Beyaz vs. Yaz Birth Control Pills: What to Know
Key takeaways:
Both Beyaz and Yaz are effective birth control options that contain the same amounts of the same two hormones. But Beyaz also includes a dose of folic acid in every pill.
Since Beyaz and Yaz are very similar medications, they also have similar side effects and drug interactions.
Beyaz and Yaz are both available as lower-cost generics. GoodRx can help you save over 80% off the average retail price at certain pharmacies.
Table of contents
With 14% of women aged 15 to 49 taking birth control pills, this method of contraceptive is more popular than IUDs and implants. When used as prescribed in a 12-day period, fewer than 1 in 100 women will get pregnant.
As new birth control brands are introduced to the market, it can be hard to keep up with all the options. Two names you may be curious about are Beyaz and Yaz. In this article, we’ll explore these birth control pills and their differences when it comes to ingredients, side effects, and more.
What is Beyaz?
Beyaz is Yaz mixed with levomefolate calcium.
Search and compare options
Yaz is a combination birth control pill. One package contains 24 active tablets with 0.02 mg of ethinyl estradiol (EE) and 3 mg of drospirenone each. EE is a synthetic version of estrogen, which is a sex hormone. Drospirenone, on the other hand, is a progestin — a synthetic form of the sex hormone progesterone. In addition to the 24 active tablets, a package of Yaz has 4 placebo tablets, or tablets without medication.
Bayer pharmaceuticals mixed Yaz with levomefolate calcium and remarketed it as Beyaz. Beyaz received FDA approval in 2010, whereas Yaz was originally approved in 2006.
A package of Beyaz has 24 active tablets with 0.02 mg of EE, 3 mg of drospirenone, and 0.451 mg of levomefolate calcium each. And, instead of placebo tablets, Beyaz has 4 non-hormonal tablets that contain 0.451 mg of levomefolate calcium.
This amount of levomefolate calcium is equal to 0.4 mg of folic acid, which is recommended for women of reproductive (childbearing) age. Taking folic acid daily may lower the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) should you choose to stop taking birth control and get pregnant. NTDs have negative effects on an unborn baby’s brain and spinal cord development.
Wait, so is Beyaz the same as Yaz?
Yes and no. Beyaz and Yaz contain the same amounts of drospirenone and EE hormones, which are the two ingredients that help prevent pregnancy. But Beyaz also includes levomefolate calcium to help support a future pregnancy (should you decide that’s right for you).
Beyaz vs. Yaz side effects
Beyaz and Yaz are the same medication — with the small difference of levomefolate calcium in Beyaz. While there are some side effects that are unique to one, they share several common side effects. Many of these side effects are also common with other birth control pills.
The following chart lists some common side effects for Beyaz and Yaz.
| Side effect | Beyaz tablets | Yaz tablets |
|---|---|---|
| Breast pain or tenderness | 3%-11% | 4%-11% |
| Headaches or migraines | 6%-13% | 7%-13% |
| Mood changes | 2%-3% | 2%-3% |
| Low sex drive (libido) | 3% | 3% |
| Menstrual period changes (e.g., spotting or bleeding between periods) | 4%-25% | 5%-25% |
| Nausea or vomiting | 4%-16% | 4%-16% |
| Tiredness or low energy | 4% | 4% |
| Weight gain | 3% | 3% |
Severe side effects are also possible with Beyaz and Yaz. Get medical help right away if you experience any of the following side effects:
Jaundice (yellowing of eyes or skin)
Leg pain that doesn’t go away
Severe chest pain
Shortness of breath
Speaking difficulties
Sudden or new severe headaches
Vision changes
Weakness or numbness of arms or legs
This list isn’t a complete list of possible side effects associated with these birth control pills. For more information, talk with your pharmacist or healthcare provider.
Does Beyaz stop you from having periods?
While taking Beyaz, you might experience lighter menstrual periods. Some women might even miss their periods. But you should notify your healthcare provider right away in the following situations:
You suspect that you’re pregnant.
You missed one period and didn’t take all of your active birth control tablets in the Beyaz package for the menstrual cycle.
You missed two periods back to back.
Beyaz vs. Yaz drug interactions
In general, don’t take Beyaz or Yaz with certain medications known as CYP3A4 inducers. CYP3A4 is a protein in the liver that breaks down and clears out many medications, including Beyaz and Yaz.
Examples of CYP3A4 inducers include:
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Rifampin (Rifadin)
St. John’s wort, an over-the-counter (OTC) herbal supplement
These types of medications encourage CYP3A4 to quickly break down Beyaz and Yaz, which can make them less effective. This interaction can cause breakthrough bleeding and a higher risk of pregnancy. If combining these medications is necessary, use a backup birth control method, like a condom.
While this is a key interaction, it isn’t the only one involving Beyaz and Yaz. For more detailed information about medication interactions for both birth control pills, talk with your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Make sure to provide them a complete medication list that includes any OTC medications and herbal supplements you’re taking.
How to save on Beyaz and Yaz
There are ways to save on Beyaz and Yaz, which are available as both brand-name and generic medications.
GoodRx can help you save about 80% off the average retail price of the generic versions. Generic Beyaz's price at certain pharmacies is less than $33 with a free GoodRx discount. Generic Yaz's price at certain pharmacies is less than $13 with a free GoodRx discount.
Beyaz vs. Yaz effectiveness
Unlike Yaz, Beyaz raises the folate in your red blood cells by around 40% when taking it for 24 weeks (about 6 months). By the end of the same treatment period, Beyaz also raises the amount of folate in the bloodstream by approximately 35%.
For preventing pregnancy, Beyaz and Yaz are similarly effective. With appropriate use, these combination birth control pills lower the likelihood of pregnancy by approximately 91%.
When these medications are taken as contraception, they may also be used as effective treatments for acne, in people ages 14 and older, and premenopausal dysphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms. If you have any questions about these FDA-approved uses, talk with your healthcare provider.
Is Beyaz a good birth control? Is it worth it?
Yes, Beyaz is a good birth control option.
As a combination birth control, when used appropriately, Beyaz is typically around 91% effective at preventing pregnancy. Since Yaz is also a combination birth control, it’s similarly effective at lowering the likelihood of pregnancy.
So, is Beyaz worth it? This depends.
The CDC recommends that all women of childbearing age take 0.4 mg of folic acid daily to prevent NTD in unborn babies. This is suggested well before pregnancy. So, if you think you may want to get pregnant in the future, taking folic acid daily is a good idea.
Each Beyaz tablet contains 0.451 mg of levomefolate calcium, which is equivalent to 0.4 mg of folic acid. So you can conveniently take 1 tablet for both your birth control and folic acid supplement needs.
The bottom line
There are several birth control methods available. Both Beyaz and Yaz are effective combination birth control pills. But Beyaz has a dose of folic acid in each tablet. Since Beyaz and Yaz are very similar medications, they also share common side effects and drug interactions. If you have any questions or concerns about either birth control option, reach out to your healthcare provider.
Why trust our experts?
References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2021). Effectiveness of birth control methods.
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2010). U.S. FDA approves new oral contraceptive that also raises folate levels. Cision PR Newswire.
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2017). Yaz [package insert].
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2019). Beyaz [package insert].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Contraceptive use.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Folic acid.
Fruzzetti, F. (2012). Beyaz: An oral contraceptive fortified with folate. Women’s Health.
Lynch, T., et al. (2007). The effect of cytochrome P450 metabolism on drug response, interactions, and adverse effects. American Family Physician.
National Health Service. (2020). How effective is contraception at preventing pregnancy?
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2011). Drug approval package: Yaz (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol) for oral contraception and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Birth control.
