Can birth control pills cause vaginal itching/burning?

W as the steroid oral? I wasn't sure by your post if it was a steroid and antifungal cream or if it was a oral steroid and an anti fungal cream separately. Anyhow, my doctor prescribed a steroid oral pill for 5 days as well as fluconazole one time a week for 3 weeks and the steroid cream cleared me up after about the second day but as soon as my period was about to start (2.5 weeks later) my irritation and redness flared up again. Just wondering how it worked for you? Now we're trying going off my birth control. I've been off it for a week and a day. I heard it can take a few months to get it completely out of your system. I also have a steroid cream something like Nystatin......it helps a bit but not to the point it goes completely.

I feel like I practically could have written your post word for word!I've Been off the pill a week and a day and have seen some improvement but I feel like I still get flare ups and I'm sure it's because my hormones are going wacky because I just had my period right before I stopped the pill and then my Period started up again and so I think my body is just going to have to take a few months to get back to normal. now that you've been off of your birth control for 4 months are you still symptom free? About how long did it take for your symptoms to go away? I went through the exact same thing that you did when I first started having irritation. 2 rounds of yeast creams that were a week long each time as well as a steroid cream that helped a bit especially getting The irritated feeling to calm down but never making it completely go away also having a pill in case it was a bacterial infection, tested for herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and also had an additional pap smear. I switched from my OBGYN to my general practitioner because we felt like we were exhausting all of our options so my general practitioner gave me a prescription for 5 days of prednisone and one tablet of fluconazole a week for 3 weeks. The prednisone helped after about the second day and my irritation was completely gone for about two and a half weeks until my period was about to start. Then it all flared up again. Our next option is what I'm doing now which is going off the pill but my doctor said it can take 2 to 3 months to get out of your system. I hope you're still having luck after going off the pill!

It sounds like you have done a lot of research as I'm sure we all have with getting the run around on all kinds of crazy diseases and things that we could possibly have had. Not saying it's the doctors fault at all because based on symptoms I can completely understand why they would think that we had something more common. I've been asking everyone on this post that I relate to how long it took after you stopped birth control until you started feeling normal again. Did you discover the herbs right away? If not how long did it take you to feel some improvement just going off of your birth control alone? I really like your explanation about why our body starts to develop an allergy and go wonky because our hormones and when we're supposed to have our period are fighting with the fake hormones that tell us when to have Our period. like you, I wish I would have known more about possible side effects before going back on the pill after having my son. Not sure it would have changed my mind as I had been on and off birth control for the last 10 years only coming off to have my two children. I think this is a last resort option for so many of us because it's hard to believe that our bodies can develop an allergy to something that we've been using for years. If how you explained it is correct it's almost like your body all of a sudden says enough is enough! Well, I've been off my pill for a week and a day so I'm hoping in a few months I will start to feel normal again.

So I posted a while back about having the same situation, thinking I was allergic to synthetic hormones, and then I proved it to myself. Here's how: after I got off the pill the changes were pretty much relief after the next period. I enjoyed this relief for about 2 months. Then for whatever reason, I started eating string cheese like a maniac! This had nothing to do with my cycle, I just really like string cheese. My next cycle was terrible!!! I had a hunch, so I called the cheese company and asked where they get their milk from, they referred me to the source, I called them and asked what kind of practices they use for their cows. In short the lady told me that they pump the poor cows full of growth hormones, this ends up in the cheese and ends up in you and I. I quit eating dairy from conventional producers. I stick to only organic, and what do you know. Haven't had a problem since. So this is how I confirmed me allergy suspicion. Note: I hadn't ever noticed an intolerance to conventional dairy products before this, and I really think that being on the pill triggered some sort of sensitivity to synthetic hormones in general that I am now hyper aware of.
The other thing I did since then was start to take an herbal supplement called vitex berry (also called chaste berry) basically what this does is help eliminate extra hormones out of your system, while also helping your natural hormone producing glands (pituitary and thyroid mainly) to start producing their own natural hormones again. This is key, as these natural functions have been suppressed for as long as you've been taking hormonal birth control.

Note 2.0: most doctors have not had too much experience with hormone allergy, so it's important to stress that you really think that's what it is (if you really do of course). I've been to many doctors that have tried to put me back on the pill, or just don't believe me. I've had every test done. Finally one of my doctors realized I might be onto something and suggested I try the natural therapy route. Which has worked so far.

