--- title: Does YAZ birth control help PMDD symptoms? | Niyora description: FDA has approved YAZ for treating PMDD, and two studies showed it helps mood, physical, and behavior symptoms plus symptoms related to food cravings, water re url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/yaz-in-the-treatment-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2008/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does YAZ birth control help PMDD symptoms? Study, 2008 # Does YAZ birth control help PMDD symptoms? FDA has approved YAZ for treating PMDD, and two studies showed it helps mood, physical, and behavior symptoms plus symptoms related to food cravings, water retention, and relationship difficulties. Early or limited evidence This is a review article. The original studies would have included women with PMDD, but specific numbers are not given here. ## What they did This review describes FDA-approved treatments for PMDD. It explains that YAZ (drospirenone combined with a low dose of ethinyl estradiol) is taken as 24 days of active pills in each 28-day cycle. Two studies tested whether it worked for PMDD. ## What they found The two studies showed that YAZ was effective in treating mood symptoms, physical symptoms, behavioral symptoms, food-related symptoms like cravings, water retention, and problems in relationships that occur with PMDD. ## What it means for you YAZ is an approved treatment option for PMDD that addresses multiple types of symptoms. However, this summary is based on a review of other studies rather than new research, so the details of how large those studies were are not provided. 4 treatments approved by FDA for PMDD (3 antidepressants and 1 birth control pill) 24 days active pills in each 28-day cycle with YAZ 2 studies showing YAZ effectiveness ## About the study Original title YAZ in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Rapkin AJ Journal The Journal of reproductive medicine Year 2008 Study design Study What was tested YAZ birth control (drospirenone/20EE-24/4), taken as 24 days of active pills in a 28-day cycle. Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18980045/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18980045/) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Review, 2026 What should doctors know about PMS and PMDD in teenagers? Case report, 2024 How is PMDD diagnosed and treated in teenagers? Study, 2008 How common is PMDD and how does it affect women's lives? Systematic review, 2024 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? Review, 2024 What are the most effective treatments for PMDD? Randomised trial, 2023 Does taking sertraline when PMDD symptoms start improve how well women function? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