Birth Control Pills and Antibiotics

Updated on May 14, 2014
D.M. asks from North Richland Hills, TX
8 answers

I know that antibiotics can alter the effectiveness of birth control pills and I know that some have had surprise pregnancies because of this. I was on Loloestrin Fe and took Augmentin for 10 days , then a stronger 10 day regimen of amoxicillin because after a couple of weeks I got sick again. I had a very light period in between the two illnesses/antibiotic doses, it only lasted 2 days and was very light. My question is, if you have gotten pregnant or know someone who has while on birth control pills and antibiotics, what specifically were you taking? What was your experience? Thanks!!

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M.S.

answers from Portland on

I was on the Nuvaring. I don't know which antibiotic it was, a Z-pack maybe, but I know I had a sinus infection. I would not trust it even though you had a light bleed, it could have been a thinning or something else.

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S.H.

answers from St. Louis on

well, my nieces have all received warnings from the dr & pharmacy for... pretty much...every antibiotic out there. :)

2 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

Don't take any chances unless you are prepared for a new little blessing!!

I know of 2 women in my neighborhood who used antibiotics and "accidentally" got preggers when hubbies were not on the same page. But according to them... " accident". NOT

Not saying you are doing this at all... Sounds like you are making sure you are cleared but I would trust no antibiotic while on Bcp and I'd take other precautions just in case if I didn't want to be pregnant.

1 mom found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Richland on

Being 46 I interrogated my doctors on this subject because I do not want a newborn. Oh, I had heavy duty antibiotics after being in the hospital. Most antibiotics can alter the effectiveness of birth control pills. What my doctors said is if you get bleeding between cycles you have lost effectiveness. So if your two days were not when you should have had your period you should have used secondary protection for the rest of that cycle.

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E.M.

answers from Phoenix on

For me...Yaz+Augmentin= Baby

1 mom found this helpful

K.L.

answers from Dallas on

Rifampin is the only antibiotic to really show that it weakens birth control... none of the others have..(just show normal failure rate..)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/12436822/

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B.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

It has always been my understanding that it is the tetracyclines and doxycyclines that alter the pills efficacy. While I don't believe Augmentin or Amoxicillin have that issue, no drug company wants to be on the hook so they always recommend some back up method of birth control regardless.

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