--- title: Beyaz vs Yaz: Differences, Evidence, and Which to Choose description: Beyaz and Yaz use the same drospirenone and estrogen dose; Beyaz adds folate. Compare the evidence for PMS, PMDD, side effects, and switching. url: https://niyora.com/treatments/yaz-vs-beyaz/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Treatments](https://niyora.com/treatments/) - Yaz vs Beyaz: what's different and what to bring up at your appointment Treatment # Yaz vs Beyaz: what's different and what to bring up at your appointment Yaz and Beyaz use the exact same drospirenone and ethinylestradiol dose in the same 24/4 schedule, so Beyaz is expected to affect PMS and PMDD symptoms the same way, though no trial has tested Beyaz on its own. Beyaz adds folate to every pill, which doesn't treat premenstrual symptoms but may lower neural tube defect risk if you conceive while taking it or soon after stopping. The published PMDD trials were run on Yaz specifically, not on Beyaz. Updated 14 October 2026 Niyora editorial Moderate evidence Strength of evidence Moderate Good studies point the same way, with some gaps. - None - Limited - Mixed - Moderate - Strong ## At a glance - Same hormones: drospirenone 3 mg plus ethinylestradiol 20 mcg, 24 active days and 4 placebo days, in both pills. - Beyaz adds levomefolate calcium (folate) to all 28 pills; Yaz's placebo pills contain nothing active. - Two randomized trials tested Yaz specifically for PMDD; no separate PMDD trial on Beyaz was found in this research. - Side effects should track closely between the two, since the active hormone dose is identical and folate isn't linked to hormonal side effects. - Switching between them is a timing question for your doctor, not a hormone change. ## Strength of evidence Moderate evidence - None - Limited - Mixed - Moderate - Strong Two randomized trials show Yaz's drospirenone/20mcg EE regimen eases PMDD's mood, physical and behavioral symptoms [4]. No trial in the research reviewed here tested Beyaz separately for PMS or PMDD; its approval rests on being the same active hormones as Yaz, plus folate [1]. Side by side Yaz and Beyaz Active hormones Yaz Drospirenone 3 mg + ethinylestradiol 20 mcg, 24 active/4 placebo days [1] [5] Beyaz Same dose, same 24/4 pattern [1] Also compared in the table below - Extra ingredient - FDA-approved uses - Trials testing it specifically for PMDD - Main added benefit - Why the regimen may ease premenstrual symptoms | Compared on | Yaz | Beyaz | | --- | --- | --- | | Active hormones | Drospirenone 3 mg + ethinylestradiol 20 mcg, 24 active/4 placebo days [1] [5] | Same dose, same 24/4 pattern [1] | | Extra ingredient | None | Levomefolate calcium (folate) in every pill [1] | | FDA-approved uses | Contraception, PMDD, moderate acne [4] | Same three uses, inherited from the parent formula [1] | | Trials testing it specifically for PMDD | Two randomized trials [4] | None found separate from Yaz's trials [1] | | Main added benefit | None beyond the hormone effect | Raises folate levels, relevant if you could become pregnant [1] | | Why the regimen may ease premenstrual symptoms | Antimineralocorticoid, antiandrogenic drospirenone plus a shortened hormone-free interval [3] [5] | Same mechanism, same hormones [1] | ## How do Yaz and Beyaz differ? Yaz and Beyaz share the same core formula: - Same hormones: drospirenone 3 mg and ethinylestradiol 20 mcg [1] [5]. - Same schedule: 24 active days followed by 4 placebo days [1] [5]. - Same shortened placebo window, instead of the older 7-day gap, which keeps hormone levels steadier across the month and is part of why this formula was studied for premenstrual symptoms in the first place [3]. - One difference: Beyaz's 28 tablets, active and placebo alike, all contain levomefolate calcium, a form of folate, while Yaz's placebo pills contain nothing active [1]. **Beyaz is Yaz plus folate, not a different hormone formula.** Folate doesn't change how either pill affects PMS or PMDD symptoms. It raises your folate stores, which matters if you could become pregnant while taking it or soon after stopping [1]. Drospirenone itself is unusual among progestins used in birth control pills, with both antimineralocorticoid and antiandrogenic activity. That's part of why researchers chose it to study for premenstrual symptoms rather than older progestins [5]. For the basics on the shared formulation, [Yaz: what it is and whether it helps PMS](https://niyora.com/treatments/yaz/) covers it in more detail. ## Which works better for PMS or PMDD? Yaz has the stronger paper trail. Two randomized trials tested drospirenone 3 mg plus ethinylestradiol 20 mcg in the 24/4 regimen specifically for PMDD. They found it eased mood, physical and behavioral symptoms, including ones tied to food cravings, water retention and friction with people close to her [4]. That evidence is part of why the FDA approved this exact formula for PMDD [4], moderate acne and contraception [1]. | | Yaz | Beyaz | | --- | --- | --- | | PMDD trials | Two randomized trials testing this regimen specifically [4] | None found testing Beyaz on its own [1] | | FDA-approved uses | Contraception, PMDD, moderate acne [1] [4] | Same three uses, inherited from the parent formula [1] | Beyaz carries the same three approvals as its parent formula [1]. No study in the research reviewed here tested Beyaz against a placebo for premenstrual symptoms on its own. **The clinical evidence for premenstrual relief belongs to Yaz's trials; Beyaz is expected to work the same way because the hormones are identical** [1] [4]. Neither pill is a cure. Research comparing quality of life across PMS, PMDD and the general population found both conditions meaningfully lower day-to-day functioning, especially around emotional roles at work and home, which is the gap this kind of pill is trying to close [2]. See [Yaz for PMDD: does it work?](https://niyora.com/treatments/yaz-for-pmdd/) and [Yaz for PMS: does it work?](https://niyora.com/treatments/yaz-for-pms/) for what those trials actually measured. ## How do the side effects compare? Because the hormone dose is identical, Yaz and Beyaz should carry the same side-effect profile. Drospirenone's antimineralocorticoid and antiandrogenic activity, the reason it tends to cause less bloating than older progestins, works the same way in both pills [3] [5]. Folate, the one ingredient unique to Beyaz, is well established as safe at the doses used in pregnancy and the months before it. It isn't linked to the hormonal side effects people usually ask about, like headache, breast tenderness or mood changes [1]. None of the research reviewed here breaks out a separate side-effect list for Beyaz. The closest evidence comes from Yaz's drospirenone/EE trials, where this regimen's shortened hormone-free interval reduced, rather than worsened, headache, breast tenderness, mood swings and pelvic pain compared with older 21/7 pills [3]. Because drospirenone has mild antimineralocorticoid activity, doctors sometimes check potassium levels in people also taking other medications that raise potassium, and that caution applies equally to Yaz and Beyaz [5]. **If a side effect shows up, it's almost certainly from the drospirenone and estrogen, not the folate.