Ask The Doctor: Birth Control... Health Article

Joan Bengtson, M.D., is assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproduction at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Question:

Is the birth control patch known for causing unusual vaginal discharge or yeast infections?

Answer:

Small amounts of yeast are present in the vagina in many women and cause no symptoms. If the vaginal environment is disrupted, the yeast may grow and cause an infection. Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection include intense itching and a thick, white discharge.

Hormones used for birth control can alter the vaginal environment in susceptible women and promote yeast infections. This may occur regardless of whether the hormones are taken by mouth as the birth control pill or by the patch. The patch may allow for a higher absorption of hormones than the pill. In theory, the patch might be more likely to promote yeast infections, though most women do not report this as a concern.