canker sores on BC?

[Marla]

I was recently diagnosed with PCOS and my ob put me on yaz to regulate my cycle. I'm on my day 8 and have this nasty sore on my mouth. It is so painful that I am having a bad headache the whole time.

[Kim]

Anyone experiencing an increase in canker/cold sores while on Nuva Ring? I'm battling a third cold sore in 6 weeks. Got on Nuva Ring back in May. Before that I might get one or two a year. I blast it with meds and ointments. Healing lasts a week, then it comes back. Tired of this.

[Kate]

I am so relieved to have found this forum because I have been on Loestrin FE since March and it is now September and for the last 4 months or so I have been getting caker sores. They seem to be getting worse. I only had a couple at a time and by the time they healed another would appear. I woke up this am with 10 in my mouth (a couple on my tonge and on cheeks) I burst into tear today because of the pain and frustration! I have been to my doctor and have had blood tests... they can't figure it out! I have been contemplating that it has something to do with a change in my body over the last couple and mouths and then I thought... Could it be related to birth control? I have never taken it before and NEVER had a canker sore! I am going to discontinue my perscription and see what happens and will defintiley write with an update if I do believe my BC is the culprit!

[joyce]

As mentioned in earlier posts, I am completely shocked at how many women are having this problem and how it seems to have slipped by the doctors completely, particularly when you consider the fact that women are more prone to canker sores specifically because of hormonal imbalances.

I am going to share my story in hopes that it helps others. I have been taking trisprintec religiously (as in on time) for 2 years now. In February of this year I began a lower carb diet in hopes that it would help with an unrelated medical issue. Unfortunately it did not, but I did notice that my premenstrual symptoms, which have always been relatively bad (sore breasts, cramping, mood swings, headaches, etc.), were very much improved by the diet. In June I went off the diet because it does throw off your digestive tract if you are not careful about fiber intake. My body immediately reacted, my breasts become sore a week and a half before my period, and I have been getting canker sores and headaches before and during my period ever since.

I know there is a great deal of stigma about low carb diets, BUT, if you are careful about it, it can be quite healthy. Most veggies are low in carbs, Fiber one makes decent low carb bread, there is even low carb peanut butter, though even the regular stuff is low carb. There is no need to go on the weight loss diet where you eat almost no carbs, but reach a healthy compromise of about 100 carbs per day which precludes things you would stay away from in a healthy diet anyway; sweets, white bread, pasta, beer (unfortunately, but red wine is OK), and even fruits (tho good for you, are high in sugar). Just be sure to take some fiber supplements, a multivitamin and drink plenty of water.

I am not saying this will be the cure, but I found that I didn't become irritable when I was hungry, in fact because I was eating more whole foods, I was hungry less often and my energy level stayed pretty constant throughout the day. I think it is worth giving a shot, though be sure to do your research on how to approach the diet, and check out the book "Good Calories, Bad Calories" it's pretty enlightening.

[Vica]

Oh thank goodness for this forum, I thought I was losing my mind. Been on Diane-35 for 4 months to control cyctic acne, past month terrible yeast infection, past 3 weeks cold sore after cold sore, after cold sore. My doctor sort of confirmed my suspicions, but would. It confirm a connection. I guess back to IUD, and try Accutane for the cystic acne nightmare. Although the side effects I'm getting from bc I am not optimistic about Accutane. My skin looks great on birth control....but my body is falling apart. Emotions are more difficult to control as well while taking bc.
On a side note, I did try Nuva Ring, got yeast infection from that too, but again, skin. Ever looked better.

[Vica]

Karen wrote:

Hi had the mirena out 2 weeks ago and all the canker sores are gone. I am so relieved. No more hormonal BC for me. There is the Paraguard (copper IUD) Does anyone have info on that? I don't think doctors have an understanding of what these hormones are doing to us.

I had the copper IUD for 3 years, never had an issue, took it out to go on hormonal bc, which is not working out, so back to IUD. Insertion is the most painful part, you will cramp and bleed a few days. Periods will be heavier with some cramping, which I usually tolerated with no pain meds. To take it out was less painful than insertion, but you have to put in and take out at certain times on your cycle.

[Vica]

Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane (MSM) seems to be helpful in controlling the yeast infection.

[Lupe]

Kate wrote:

I am so relieved to have found this forum because I have been on Loestrin FE since March and it is now September and for the last 4 months or so I have been getting caker sores. They seem to be getting worse. I only had a couple at a time and by the time they healed another would appear. I woke up this am with 10 in my mouth (a couple on my tonge and on cheeks) I burst into tear today because of the pain and frustration! I have been

to my doctor and have had blood tests... they

can't figure it out! I have been contemplating that

it has something to do with a change in my body over the last couple and mouths and then I thought... Could it be related to birth control? I have never taken it before and NEVER had a canker sore! I am going to discontinue my perscription and see what happens and will defintiley write with an update if I do believe my BC is the culprit!

Oh my god!!! I am so thankful I found you guys. My boyfriend was the one who suggested a link between bc and my canker sores. I have so many! In my tounge, inside my cheek, and all over my mouth. They are so painful. And I have never had this many. The doctor did a culture for herpes. I was so scared, I felt worse and disgusting. The culture came back negative. Then I went to the emergency room and the doctor said it was gingivitis!!!! Wth! And no it isn't ginvitis. I have so many more and I can't continue like this. I'm not sure what to do. Discontinue my bc( trisprintec). I don't want to get pregnant, if anyone comes up with a birth control that doesn't do this please keep us all posted. Good luck to you all.

