Can Birth Control Pills Cause Yeast Infections

Can Birth Control Pills Cause Yeast Infections

The Birth Control–Yeast Infection Connection

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Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Ⓒ 2022 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved

Verywell Health is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH, is a freelance health writer with over a decade of experience working as a registered nurse in a variety of clinical settings.
Monique Rainford, MD, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology, and currently serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale Medicine. She is the former chief of obstetrics-gynecology at Yale Health.

A vaginal yeast infection , also known as candidiasis, is a common infection, and most women will have one at some point in their lives. A yeast infection occurs when there is an overgrowth of the Candida fungus in the vagina . Symptoms include burning, itching, and a thick, white discharge that affect the vagina and vulva . 1

Using certain types of birth control can put a person at higher risk for developing a vaginal yeast infection due to their effect on the vagina's balance of bacteria and yeast. Fortunately, many yeast infections can be easily treated at home, and some can even be prevented.

There are several factors that can affect your risk of developing a yeast infection. Pregnancy , hormone therapy, uncontrolled diabetes, immunosuppression, and antibiotic use can all contribute to a yeast infection. In addition, birth control like oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices, spermicide, and condoms can increase your chances of getting one as well. 2

Hormonal birth control does not cause yeast infections, but it can increase the risk of getting them. This type of birth control contains estrogen , which stops ovulation and prevents the woman’s egg from being fertilized by the sperm.

It can come in the form of a daily oral pill, vaginal ring (replaced monthly), skin patches (replaced monthly), injections (given every three months), or an intrauterine device (changed every three to 10 years depending on the brand). 3 Not all types of hormonal contraception can increase the risk of yeast infections.

A 2017 study found that women who use either oral contraceptives or the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system are at increased risk for developing yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis (vaginal inflammation caused by the overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina), and trichomoniasis (a sexually transmitted disease, or STD, caused by a parasite). The increased risk is highest within the first month of starting the birth control method and decreases over time. 4

Studies have shown that women who use the levonorgestrel intrauterine system are at higher risk of vaginal infections than women who use other types of birth control. 5 Because hormonal birth control can increase your risk for other types of vaginal infections as well, it's important to talk with your healthcare provider if you suspect you have developed an infection. Your practititioner will be able to diagnose your infection and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Hormonal birth control can lead to other vaginal changes too. A 2013 study found that users of the ethylene-vinyl acetate vaginal ring may experience an increase in vaginal discharge. While it is possible for Candida yeasts to adhere to the ring, there is no evidence that women who use it experience more yeast infections than women who use other methods of birth control. 6

Other methods of birth control include spermicides , condoms, diaphragms, and sponges. While spermicidal products do not raise a woman’s estrogen level, they can still affect the vagina’s balance of bacteria and yeast. The vagina contains healthy bacteria known as lactobacilli. When these bacteria are killed by antibiotics or spermicidal jellies and creams, the bacteria can no longer keep the Candida yeast under control and the yeast starts to overgrow.

It’s important to note that medications for vaginal yeast infections can make spermicides less effective. Talk with your gynecologist about other birth control options when you are taking an antifungal medication. 3

Even if your birth control places you at higher risk of a yeast infection, there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Prevention methods involve keeping your vagina’s balance of bacteria and yeast at a healthy level.

To prevent a yeast infection, it’s important to: 1

A vaginal yeast infection will not resolve on its own and needs to be treated with an antifungal medication. There are many options available over the counter, and they may come in the form of creams, ointments, or vaginal suppositories. There are also natural supplements that claim to treat yeast infections, but they have not been proven effective.

The treatment course may require one dose or take up to seven days depending on the brand and method. Over-the-counter options include: 7

Your healthcare provider may also recommend a onetime oral dose of prescription antifungal medication, such as Diflucan (fluconazole).

If you suspect you are experiencing a yeast infection while pregnant, talk with your obstetrician. While many over-the-counter products are safe to use during pregnancy, oral fluconazole has been linked to birth defects. 1

If you’re unsure whether you have a yeast infection, see your healthcare provider before treating it. Using antifungal treatments when you do not need them can upset the balance of normal flora in the vagina, which could lead to other symptoms.

