Can birth control pills cause vaginal itching/burning?

The same thing was happening to me for a very long time right before every period. I tried everything at CVS and Walmart but nothing stopped it. I went to a gynecologist and was tested for BV, which is incredibly common in women. You can wipe the wrong way and get it. No one really knows what causes it but most women get it at least once in their lifetime. I was prescribed Metrotinidazole or something like that... I can't spell it. As a pill it works great but is DISGUSTING. I used the gel version. It gets rid of it instantly. I wouldn't get the OTC off brand from Walmart! It doesn't do it. Only the prescription from the gyno. Google it though because I don't remember the exact spelling. I am not a doctor so whatever I say is not telling you to do or not to do anything ... Js

I just read your post, I'm on cerazette mini pill, I have itching too only on one side of the outside of my vagina for last 2 years I didn't know what from I've not got thrush, no bad odour no discharge. Perhaps I should come off my pill too!

I've just started to have a problem with these pills my breast have been tender for two months and I've had three periods in one month. My vagina has been itching and lead to burning :(

I'd call your gyno asap! When I got my period 2 times in one month they took me off that pill and gave me medicine to help with the period !

Hi! I've been on Loestrin for almost 8 years and it recently just changed to Minastrin all of a sudden. Since the switch I have had bad itching not inside the vagina but all around! I was wondering if it was the bc and saw your post! Do you think that's what it was??? If so, I'm considering getting off this pill. Thanks for your help!

I'm thinking the pill, that's what my issue was and when I switched I haven't had the itch since!

Hi. If you read up on the side effects of Minastrin under the rare side effects they do say it can cause vaginal inflammation and infection then reading further down the list it says it also causes itching.
So your all probably suffering what they say is a rare side effect.

Okay, I FINALLY got an answer. After months of going from Dr. to Dr. (Mostly GYNOs) for vaginal itching & burning. I found out it was from my birth control. I had been tested for every infection. Tried every cream. Steroid cream, diflucan, metroz, to no avail. I had been diagnosed with vulvodynia (the cause of vaginal irritation unknown) I was directed to a dermatologist who specialized in women's health. She told me to get off any hormonal birth control. The synthetic hormones can make the skin thin, itchy & tear easily. After stopping I felt 75% better. She said it takes up to 3 months for the hormones to be completely out of the system. It's been 1 1/2 months & it's getting better all the time. I still have days that are bad if I do something to irritate the skin but nothing like before.

Thank you for your response. What pill did you switch too? Have you had any problems since?

Great news!!!!! What bc were you on? have you completely stopped bc?

I stopped BC completely. I was on Falmina 20mg. (their lowest dose) I was originally on Alesse but my pharamcy changed to Falmina. Since going of the pill I have felt SO much better. It's only been 1 1/2 months so I'm not completely healed BUT I barley notice it so that's a BIG plus. I'm not switching to any other pill because of the hormone reason. The Dermatologist said I would have to go with a hormone free method. So I'm still deciding between an IUD or the implant.

I'm so glad I found this thread and that your response was fairly recent. For about the past 5 months I have had redness on my labia minora. I have searched the internet for practically everything it could possibly be and been tested at my OBGYN for everything from yeast to STDs all coming back normal. About a month and a half ago I went to my general practitioner since my obgyn and I were at a loss and she did an exam and prescribed prednisone and fluconazole. The prednisone cleared it up within two days, it was a 5 day treatment. The irritation actually stayed gone for about two and a half weeks but showed up with a vengeance the day before I started my period. interestingly when this rash very first started a few months ago it started the day before my period. It never completely went away but it would diminish and then always flare up right before and right after beginning my period. Last week I went back to my general practitioner for a follow up and to let her know that the steroid helped but that it came back as soon as I had my period. We had talked the last time about going off the pill if the problem persisted. I have been off my pill for about 5 days now and about 2 days ago I started my period again. The inflamation flared up but I'm hoping it's because I haven't been off the pill for even a week yet. I have another appointment in 2 months for a follow up. Hoping to see a difference!

PS: about how long did it take for you to start feeling some kind of relief and did you notice that your irritation got worse at a certain time of the month like mine did?

I'm so sorry! It's really the worst thing a girl can go through. Mine has been similar, always worse around the time of my period & would slowly get better until my next period. I started feeling a bit better a week after my last period on BC. The same thing happened, it slowly got better up until my period & then I would feel it again BUT it was nothing like it was before. The pain was bearable & only lasted a couple days. Then the "healing" process started again until my next period but again the pain was slowly lessening at each period. I've only been off of it for two months but I feel 80% better most the time. Occasionally it'll hurt from wiping after going to the bathroom or a little itch will appear but it always goes away if I ignore it. A couple weeks ago I went back to the dermatologist because anytime my husband & I tried to be intimate in any way my right labia minora would swell to 5x it's size. She thinks it's hives of some sort . So she put me on zyrtec 10mg once a day. (I take the generic of zyrtec not the other allergy stuff) & that seems to help a lot too. At least with the itching. I haven't tried anything to see if I'd still swell up. (sorry if that's TMI) I also switched back to the laundry detergent I was using before all this happened that might be helping too. (We thought I might be having an allergic reaction to the detergent but switching to something completely new & using steroid cream only helped for about a week.) I believe that's it's not just one thing. The BC changes your vaginal discharge, PH level in the vagina & the skin. That makes it more easy to tear & become more sensitive than it already is. Which in turn, makes soaps, fragrances, infections, even your diet easier to irritate things on the vulva. If that makes sense. So start by getting off BC. It takes 3 months for the synthetic hormones to completely leave your body & it might take another month for your skin to heal it's self completely. I have heard of taking prim rose oil in tablet form or rubbing it on the vulva to get your hormones back in balance. I personally have not tried it just because I've become nervous of taking basically anything. It is a supplement not a medication so it is more natural. I would suggest researching it at the least. (It can get a bit pricey too.) Also, if you google "birth control causing vulvodynia" you might find some more information on what else it could be other than just BC. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions or just need someone to talk to about this. Good luck!

Thank you so much for sharing and for your quick response! It's such a bizarre situation but it is somewhat comforting to know that there are other women going through the same thing. I have another appointment at my Dr. in two months so hopefully I can report some positive change. I've only been off the pill for a week and a day but I can already tell that the irritation that was on the labia minora has diminished greatly and I only have discomfort around the actual vaginal opening. at my OB GYNs suggestion I have been using A&D ointment after using the restroom to help prevent any additional discomfort due to friction on the sensitive skin. before taking a five day dose of prednisone right before Thanksgiving I was mostly having irritation on the right side in a certain spot in particular but not around the actual vaginal opening. After taking the steroid pill it seemed to go away until I started my period Again and then it's almost like it just picked an entirely new area to be the focal point of the Irritation. I know that sounds crazy but you probably understand what I mean. Like you I have also had a difficult I'm being intimate since this started happening. It started in late August and poor hubby has only seen any action 2 times and that was after I had taken the steroid before the irritation came back. It's hard to be in the mood and enjoy anything as I'm always worried about making it worse.