I know what you mean! As sad as this is I'm glad I"m not the only one because I've had doctors tell me I'm crazy or "it's physiologically impossible" for BC to do this. But clearly it's not! Anyways, I've been off just over 2 1/2 months & now. I'm actually ending my period now & I've had VERY little pain/itch. In fact the only time I really feel anything is when I wipe after going to the bathroom. Also, I have stopped using tampons because they are too painful to use. The string rubs against the skin & just makes it raw.

I was using a steroid cream. (No anti-fungal included) I had taking Diflucan & Nystain & they seemed to make things worse. I also took 2 rounds of Flagyl & that just made me feel sick & super tired. The Flagyl always gave me oral thrush but the Diflucan never cleared it. I had to wait a couple weeks & then it would clear up on it's own.

This is random but did any of your guys discharge change? Like having extra discharge or it became thicker? Mine would be thick, clear & I had A LOT. Just wondering if that was common with you guys.

I haven't tried any of the herbs/supplements. I have been staying away from dairy but only because it was making me gain weight. :(

My discharge actually was really strange. It was almost like cArdboard shred looking stuff, or almost like the soggy paper shreds of a sucker after you've chewed on it awhile. That's a really weird comparison, I know. But this happened for like 3 days before each period. And it was crazy itchy.

My discharge completely changed when I was put on BC, sometimes it's clear sometimes it not and it's usually a lot of it ugh. I just drink lots of water and it sometimes helps with it

Oh good! I'm glad that was a normal symptom to have. That was one of the worst because it felt like acid! Thankfully my discharge is is almost completely back to normal.

I've noticed the discharge. I actually did some searching on the internet a few days ago and found out that apparently a lot of women have it after going off the pill. Mine is more white and elastic like but there is no off smell. Supposedly it has something to do with your uterine lining that doesn't shed when you're on the pill. I actually just went back to my doctors office today because I've been off the pill for two weeks and I feel like my irritation is getting worse. It could be because I haven't had a regular period yet. She said it could take a few more weeks to actually become regular or even longer than that. both of us wanted to be proactive about this so she also sent me for blood work today to test for various hormonal imbalances. She is also preparing me a referral to an OB to do a biopsy. Have any of you ladies looked up progesterone allergies? From what I read it's rare but it happens when you have a reaction usually before your period starts and shortly after it starts. That's exactly when this started for me about 6 months ago and that is also exactly when my irritation came back after being on prednisone for 5 days. I'm wondering if that's the reason my irritation has gotten worse, because I have not had a natural. And my hormones are all wacky. So glad to have you ladies for support. I will definitely keep an update as to what my blood work says and what goes on as far as the biopsy.

Oh yes! Please share! My Doctor refused to test my blood for hormonal imbalances because she said the BC wouldn't give us proper results. I'd love to know what your results say. I read that too. That the pill changes discharge. It's pretty gross. You're brave. I did not want to do a biopsy so I kept seeing what else we could do. Finally when I went to the Dermatologist she said my skin looked fine & doing a biopsy wouldn't show us anything other than eczema. I've read a couple things about progesterone allergies. because it's so rare it's hard to find good information on it or to even find a Dr. how knows about it.

So I got my blood test results back yesterday. All normal as far as hormones go. I've only been off the pill about 3 weeks though....3 weeks tomorrow so I'm not sure it will be entirely accurate like you said.....but.....it was normal. I don't have my obgyn referral yet so I'll have to see what the obgyn says about doing a biopsy. Definitely NOT looking forward to that. Anyone actually have their irritation and redness get worse after stopping the pill? Last week it was the worse its been and my GP refused to see me and do an exam until my blood work and referral came back. I resorted to using my triamcinolone ointment before bed at night (it's been 5 nights now) and its taken the irritation down a lot. I can't remember if I said this in my original post so I'll say it here, my sister is a nurse and after being on the pill she had problems having a normal Period So she decided to go off of it. It took her a year to get back to her normal cycle. She said I was lucky that I went back to having my normal period after only being off the pill for 3 weeks but that it can still take quite a long time for your body to get back to its natural chemistry. it seems like my irritation always gets worse right before my period and I started my period 2 days ago. it's definitely different than the ones I would have being on the pill which were very light and only last 2 to 3 days. Although I'm not enjoying having a heavier period With more cramps and everything that goes along with it I am taking some comfort that my body is getting back to normal. Hopefully it has something to do with the redness and irritation I've been dealing with.

