Yaz will not directly increase your sex drive and may, if anything, decrease it.

This is because birth control pills increase the level of a protein in the blood called sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which “mops” up free testosterone (effectively lowering the amount of the hormone that is free for your body to use). As the birth control pill “switches off” ovulation, you will not get the surge of hormones you would usually get mid-cycle - these pills are designed to stabilize your hormones through the month, which is why they can be effective for hormone-sensitive conditions such as PMDD.

The progestogen in Yaz is drospirenone, which is particularly anti-androgenic (meaning it is more likely than other birth control pills to affect your testosterone levels).

Switching to another birth control pill, containing less anti-androgenic progestogens such as levonorgestrel, may be better for your libido (sex drive) but not everyone with PMDD will be able to tolerate these. That said, it’s important to remember that libido is not just driven by our hormones: our brains play a huge role here too. If Yaz helps your symptoms of PMDD and you feel better in yourself, then your sex drive may actually improve after all!

- Dr. Hannah Short - IAPMD Clinical Advisory Board

June 23rd, 2022