Most cases of yeast infection can be safely treated at home. However, if over-the-counter products do not provide relief, talk with your practitioner. There are other infections that have the same symptoms as yeast infections, so your healthcare provider may need to see you to provide the right diagnosis and treatment. It’s estimated that up to two-thirds of women who buy over-the-counter yeast infection treatments do not have a yeast infection. 1

If you find that you are experiencing recurring yeast infections, talk with your healthcare provider. Your practitioner will test to confirm if your symptoms are due to a yeast infection and can prescribe medications to reduce your likelihood of getting recurrent infections. It’s also possible that you may be experiencing recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), which affects about 5% of women and requires prescription antifungal medication. 1

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Office on Women’s Health. Vaginal yeast infections .
Gonçalves B, Ferreira C, Alves CT, Henriques M, Azeredo J, Silva S. Vulvovaginal candidiasis: Epidemiology, microbiology and risk factors . Crit Rev Microbiol . 2016 Nov;42(6):905-27. doi:10.3109/1040841X.2015
Office on Women’s Health. Birth control methods .
Donders GG, Berger J, Heuninckx H, Bellen G, Cornelis A. Vaginal flora changes on Pap smears after insertion of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device . Contraception . 2011 Apr;83(4):352-6. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2010.08.007
Lete I, Cuesta MC, Marín JM, Guerra S. Vaginal health in contraceptive vaginal ring users - A review . Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care . 2013 Aug;18(4):234-41. doi:10.3109/13625187.2013.801954
De Seta F, Restaino S, De Santo D, Stabile G, Banco R, Busetti M, Barbati G, Guaschino S. Effects of hormonal contraception on vaginal flora . Contraception . 2012 Nov;86(5):526-9. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2012.02.012
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Does Birth Control Cause Yeast Infections?

Written by

Melissa Ferreura

Category

Birth Control

Subcategory

Birth Control Side Effects

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While birth control itself does not cause yeast infections, the hormones that some birth control options contain can increase your risk of getting one. Introducing higher levels of hormones into your body can disrupt the natural balance of your hormones, leading to yeast overgrowth.
Candida is a common yeast normally found in the vagina in small amounts that does not cause issues until it overgrows. An overgrowth of Candida can attach itself to estrogen and prevent your body from using it, causing those hormone levels to drop. When this occurs, your progesterone levels rise, creating the perfect environment for the yeast to continue growing. Many healthcare professionals believe the estrogen found in several forms of birth control can feed the yeast already present in your vagina and trigger it to overgrow.
Most women will experience a yeast infection at some point in their lives, and the symptoms can range from minor to severe. Some women will experience one or two symptoms, while others might experience multiple symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms associated with yeast infections include:
Because these symptoms can be similar to other types of infections, you should consult your healthcare provider to rule out any other issues.
Birth control alone cannot cause a yeast infection, but when combined with other factors, your risk for developing one might increase. Some other risk factors associated with an increased risk of yeast infection include:
You can treat many yeast infections with over-the-counter (OTC) medications designed to reduce symptoms until the infection clears up on its own, typically within one to two weeks. If your infection is severe or your immune system is weak, the infection can take up to several weeks to resolve. The OTC treatments are antifungal creams that come in one-, three-, or seven-day doses. While the one-day dose will have the strongest concentration, they all take about the same about of time to treat the infection.
Women tolerate most treatments well and only experience minor side effects, such as burning and itching. It is important to note that these antifungal creams will make both diaphragms and condoms ineffective at preventing pregnancy. During treatment, also avoid using tampons until the infection had cleared.
If you are looking for natural alternatives to treat yeast infections, you might try all-natural remedies that help reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of the infection.
Yogurt is known for its probiotic properties, which can aid in gut health by encouraging good bacteria to grow. These same probiotics occur naturally in the vagina. Many researchers believe eating yogurt regularly can provide you with the balance you need to prevent yeast from overgrowing in the first place. If you find you get frequent yeast infections, consuming yogurt or taking a probiotic supplement might reduce their frequency or severity.
If you have used the OTC medication and the infection has not cleared up within a week, you might need to contact a health provider to get a prescription for oral medication or a prescription-strength antifungal cream. Also contact your provider if you:
You can make lifestyle changes to help lower your risk of getting yeast infections, including:
If you get yeast infections frequently, you might want to watch for and record possible triggers, such as certain soaps, so you can avoid these in the future.
While birth control can increase your risk of developing a yeast infection or getting recurrent infections, it is not a direct cause. If you experience recurrent infections, you can contact your healthcare provider to find out if other brands of birth control might better fit your body and your needs.
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