Candida and Birth Control Pill: How are They Connected?

Hormonal issues affect so many different areas of a woman’s life - emotionally, mentally, and physically. As for a woman’s health, hormonal imbalance can significantly increase her risk for candida yeast overgrowth. For example, the estrogen increase a woman experiences during pregnancy leads to higher sugar levels, which feed yeast and the candida problem. In the same way, the surge in hormones from birth control pills contribute to excessive growth of candida and results in unpleasant symptoms that come along with the yeast overgrowth in the body.

Although it is very common for women in the United States to use the birth control pill as a method to prevent pregnancy, the number of women who report side affects is alarming. Just like any medication, the pill comes with a list of potential risks and side affects, yet doctors continue to prescribe it again and again to woman looking to take control of their reproductive life.

The amount of hormones and types of active ingredients found in the pill vary from brand to brand, so it is possible that one brand of pill may work better for one woman than another. Often doctors will go through trial and error with patients in order to determine which pill works best and produces the least side affects for each woman.

Typically, the best plan for women concerned about side affects of pills, such as candida, is to either find a non-hormonal form of contraception or choose a birth control pill with the lowest dose of hormones. Lower hormones surging through one’s system means less affect on the body, yet it is still possible to experience candida overgrowth even from a low-dose hormone birth control pill.

Many women who have struggled with candida alibicans have found they have had to cease taking the pill as well as radically change their diet in order to find relief from candida symptoms, such as:

• Fatigue
• Foggy brain or inability to concentrate
• Irritability, anxiety, depression and/or mood swings
• Digestive problems, i.e. bloating, gas, cramping
• Vaginal yeast infections
• Skin problems, i.e. eczema, psoriasis, acne and other rashes
• Breastfeeding candida on nipples and breasts
• Oral thrush
• Weight gain
• Cravings for high sugar or high starch foods

It can be difficult to receive a candidiasis diagnosis from a medical doctor, as many do not formally acknowledge the condition, or even make the connection to the birth control pill. Instead, they choose to treat the symptoms instead of the source of the problem.

While a patient may be able to find temporary relief from symptoms with these treatments, only treating the source of the problem will bring ultimate healing and repair from candida. Many natural doctors and holistic health professionals recognize the condition and are able to help a sufferer treat the condition with natural remedies, good nutrition, and if necessary anti-yeast medications.

If you are experiencing candida symptoms while taking the birth control pill, you may want to consider alternative methods for pregnancy prevention in order to allow your body’s hormone levels to regulate. Some other ways to prevent undesired pregnancy include:

• Condoms
• Cervical Cap
• Contraceptive sponge
• IUD (Intrauterine Device)
• Tubal ligation for female; Vasectomy for male
• Natural family planning

Considering all of your options as you look to the source of candida symptoms set you up for the best chance to beating candidiasis. As you work towards achieving balance in your hormone levels as well as in the ecological environment of your body, you will likely experience an improvement in symptoms and eventual healing.