Hormonal reaction to birth control?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2004
Hormonal reaction to birth control?
5
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 6:15pm
I have been experiencing bleeding after sex, frequent and burning urination, itching, and general irritation- all the signs (minus discharge) of a vaginal infection. The doctor tested for STDs (which was negative) but gave me a prescription for yeast infection medicine. Symptoms subsided but again... After one week, bleeding after sex was so painful that the doctor tested for yeast infection, bacterial infection, general types of vaginal infections, Pap Smear, and bladder/uti infection. All came back negative.

The doctor believes my symptoms to be a hormonal reaction to birth control. She recommended I take estrogen shots (I am only 27 years old) or stop taking the pill. Changing pills was also another option but she didn't sound too hopeful about it.

Am going for a second opinion because I did not feel comfortable or confident with the doctor's attitude or evaluation.

Just wanted to know, has anyone experienced anything similiar or is this doctor just not have a better answer? Would greatly appreciate it if anyone has any feedback.

Avatar for poohwhitt
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 9:18pm
Hi,

I went through, am going through, something kind of similar. I tear during intercourse. Not as often anymore, but a couple times a year it still sneaks up on me. My problem stems from low testosterone levels. I had to go through 5 doctors to finally figure it out. I'd say get a second opinion and maybe do some research online. Someone around here, I'm sure, has had something similar.

Best of Luck and Big Hugs,

Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2003
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 10:55pm
I think bc pills are to blame. I had similar problems (constant yeast infections, bladder infections, painful sex), and my pill was the problem. My doc didn't want to believe it was the pill, but I have to admit, my doctor was wrong. And she didn't sound too confident with anything she told me about the pill either. I blame it on doctors not being able to find reliable studies on bc pills, and not updating what they know about them. All my problems were because of the pill. I have been off for one month now and already I feel so much better.

Pain during sex is easy to explain, the hormones in the pill make you dry and you excrete less cervical fluid. Add that to a decreasing sex drive, and you get painful sex.

The infections, I've been told, are caused by the sugars in the pill (but not too sure how true that is, couldn't find any more info on that). I was having an infection every month after my period, until now.

Get your second opinion, or try switching brands, but you may find that you'll have to use another form of birth control. Something non-hormonal (diaphram, cervical cap, copper IUD) wont mess with the level of cervical fluid you produce, and may help with the painful sex problem.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2004
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 4:46am
Checked, but the doctor didn't see any tears.

Are you on any type of birth control pill?

I am on Triquilar which is a similiar to Triphasil in the States. I was reading that it has a high level of progestin. I was on OrthoTriCyclen three years ago for only about 3 months but didn't experience any problems. OrthoTriCyclen has a much much lower progestin so I am going to talk to the other doctor about switching.

Hope your problem fades away, but I will be sure to mention it to mine so I get it checked out. Thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2004
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 4:55am
Just curious if you tried switching pills?

I am going for the second opinion and will also have another culture done. I will take this month off of the pill to see if the symptoms subside and to get this out of my system, but I will also try switching pills to a lower dose next month. Currenly on Triquilar which is similiar to Triphasil in the States.

Oh, and sex was never painful. I noticed the blood first and then my genitals because irritated afterwards, maybe an hour or so.

And when you refer to the "sugars" are you referring to the sugar pills? Because I only take the 21 day and nothing for 7 days. Tried to research sugars online but couldn't understand what you meant.

Thanks for responding.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 8:24am

There is *no* sugar in birth control pills, not even in what people call "sugar pills"!

Judie Cl for Birth Control