[JLH]

Omg! I have had canker sores all my life but wjen I turned 17 they got progressively worse. Never thought to question my bc but I started estrostep fe two months prior. Since then I have been to every major hospital, had several oral and vaginal biopsies and been on everything from prednisone to Enbrel, thalidomide, etc. I'm going to stop my pills ASAP and end this nightmare! Thank u so much for helping me solve this unknown ailment!

[Jessica]

Started bc in the beginning of the month and developed this huge canker sore I'm going to stop the medication. I'm 98% sure it's from the birth control, I've never had a canker sore this big!!!!

[Lupe]

Not too long ago I posted about how bad my sore where I had more than 15 and it was very painful. I kept going back to the doc. Well I decided that was enough and discontinued my birthcontrol. How many do I have now? None my mouth is completely healed. I know it was the bc. Around every second or 3rd week of EVERY MONTH they would spur like spring. This is my firSt complete month without it and the 2nd and 3rd week passed and I have none. I don't know how worth birth bc is for you but too me it's not valuable enough to make me feel like crap, not being able to kiss my husband, losing my libido. This happens to so many women and they still continue to deny the side effects. Have you seen the rare sideeffects label?! It is scary. Cervical cancer? Forget it. I don't want to be preganant but I dont want to end up with a disease I could of prevented. They say that a small percentage of girls get these side effects. Well we got a really weird side effect and guess what I'm not going to experiment If I am the small percentage that winds up with cervical cancer. Hope you all find a solution fast

[Renne]

Marla wrote:

I was recently diagnosed with PCOS and my ob put me on yaz to regulate my cycle. I'm on my day 8 and have this nasty sore on my mouth. It is so painful that I am having a bad headache the whole time.

My doc did the same for me. I had some hair loss and acne with the PCOS. Ever since I started Yaz, the acnes is gone but I've had one cold sore after another. I'm seeing a new doctor to see what other options I have. I'll try to update with what she says. I did see a dermatologist who suggested a different medicine for the hormones....I think it's a blood pressure medicine but it somehow helps with testosterone sensitivity. I may try that to help with the PCOS issues.

Thank you to everyone who has posted. What a relief to have my suspicions confirmed!

[NuvaRing]

The NuvaRing gave me horrible canker sores! Just like many of you women mentioned, I too brought it up to the doctors and they seemed to think it was just a virus with no connection to my birth controll. I just knew there had to be a connection! My mouth is filled with these horrible ulcers and I have barely eaten anything for almost 5 days now! I lost 7 pounds in 5 days! This morning my mouth was bleeding.... It's horrible! Not to mention the terrible headaches it gives me! It's not worth the pain!!!

[Lynn]

My 17 year old daughter is on Kelnor BCP. She has been experiencing severe, constant debilitating canker sores. We've been to every doctor and she has had every test (cancer, lupus, etc.) and its only after coming across this forum that we've discovered there may be a connection between her BC and sores. Has anyone experienced these problems on Kelnor? Has anyone who has experienced these problems found a BC pill that doesn't cause sores? Thanks for your help and insight.

[joy]

I've also had canker sores. I've been on the mirena for almost 3.5 years. The last several months I have experienced vaginal bacterial infections, chronic fatigue, weight gain (that seems impossible to lose) crazy appetite for 2 weeks out of every month, and now I have to wear a liner everyday (I'm always leaking). I thought it was all stress related, but now I'm convinced that its the damn mirena. I'm going to a gyno tomorrow, but I'm sure she won't believe me!! What's a girl to do? You can't fight hormones!!

[joy]

Just left gyno. She did not believe my symptoms were due to the mirena. She said my symptoms would have started immediately. I could not convince her otherwise. She said it was age related (I'm 38) and that my body is changing. Anyway I had to have an ultrasound bc she could not find the strings. So basically she has to fish it out. Very scary bc it was horrific when it was inserted!! I think bc I've never labored (2 c-sections). She won't sign for me to go to the hosp without her attempting it in office first. I can't believe this. I will never do this again. I'm just waiting for them to get approval from my insurance. Hopefully they can schedule me for tomorrow. Help!!

[Kayla]

Im glad I found this thread.. I use to get an occasional cancker soar but now that switched birthcontrol I get two and there of them at a time.. Im stopping the pill today hopefully these soars will go away

[courtney]

I am just finishing up my first pack of pills...Lo LoEstrin. After the 2nd week of starting it I got 2 cankers. They go away and others come. I have a huge one on my tongue, under my tongue and inside my lips. Several total. I'm only 17 but I think this is the wrong pill choice for me. Any suggestuons on another kind?

[Emily]

I'm glad to read that this problem is mainly due to birth control. I have been on Ortho, Ortho low, and low overal over the past fourteen years and remember always getting canker sores. I always thought I would grow out of getting them, and buying myself braces as an adult, they only got worse. Let's just say, I took six months off and not a single sore! I am now on day six of ortho low again and already they're there. I found a toothpaste online called "Squigel", and everyone seems to love it. I plan on giving this a try, or doing away with birthcontrol all together. By the way.... It definitely makes you more emotional and moody! lol I completely forgot about these side effects and feel I have been CRAZY lately!

[Suzy]

Ive been on implanon bc for about a year and a half the whole time I've been getting canker sores and I didn't realize til now that it was because of the birth control. I looked up everything to try to stop it all the cures changing my diet and toothpaste but yet and still I kept getting the sores no matter what. I think I will get this thing taken out sadly I'll have to get it cut out since that's how they do with implanon. Is there any birth control that you ladies used that hasn't caused the sores? I used depo and it was no canker sores but my period was sometime weeks and months long. I think I rather that then having this swollen canker sore on the inside lip it's bigger than jay z lips. I can't eat I can only enjoy eating if I'm dreaming. All day long my mouth is sore and now this big swollen lip it's just too much.