BURNING MOUTH SYNDROME AT THE HORMONAL CROSSROADS: THE INTERPLAY OF PERIMENOPAUSE AND ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES

Abstract

AIM: Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a chronic, idiopathic orofacial pain disorder characterized by a persistent burning sensation despite clinically normal oral mucosa, with a marked predilection for women in the perimenopausal age group. Its etiopathogenesis is multifactorial, with increasing evidence implicating hormonal disequilibrium and dysregulated peripheral and central neurosensory pathways.

Subjects and Methods: We report a case of a 46-year-old perimenopausal woman who developed progressively worsening oral burning sensations shortly after initiating oral contraceptive therapy for menstrual regulation.

Results: The clinical examination revealed a completely normal oral mucosa with no detectable pathology, and routine hematological investigations were unremarkable.

Conclusion: In the absence of identifiable local or systemic causes, and given the clear temporal association with exogenous hormonal exposure, a diagnosis of primary BMS was established.