common reason for switching.
Yaz vs. Yasmin: full comparison table
| COMPARE | Yaz | Yasmin |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A lower-estrogen drospirenone pill on a 24/4 schedule | The original drospirenone pill on a 21/7 schedule |
| Hormones | Estrogen + progestin | Estrogen + progestin |
| How you use it | Daily pill | Daily pill |
| How often you think about it | Daily | Daily |
| Pregnancy prevention (typical use) | 91% | 91% |
| Pregnancy prevention (perfect use) | 99% | 99% |
| What happens to periods | Shorter, lighter withdrawal bleeds | More regular periods |
| Pill schedule | 24 active pills, 4 inactive — a 4-day hormone-free break. | 21 active pills, 7 inactive — a full week off hormones. |
| Withdrawal bleed | Shorter and lighter, because the hormone-free gap is only 4 days. | A more classic monthly bleed during the 7-day break. |
| Hormone dips | Steadier — the short break means less of a monthly dip, which some people feel as fewer headaches or mood swings before the bleed. | The longer break lets hormone levels dip further, which some people feel in mood or headaches before the bleed. |
| Approved uses | Contraception, PMDD, and moderate acne (when contraception is also wanted). | Contraception. |
Same progestin, different estrogen dose
Strip away the branding and Yaz and Yasmin are siblings: every active pill of both contains the same progestin, drospirenone. What differs is the estrogen riding alongside it — 20 micrograms in Yaz, 30 in Yasmin — and how the pack is laid out. Yaz gives you 24 hormone pills and a 4-day break; Yasmin gives you 21 and a full week off.
Less estrogen and a shorter break add up to a steadier month: hormone levels dip less on Yaz, withdrawal bleeds are shorter and lighter, and some people notice fewer of the symptoms that cluster in the pill-free days, like headaches or low mood. Yasmin's higher dose and longer break give a more traditional monthly rhythm, and its extra estrogen can mean less breakthrough spotting for some people. Neither dose is stronger at preventing pregnancy — both are about 99% effective with perfect use and about 91% in typical use.
Acne, PMDD, and what each is approved for
Drospirenone is a skin-friendly progestin, so both pills tend to help acne, bloating, and PMS-type symptoms. But the official approvals belong to Yaz alone: the FDA has approved it to treat PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder — a severe form of PMS that disrupts daily life) and moderate acne, in people who also want contraception. Yasmin is approved for contraception only.
That doesn't make Yasmin useless for skin or mood — prescribers often see similar benefits with it, since the progestin is identical. It means Yaz is the one that was formally tested and approved for those jobs. If PMDD or acne is a main reason you're choosing a pill, Yaz is the evidence-backed pick of the two.
Side effects and the clot question
Because the progestin is identical, the side-effect profiles are nearly identical too. Both carry drospirenone's slightly higher risk of blood clots than older pills that use levonorgestrel — the overall risk is still low, but it matters if you have other clot risk factors. Both also share drospirenone's kidney caution: it can raise potassium slightly, and if your kidneys can't clear the extra potassium, it can affect your heart rhythm — so neither pill is recommended with kidney problems.
And both contain estrogen, with everything that implies. Estrogen can affect mood in some people — low mood, anxiety, or feeling flat — and it's one of the most common reasons people stop a combined pill, so notice how you feel in the first few months. The safety rules exist because risks stack: skip both pills if you get migraines with aura (aura plus estrogen stacks two stroke risks), if you've had a blood clot or have a clotting condition like Factor V Leiden (estrogen adds clot risk to clot risk), or if you smoke and are over 35 (smoking plus estrogen multiplies clot risk).
Which should you choose?
Choose Yaz if:
- PMDD or severe PMS is part of why you're choosing a pill — Yaz is the one approved to treat it.
- Acne is a main goal and you want the formally approved option.
- You want shorter, lighter withdrawal bleeds and a steadier hormone level through the month.
- You've felt the monthly hormone dip — headaches or low mood before the bleed — on a 21/7 pill.
Choose Yasmin if:
- You've taken Yasmin before and felt good on it — there's no reason to change.
- You prefer a classic monthly bleed as a reassuring sign the pill is working.
- You had annoying spotting on a lower-estrogen pill — a bit more estrogen often steadies the lining.
- Your insurance or pharmacy makes Yasmin or its generics the cheaper fill.
Frequently asked questions
Are Yaz and Yasmin the same pill?
Close, but no. They share the same progestin, drospirenone — that's why their benefits and side effects look so alike. The differences: Yaz has 20 micrograms of estrogen to Yasmin's 30, and Yaz runs 24 active pills with a 4-day break while Yasmin runs 21 with a 7-day break. Same family, different dose and rhythm.
Which is better for acne — Yaz or Yasmin?
Both can help, because the skin-friendly progestin is the same. But Yaz is the one FDA-approved to treat moderate acne (in people who also want contraception), so it has the formal evidence behind it. If clearer skin is a main goal, Yaz is the usual pick — and give any pill 2–3 months to show its effect on skin.
Which is better for PMDD or PMS?
Yaz. It's the only one of the two approved to treat PMDD — premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a severe form of PMS that disrupts daily life. Its 24/4 schedule also keeps hormone levels steadier, with less of the monthly dip where PMS-type symptoms cluster. If your mood crashes before your period, that steadiness is the point.
Does Yaz or Yasmin cause weight gain?
Probably neither, in a lasting way. Drospirenone works a little like a mild water pill — it counters fluid retention, so some people feel less bloated. But good evidence that either pill changes true body weight is lacking: studies haven't shown consistent gain or loss. If your weight changes noticeably on either pill, talk to your prescriber rather than assuming it's settled science.
Do Yaz and Yasmin have the same blood clot risk?
Yes — it comes from the shared progestin, drospirenone, which carries a slightly higher clot risk than older pills that use levonorgestrel. The overall risk is still low, but it stacks with other risks. That's why neither pill is recommended if you get migraines with aura, have had a clot, have a clotting condition like Factor V Leiden, or smoke and are over 35.
Will my periods be different on each?
A little. Yaz's 4-day break usually means a shorter, lighter withdrawal bleed — sometimes barely there. Yasmin's 7-day break gives a more classic monthly bleed. Both make periods more predictable than no pill at all, and both can be run back-to-back to skip bleeds if your prescriber agrees.
What are the generic versions of Yaz and Yasmin?
Yaz's generics include Gianvi and Loryna; Yasmin's include Syeda, Ocella, and, in Canada, Zamine. Generics contain the same hormones at the same doses, usually for much less money — so if the brand price stings, ask your pharmacist for the generic by name.
Can I switch between Yaz and Yasmin?
Yes, and it's a common switch — because the progestin is identical, your body isn't meeting a new hormone, just a different estrogen dose and rhythm. People usually move from Yasmin to Yaz for lighter bleeds or PMDD, or from Yaz to Yasmin for spotting. Follow your prescriber's instructions on when to start the new pack, and give the change 2–3 months to settle.
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