Yaz, also known as Yasmin, is a birth control pill that changes your uterine and cervical lining, making it more difficult for sperm to reach your uterus. In the event an egg becomes fertilized, these changes in your lining make it harder for a fertilized egg to attach itself to your uterus where it can develop. Although it may be effective, Yaz is not for everyone, especially people with pre-existing medical conditions such as high cholesterol.
Function
Yaz is a combination pill, consisting of two hormones -- estrogen and progestin. Aside from making changes to your cervical and uterine lining, these hormones prevent the maturing of your eggs, and of their release from your ovaries. These hormones also aid in the treatment of prementstrual dysphoric disorder, PMDD. This condition is a more serious form of PMS, causing severe depression, anxiety, lack of energy, breast tenderness and irritability during menstruation.
Potential Risks
All birth control pills have common risks, including developing blood clots, or experiencing a heart attack or stroke. University Medical Center of Maryland explains that combination birth control pills such as Yaz can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attack if you have high cholesterol or an unhealthy blood lipid profile. Being diabetic or having high blood pressure also increases your risk.
The Progestin Factor
Progestin is one of the two hormones in Yaz, and may be responsible for the increase in your cholesterol when taking this birth control pill. This hormone may increase your LDL, or bad cholesterol, and lower your HDL, or good cholesterol. However, progestin might not increase your overall risk of developing heart disease.
Considerations
Before taking Yaz, provide your doctor with a complete medical history, including your past and present medical conditions, as well as all medications or supplements you currently take. MayoClinic.com lists rosuvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering medication, as a drug that may increase certain side effects when taken with Yaz. If your physician feels you require both, he may change the dose of one, or the frequency with which you take the medications.
