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Hi Aunt Vadge,
I need advice on birth control and side-effects. I had BV diagnosed by my gyno in early August, and antibiotics cleared it. I have no STIs and have been on the pill for six years. Shortly after the BV, I changed to Seasonique, and ever since I’ve had the same symptoms as the infection – but no elevated pH and no BV.
I get vulvar burning, soreness, slight itching, slight discharge with no odour, and tearing when I try to have sex. I read that Seasonique can cause vaginal irritation, discharge and itching. Could the pill be the cause? I’m scared to stop it because I went on it for painful periods.
My doctors just give me antibiotics in case, since I have infection-like symptoms. Please advise!
Sincerely,
Concerned
Age 20, United States
Dear Concerned,
Your instinct is a good one, and the pattern fits it well: symptoms that look exactly like an infection – vulvar burning, soreness, slight itch, a little discharge and tearing with sex – but with a normal pH and no BV on testing, appearing right after you switched to Seasonique, point much more towards the pill than towards an infection.
This is real and under-recognised. Combined hormonal contraceptives, especially low-oestrogen and extended-cycle ones like Seasonique, lower the free testosterone and oestrogen acting on the vulval vestibule (the sensitive ring of tissue just inside the opening), and in some women that thins and sensitises the tissue enough to cause burning, soreness and tearing – a picture known as hormonally-mediated provoked vestibulodynia.
What points to it is precisely what you’ve found: infection symptoms with no infection on the tests, and antibiotics that don’t help because there’s nothing for them to treat.
So, a couple of things. First, the repeated “just in case” antibiotics are worth stopping – they won’t fix this, and they disturb your vaginal and gut bacteria, which can set you up for actual infections down the line.
Second, this is a proper conversation to have with your gynaecologist: that you suspect the pill, that the timing fits, and that you’d like to discuss either changing contraceptive or trialling a topical treatment for the vestibule (some women improve with topical oestrogen and testosterone applied to the area alongside coming off the provoking pill).
Since you went on it for painful periods, don’t just stop cold without a plan – there are other ways to manage period pain, and your doctor can help you swap rather than simply quit. In the meantime, be gentle with the tissue: plain-water washing, plenty of lube for sex, and no antifungals or antibiotics unless a test actually shows an infection.
You’ve done the detective work; now it’s about getting your doctor to act on it.
Warmest regards,
Aunt Vadge
This is general information based on current research and our clinical experience, not a substitute for personalised medical advice.
