I tried Yaz Flex (120 days). Side effects and reasons for choosing it. / PMS / Menstrual pain / Dysmenorrhea / Pill

What is Yaz Flex?

Simply put, it is a low-dose pill.
"Yaz Flex combination tablets suppress ovulation, preventing the endometrium from thickening, which reduces the production of substances that cause pain, thereby alleviating the pain of endometriosis and symptoms of dysmenorrhea."
https://betterl.bayer.jp/whc/yazflex/about

Even among low-dose pills, there are many types, and prices vary widely.
I will write about why I ended up taking it, and the actual pros, cons, and side effects I experienced.

The reason for taking the pill.

I imagine many people reading this article
are either wondering whether to take the pill
or are suffering from menstrual pain and want to do something about it.

For me, I was simply terrified of my period since I was a teenager.
Because my family home was in the countryside, my commute to middle and high school was an hour and a half each way.
When my period pain started, I would feel a chill from my ankles and start shaking,
and during that time, I would have to get off the train early or miss classes due to headaches and abdominal pain.
Even when I went to the hospital, my mother had negative opinions about the pill,
telling me, 'Your body is unstable in your teens, so just hang in there until you're an adult,' and I just got by while changing my painkillers.

It was the same way in college,
and even after I started working, I often had to take time off.
Although I was in a general career track at the time, I had understanding at my workplace,
and I was saved by their consideration, such as allowing me to rest in a conference room and work alone when it was painful.

Even so, my mother's prejudice that 'the pill is bad for your body and will affect your future children' was still inside me,
and in the end, I remained unable to take the step to start the pill.

Was there any way to make it easier?

After that, I got married, and because of my pregnancy, my periods stopped,
and I remember it being very comfortable until after I gave birth.
I had heard people say, 'Menstrual pain gets better after childbirth,' and
I had a faint hope that maybe...

No, pain is pain.

Labor pain is certainly painful.

No, menstrual pain isn't just about the pain,
it also affected my mental state, perhaps because I'm getting older.

I was already prone to being a bit of a hag, but it turned me into a Super Saiyan.
It got significantly worse for me after giving birth.
The increased bleeding meant my headaches and abdominal pain doubled.
Plus, it was an irregular type with a fast cycle,
so I couldn't fully enjoy trips...
As for the bleeding, even with overnight diaper-style pads, it was gushing, and riding the bike to drop off the kids was terrifying.
Even so, I had to keep doing childcare, housework, and work.
I even thought about just having my uterus removed.

Mirena vs. Yaz Flex: Prioritizing PMS improvement

I consulted with the hospital about Mirena and Yaz Flex, and chose Yaz Flex with the hope of improving my PMS.

• Mirena: A device inserted into the uterus that gradually releases progestin.

• Yaz Flex: A type of low-dose pill that suppresses ovulation and prevents the endometrium from thickening.

About Mirena
https://betterl.bayer.jp/whc/mirena/mirena

I chose Yaz Flex because I was scared of the procedure from the start and also wanted to see if it would improve my PMS.
My PMS used to be a sense of lethargy that would make me bedridden, but
it started happening more often that I'd realize my period had arrived without noticing.

Actually taking it. Pros/Cons

It's been a year since I started taking it, and
I wish I had started taking it sooner.

Why Yaz Flex out of all the many pills?

■ Cons
　・High cost (about ¥8,000 because it's for 120 days at once)
・There are side effects (common to low-dose pills, but there may be side effects when you start taking them)
　 ・Thirst (likely due to the diuretic effect)
　・There is a risk of thrombosis as a side effect (a doctor will determine if it's suitable when prescribing)

　　"Thrombosis is a side effect to be aware of when taking EP combination drugs, not just Yaz Flex combination tablets.

Thrombosis is a condition where a blood clot blocks a blood vessel, and it requires immediate medical attention."

https://betterl.bayer.jp/whc/yazflex/side-effect

■ Pros
　・Less prone to swelling (due to the diuretic effect)
　・It's a 120-day type, so you can reduce the number of periods
・Once a day at a set time is fine
　・Even when you do have a period, the amount of bleeding gradually decreases
　　(For me, it became an amount that could be handled with just a panty liner)

It doesn't mean you won't have a period for 120 days, but
I was very happy that the amount of bleeding decreased and it only lasted about 4 days.
With other pills, I tended to get swollen,
and my face would change so much that people around me would ask if I'd gained weight, which was a concern for me,
but Yaz Flex caused no issues at all.

Summary

This time it was about Yaz Flex, but
there are many types of low-dose pills, and to a layperson, they all look exactly the same.
That's exactly why I recommend a clinic that focuses on counseling, as you want a prescription that fits your lifestyle.

Criteria for choosing a clinic (my personal opinion)
・Are there many female staff members?
・Is it in an accessible location? (near work or home, etc.)
・The doctor's demeanor and reviews
・The atmosphere of the clinic (columns and photos on the website)
・Is it by appointment? (makes it easier to plan)
・Clearly communicate your wishes. If that is difficult, I recommend writing them down in a bulleted list (e.g., PMS is painful, I want to reduce the number of times I take it, I don't want to experience bloating, etc.)
　

Because menstruation is something you cannot avoid,
I hope you find a style that works for you.