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Re: POST: Can BCP's cause vaginal irritation?(long)From: AMD (anonymous@obgyn.net)Thu, 10 Dec 1998 13:27:23 -0600 (CST)
I have experienced a similar problem -- vaginal irritation during the active pills and an improvement during my period (during the placebo pills). I never attributed this to the pills (I was on Demulen) -- I always linked it to sex. I thought my vaginal PH stabiled during my period because that is the longest time during the month without sex, and then after a couple days back on the active pills I would get irritated again, which frequently coincided with resuming sexual activity after my period. I thought sex was causing yeast infections. But the few times I was able to be seen, I almost never had the classic "overgrowth" that typifies yeast infection. But my symptoms would improve with OTC yeast treatment, but only for a few days. It sounds like we had a very similar problem, just different theories to the cause, and there might be some truth in both. Unfortunately, I have never "solved" my problem. I'm now pregnant, sore and irritated with no evidence of yeast (my doctor looked last week). My warning about Dr. Connerth's suggestion based on personal experience: I tried discontinuing the pill (for other reasons) and using condoms. After 2 or 3 times using the condoms, I was more sore and irritated than ever. I think I might have been sensitive to the spermicide because I had a horrible burning reaction when I tried a vaginal spermicide instead of condoms. If you try the condoms, you might want to try some plain ones first. That way, if things get worse, you can isolate to the condom or the spermicide. I have seen a reference to some literature about some women being atypically sensitive to the normal yeast that exists in the vagina, causing an inflammatory response. The inflammation reduces the yeast, causing a negative culture or wet smear. In this case it would make sense that yeast treatment would cause a temporary improvement, but then as normal yeast grew back, the inflammation would return. The author recommended long term treatment with Diflucan to eliminate the yeast colonization. I don't know how much truth there is to this, but it is certainly worth researching. It sounds feasible, and when you've been fussing with this for years, you'll try anything reasonable. I will probably pursue this after my baby is born next July. This is a very frustrating problem, and it's hard not to feel like an idiot going to the doctor for an infection that's not there. But it does take a toll in terms of comfort, and it can be very hard on your sex life. I'm kind of stuck for a few months, but I hope you find some solutions to your problem. And please share what you find that helps!! Andrea
At Thu, 10 Dec 1998, James Connerth MD wrote:
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