TeenHealthFX - Answers - Can Oral Contraceptives Cause Yeast Infections

Vaginal Discharge, Infections, & Odors and Douching / Question
Published: June 12, 2009

Dear TeenHealthFX,

Hi! I wanted to know if using oral contraceptives can cause yeast infections?

Signed: Can Oral Contraceptives Cause Yeast Infections

Dear Can Oral Contraceptives Cause Yeast Infections,

An organism called Candida albicans generally causes yeast infections. This is a fungus regularly found existing harmlessly throughout the body-in the vagina, the digestive tract, and the mouth. A yeast infection develops when the normal environment of the vagina is altered, causing it to become less acidic. This change results in an over- growth of Candida organisms, causing a yeast infection. Some of the things that can affect the natural bacterial balance and cause yeast to grow include:

Antibiotics
Oral contraceptives (answers your question)
Wearing tight clothes-pantyhose and wet bathing suits.
Possibly -- eating too much sugar, artificial sweeteners, sodas, or even milk products
Excessive douching
Intrauterine devices
Pregnancy
Diabetes

Like any fungus, Candida really gets going in warm, dark, moist places - like the vagina. So that's why wearing clothes that trap moisture - like panty hose or a wet bathing suit - can create the perfect conditions for developing a yeast infection.

Be sure to see your doctor the first time you have symptoms of a yeast infection. It is very important to make sure you really have a yeast infection before you start taking medicine for it. The symptoms of a yeast infection can also be the symptoms of other infections. Treating yourself for a yeast infection when you really have another infection may make the problem worse. Ask your doctor if you can treat yourself with an over-the-counter cream for yeast infections if you get another infection.

You can try the following things to avoid getting another yeast infection:

· Don't wear tight-fitting or synthetic-fiber clothes.

· Wear cotton underwear, not nylon.

· Don't wear pantyhose or tights every day.

· Wipe from front to back after using the toilet. This may keep the organisms that normally live in your rectum from getting into your vagina.

· Change out of a wet swimsuit or damp clothes as soon as you can.

· Don't douche or use feminine hygiene sprays, deodorant sanitary pads or tampons, or bubble bath.

· Don't use colored or perfumed toilet paper.

If you don't have a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973-971-6475 for an appointment. Outside this area contact your local teen health center or Planned Parenthood.

Signed: TeenHealthFX