Oh! KBlack, did you have a problem finding a dermatologist that would give you an exam? My general practitioner said that she didn't think a dermatologist would be the right person to refer me to because of the area of the redness and irritation. I'm really hoping that once I get referred to an OBGYN it will be a good one that will be able to point me in the right direction even if it is being referred to a dermatologist. Skin is their specialty so hopefully they would be able to do something. I've also consider doing allergy testing.

Hmmm that's interesting. I also read that because our hormones fluctuate so much through out our cycle that that can affect the test results as well. & it could be that your hormone levels are fine but your body just doesn't take well with synthetic hormones. Basically an allergic reaction that manifests it's self on the vulva. Do you feel more pain after you pee? It could be that your eating too many foods high in oxalates. Basically if you have too many they crystallize & make the skin irritated when they come out? Something like that. You can have your urine tested for that. If you want more information on it just google 'oxalate crystals causing vulvodynia' I guess sometimes it doesn't fix the problem but it lowers the pain. Just something to think about. I hope you don't have to have a biopsy! It just sounds painful to me. Best of luck with that!

Yes it does take long for your body to go back to normal. It all depends on how long you've been on the pill & just your body in general. The dermatologist told me 3 months for the hormones to be out of the system but longer for your body to get back on track to how it used to be. Every person is different. I'm coming up on my 3 month mark & all I feel is some itching now & then & swelling after wiping or arousal. When I first went off the pill I didn't have immediate relief. I was still in pain around my period so I wasn't convinced it was the pill. The longer I'm off the pill the better I feel. Slowly but surely. If you don't think it's the pill research other causes. I found about 10 different things it could be. I noticed that stopping all medication except my anti-depressant & antihistamine has helped a lot. The pills & creams just seemed to make things worse in the long run. I will use Vaseline or Aquphor as a barrier. Which is nice sometimes.

What have you guys done that has helped? I've also used to take baths & let it soak when I was in a lot of pain & that helped as long as the water wasn't hot.

I went to my GP & about 4 different OBGYN's & one of them finally said she new of a dermatologist that specialized in women's areas. She has been a lot of help. Very nice to listen instead of hand me off to other doctors. She said she's seen this before & most the time it is the BC because it changes our skin, PH level, discharge, lining, everything. But it can be other things.

I wanted to do an allergy test but it's so expensive! If you do it let me know what you find out because i'm very interested. I wonder if you can test to see if you are allergic to synthetic hormones? Anyways, sorry for the novel. Keep us updated!

KBlack (and anyone else who may be following) I'm so sorry you're dealing with this but its unbelievably comforting knowing I'm not alone. Hubby is beyond understanding but its different chatting with someone actually going through something similar.

So today I got the call from my Dr. That my referral was done so I went to my old OBGYN and signed the release for my medical records to be faxed over and had my GP fax over my blood work info. I have an appointment w my new OBGYN next Weds. Part of me wants a biopsy but the other part of me wants to wait it out like you said.

I've seen too many scary possible skin diseases in my internet research. Most of them rare but that of course doesn't mean it can't happen. I'm hoping this new OBGYN will be open to listening to my situation. On a related note I forgot to mention this before but my mom actually became allergic to the pill after having either me or my younger sister. She had toxic shock type symptoms but I'm sure allergies appear in different ways.

I'm not on any other medication or even vitamins but urine testing is a good idea. I always had to pee at my old OBGYN but I'm not sure what they tested. It was just something they have all patients do. I asked a while back about acid levels and they said it was normal, but I'm assuming more in depth testing would have to be done through a lab.

I haven't looked into other allergy testing.... Does insurance not usually cover it? I wonder how I find out how much that would be.

Well now I've written a book. Fingers crossed for answers and healing!

Oh! I forgot to add that when I'm having a flare up between using the triamcinilone at night before bed I have also been using A&D ointment after I use the bathroom during the day. I'm not sure if it's because I'm on my period right now but I believe this has happened in the past when I've used the a&d for a few days I start to have additional sensitivity. It could be because there's a fragrance in the ointment which I'm not really sure why because it still smells on the fishy side but anyways... Today I decided to try and switch to organic coconut oil as a lubricant after using the bathroom and see if that improves the sensitivity. I believe in my last post I noted that my flare up was the worst it has been last week before starting my period. on the same note my redness seemed to clear up faster than usual using the steroid ointment this time around. Not sure if that's a fluke but I thought I would make note of it. Hope everyone is having a good day. I will add any additional information if I happen to remember something.