Expert: Diane Cheryl - 8/29/2007

Question
I have started taking Trinessa a week ago. I was on a pill I got in Germany for a year (0.02mg ethinyl estradiol/3mg drospirenon). Since then I have had a few mood swings and I think I gained about two pounds already. The worst problem I am experiencing is an itching of the labia minora. They are also slightly red. So far, I have no breakthrough bleeding and only a little discharge.

I am wondering if the itching could be an infection (I never had one and don't see how I could've goitten one) or if it is a side effect of the pill. Would you recommend to stop taking the pill and ask for a different one?

Thanks for your time

Answer
Hi Alexandra,

Thanks for your question. I'm going to include an article below that I send out quite often. It says that bacterial infection could be a side effect of the pill. But I would definitely see a doctor so you can get the itching treated.
I personally don't recommend any kind of pill or hormonal birth control. I believe all those hormones are just not healthy for a woman's body. Are you going to be sexually active or is it possible to practice abstinence at this time of your life? Let me know so I can advise you further. You can email me at DCHERYL51@yahoo.com
Here's the article::

<<Here is some information about the pill because I
> > want you to know the
> >  side effects and how it works. > >  I want to warn you on some of
the risks of the
> > pill.
> >  <Progestins and the estrogen in the pill are
> > artificial hormones that
> >  make your body believe that it is pregnant month
> > after month. All the
> >  vital organs in your body are affected by the
> > constant use of the pill.
> >  It contains powerful steroids and artificial
> > hormones.
> >  This constant presence of powerful steroids is
> not
> > healthy, and there
> >  are side effects when using the pill. Here are
> the
> > ways the pill can
> >  work.
> >  1. It can prevent ovulation (releasing an egg
> from
> > the ovary)
> >     2. It can cause the mucus in the cervix to
> > change so that if sperm
> >  reach the cervix, they are not allowed to enter,
> > and
> >     3. It can irritate the lining of the uterus so
> > that if the first two
> >  actions fail, and you do become pregnant, your
> body
> > will reject the
> >  fetus (baby) and he or she will die.
> >  It's called a chemical abortion.
> >  
> >  Here are some of the side effects of the pill:
> >  -bacterial infections (because the pill weakens
> the
> > immune system.)
> >  -more susceptible to the AIDS virus (HIV) because
> > the pill weakens the
> >  immune system
> >  -pelvic inflammatory disease-an infection of the
> > fallopian tubes that
> >  can cause sickness or sterility
> >  -infertility-unable to ever bear children
> >  -ectopic pregnancy
> >  -shrinking of the womb (endometrial atrophy)
> >  -mood swings and depression
> >  -breast cancer
> >  -blood clots
> >  -birth defects in children conceived while women
> > are on the pill
> >  -tender breasts
> >  -stroke
> >  -cervical cancer
> >  -weight gain >