Increased UTIs and BV with hormonal IUD?

[Gena G.]

I've had my hormonal IUD for several years now (Lyletta) and every since I got it I've been really prone to UTIs and BV/yeast infection type situations. My doctor said it could be from the IUD but they don't really know why that happens. Has this happened to anyone else? Was there anything you could do to prevent it besides getting the IUD removed?

[atskitty2]

I think I did have more issues when I was on hormonal birth control (oral). Have you checked your pH? You may consider that and correct your pH if it's off. I've often found when I have issues with yeast or BV, or other issues, I usually have an imbalance, and once I correct that, all is well. Your pH could be a factor in both, but I'm guessing your UTI's are closely related to the fact that there's actually a foreign object there, perhaps even a string? and that bacteria has something to hang out on, and then eventually travels up the urethra.

[amy40]

only have had one UTI
on vacation early in marriage when we had lots of sex; we were out of country & I had to go to a Dr
"honeymoonitis" was said

has it happened with lots of sex?

[Gena G.]

amy40 I have definitely noticed that sex is something that can trigger it but I've also gotten UTIs just on days I didn't drink enough water.

[Alison H.]

I've never had an IUD but I was on hormonal BC many (many) years ago. Hormonal changes can affect your vaginal pH (BC, pregnancy, menopause) so it might be due to the hormonal shift versus the implant. (Then again, it could be the IUD specifically.)

Have you been on other types of hormonal BC before?

My mom used to be really prone to UTIs and cranberry juice was a constant thing found in her fridge. There are cranberry supplements that support urinary health and those can help too if you don't want the extra sugar or don't like the taste of cranberry juice. A couple of times over the years when I started feeling that "ick" that comes with a UTI (mine always start with an "ick" feeling, I don't know how else to explain it — it comes before the pain with urination does, for me), I took cranberry supplements and it took care of things without a trip to the doctor.

[Gena G.]

Alison H. Before the IUD I was on hormonal birth control pills and while I was on the pill I never had any side effects.

I have definitely tried all the home remedies! (For yeast infections too.) For me the only thing that actually helped was drinking a TON of water and just totally flushing out my system.