Views on Birth Control pill

Hi

I am seriously thinking about coming off my Birth Control pills and wondered if others had done this and whether they found it helpe? I'm currently on the combined pill.

Looking at my journal the previous two months, I've been better whilst on my period but the day I restart it the pain comes back.

I'd really appreciate people sharing their experiences. I am been on it for the past 16 yrs since the birth of my son. My VV was diagnosed in February and have had it since a UTI in November last year followed by a thrush episode!

Many thanks

Jo xx

Hi, I've been on microgynon birth control since I was 15 and the problems started about a year after I went on the pill. I'm now 20. I am also thinking of coming off the pill because whenever I have my weeks break everything seems to settle down.

I had a parcial vestibulectomy on the 28th January 2015 and so far everything seems to have gone and the surgery has worked. The only reason I wish to come off the pill is because I think the hormones which the pill contains caused this problem in the first place and do not want it returning x

Hi

That's the one I'm on too! I've read stories on here where women have come off the pill and it's really helped them. Like you my symptoms are better when I'm on my period, but literally for the past two months, as soon as I've started it again on the Saturday, by that evening the soreness in the vestibule area is back again!

Not sure what my Gynacologist will think, but as I don't see him again until early May, I'm going to see what happens anyway. If it doesnt help I can always restart it again.

Thanks for your reply. X

It can't do any harm to come off the birth control and just see how you go, like you said you can always start back on the pill again. They do say the pill has nothing to do with vulvodynia but vulvodynia is all based on nerve endings and hormone control and considering the pill controls your hormones I think there's something weird about that whole theory especially when the majority of women are on the pill also.

But I will be coming off the pill soon, I will probably finish my pack and then consider the coil which has no hormones

Ive been on the pills and the implant. Despite my doctor saying it wasn't connected I definitely noticed by stinging and burning pain was a loy worse on them. Even though my periods could use them because they're terrible right now, I'd rather deal than be in any more agony in that respect.

I see a vulvodynia specialist and he's told me the pill isn't related to vulvodynia, but I think that isn't true. As I've stopped taking my pill and I feel so much better already!

Hi Jo44,

Just wanted to highly recommend coming off the Pill.

In 2012, I got a Thrush & BV infection after taking the morning after pill & was put on the Pill (Microgynon) on the same day I was treated for the infections. I suffered with VV for 1.5 years until I came off the Pill. All my VV symptoms completely disappeared within weeks, like a miracle. Unfortunately, after being perfectly normal for the last year and a half, this year I developed Thrush & BV infection again (no hormones involved) and VV has fully returned, so I have got to find a way to get rid of it again.

All my problems started when I came off birth control. I stopped the pill and 3-4 weeks later this shit started! I went back on the pill for a few months and it make absolutely no difference whether I was on it or off it. So I just decided to stay off it for good. I strongly believe it has caused all my problems.

It has taken almost 2 years to find out I have severe hormone problems. Low estrogen, borderlining between menstruation and menopause, very low progesterone and 2 ultrasounds and a blood test confirmed I have PCOS. When I came off the pill I got the vulvodynia first, then started vomiting every single day, it was like I had constant morning sickness. Constant fatigue (still have that, nausea, migraines ect. I got an endoscopy done that shows I have chronic gastritis....A problem you can get from low estrogen! Gastritis is chronic inflammation of the stomach. ..so I believe it is all linked considering my biopsy downstairs came back with only non specific inflammation.

I have an operation at the end of June (fingers crossed! ! They had me in theatre 2 weeks ago and had to cancel due to emergency) to see if there are any internal causes for my problems such as masses, endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes ect. Sometimes endo or a mass can sit on nerves down there and cause vulvodynia.

I wish I never went on birth control. ..I believe it caused everything that it wrong with me.

You might want to check out my other post today. Basically I saw a vestibulitis specialist who advised going off the pill and using an estrogen/testosterone compound. I was told that one will not work without the other, and it will still take 6-8 weeks to get some relief.

I think this is one of the standard treatments that Dr. Andrew Goldstein gives, based on what I've read on other forums. Sounds like he is quite expensive (>$1000), and I got the same advice after a very thorough and professional exam with a different specialist for much less - $350 for the first appointment with Lucy Treene in DC. I would highly recommend her.

Not sure if this would suit your personal circumstances, but I hope the info is helpful.

Hi kvelipuri,

I'm just wondering if you've experienced relief since your last post above?

I had symptoms much like yours when I was on the Pill from 2012-13, until I came off it and had a complete recovery. I didn't have to apply an estrogen/testosterone compound but as you say, this is often the standard treatment to accompany coming off the Pill.

This year I developed VVS again without any hormones involved (just following a new episode of Thrush & bacterial infection) which is so upsetting.

I'm just wondering whether you're healing, as it would give further evidence that the Pill really can be the cause (and therefore the key to curing this) for many women.

I hope you are well,
A2015

I'm trying the ET gel soon, too. Another doc in DC prescribed it - not nearly as expensive as Goldstein and accepts insurance. I did buy his book, though. I just can't justify spending $1400+ without first trying other qualified doctors. I'm interested to see how the ET gel goes, as I have this coupled with PFD.

As for the pill, I've had a urologist, an OBGYN, and a physiotherapist all HIGHLY recommend that I go off the pill ASAP. I'll probably butcher this, but essentially, hormonal BCs can cause your body to stop making its own estrogen, and estrogen also contributes in some part to creating testosterone. Without both, you'll have a drier vagina, with whiter skin that looks more menopausal. It can shrink the labia minora and the clitoris without enough hormones. And by extension, these items make sex and the vulva in general more prone to pain.

Hi A2015,

I'm not sure if what I can report is entirely useful or not. In response to your question about whether I've been feeling any better, the answer is yes and no. I'm just not sure yet what conclusions should be drawn from my experience.

I've been using the estrogen compound daily. I haven't seen exactly linear improvement, but I'm definitely not feeling as terrible as the first outbreak, which was an all-consuming and distracting burning/sharp pain. I had a really good, 2-week long period leading up to and during my last period. Now about two weeks after my period I've been feeling a little rough; irritation and little pinpricks while walking that make it just difficult enough to spend a whole weekend day out walking the city, if that makes sense. I keep telling myself that at least it's not so bad as to distract me while I'm seated doing my work during the workweek. But I was definitely hoping for a bit more improvement by now. Then again, it has not yet been 8 weeks since I started this treatment.

I'm really sorry to hear you've had another outbreak after having gotten rid of the last one. What treatment of any are you trying now? I hope you feel better soon.