** For the fuller list and timing, see [Yaz side effects, including mood](https://niyora.com/treatments/yaz-side-effects/). ## Can you switch from one to the other? Switching between Yaz and Beyaz isn't a hormone change, since both use the same drospirenone and ethinylestradiol dose in the same 24/4 pattern [1]. In practice, most people move between them the way they'd continue any pack. - Finish your current pack as prescribed, including the placebo days. - Start the new pack the next day, with no extra hormone-free gap. - Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the switch so your prescription and any folate needs are tracked correctly. - Mention it at your next visit if you're also trying to conceive, since Beyaz's folate benefit depends on sustained use, not a quick swap [1]. This applies whether you're switching for cost, availability or a preference around folate, not because one works better than the other for premenstrual symptoms [1]. If you're deciding whether either pill is worth it for your premenstrual symptoms, [Birth control for PMDD: does it work?](https://niyora.com/treatments/birth-control-for-pmdd/) lays out how this class fits alongside SSRIs and therapy. ## What should you bring up at your appointment? Start from what you actually need this year. If pregnancy is possible, folate matters, and Beyaz builds it in automatically with every pill [1]. If pregnancy isn't on the table right now, Yaz and Beyaz work the same way for PMS and PMDD, and Yaz is the one with published PMDD trials behind it [4] [1]. Questions worth bringing to the appointment: - Which formula fits my plans around pregnancy this year? - Have I tried an SSRI or other option, and how did that compare? - How many cycles should we track before judging whether this is working? - What symptoms would mean we should stop or switch? Niyora is a PMS and PMDD support app. While you're deciding, Niyora's Moon lets you write down a hard moment as it happens, see it from another angle and draft a reply you can hold for 20 minutes, so you have something more than a blurry memory of the days before your period when you get to that appointment. For what's actually proven to help beyond this one comparison, [PMS treatment: what actually helps](https://niyora.com/treatments/pms-treatment/) is a good place to start. 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 502 studies in the library look at the pill in PMS and PMDD. They were published from 1970 to 2026, and each one has a short summary of what was tested and found. 502 studies, 1970 to 2026 How strong the studies are Strong study design 54 Moderate study design 170 Early or limited evidence 278 - [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 502 studies on oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/) ## Questions people ask Is Beyaz the same as Yaz? + Beyaz uses the exact same drospirenone and ethinylestradiol dose as Yaz, in the same 24-day active, 4-day placebo pattern. The only difference is that every Beyaz pill, including the placebo ones, contains levomefolate calcium (folate), which Yaz doesn't have. Does Beyaz treat PMDD as well as Yaz? + The two trials showing benefit for PMDD's mood, physical and behavioral symptoms were run on Yaz, not Beyaz. Because Beyaz shares the same active hormones, it's expected to work the same way, but no separate PMDD trial on Beyaz was found in this research. Can I switch from Yaz to Beyaz without a break? + Since both use the same hormone dose and 24/4 schedule, most people move directly from one pack to the next without adding a hormone-free gap. Confirm the exact timing with your doctor or pharmacist before you switch. Why would someone choose Beyaz over Yaz? + Beyaz's built-in folate is useful if you could become pregnant while taking it or soon after stopping, since it helps raise folate stores linked to lower neural tube defect risk. If pregnancy isn't a near-term consideration, the two pills work the same way. ## Sources - 1. [Beyaz®: an oral contraceptive fortified with folate](https://doi.org/10.2217/whe.11.68), Women's health (London, England), 2012 - 2. [Comparison of the Quality of Life in Three Groups: Women with Premenstrual Syndrome, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and General Population in Yazd](https://doi.org/10.18502/jchr.v8i1.556), Journal of Community Health Research, 2019 - 3. [[Extracontraceptive benefits of EE/DRSP (Yaz) in 24+4 day regimen]](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20595950/), Minerva ginecologica, 2010 - 4. [YAZ in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18980045/), The Journal of reproductive medicine, 2008 - 5. [YAZ and the novel progestin drospirenone](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18980044/), The Journal of reproductive medicine, 2008 Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗ On this page - [How do Yaz and Beyaz differ?](#how-do-yaz-and-beyaz-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) - [What should you bring up at your appointment?](#what-should-you-bring-up-at-your-appointment) - [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 PMS: does it work? Treatment Yaz for PMDD: does it work? Treatment Yaz side effects, including mood Treatment How long does Yaz take to work? Treatment PMS treatment: what actually helps Condition What is PMS? Premenstrual syndrome, explained