Yaz Birth Control Pill Approved for New Use

For women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder

THURSDAY, Oct. 5, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- Berlex Inc.'s Yaz birth control pill has received expanded U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to treat the physical and emotional symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), the company said Thursday.

PMDD -- a severe form of premenstrual syndrome -- occurs when a woman's premenstrual symptoms are disruptive enough to significantly affect relationships, social activity, and work productivity. Symptoms include mood swings, irritability, headache, anxiety, bloating, and food craving. The condition affects up to 4.5 million women in the United States, said Berlex, an affiliate of global drugmaker Schering AG.

In clinical testing, Yaz reduced symptoms by at least half in some 48 percent of women who took it, the company said in a statement. PMDD occurs about 10 days before onset of a woman's period, and some 90 percent of women who have it are undiagnosed, Berlex said.

Yaz was first approved for birth control in March.

More information

To learn more about PMDD, visit the National Library of Medicine.

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