Birth control pills can be affected by certain antibiotics, making the Pill less effective and increasing your chances of pregnancy. Mid-cycle bleeding (spotting) may be the first sign that an antibiotic is interacting with the effectiveness of your birth control pills.
Antibiotics that have been shown to interact with birth control pills include:
- rifampin (brand name Rifadin)
- penicillin (Veetids)
- amoxicillin (Amoxil)
- ampicillin (Omnipen)
- cotrimoxazole (Septra or Bactrim)
- tetracycline (Sumycin)
- minocycline (Minocin)
- metronidazole (Flagyl)
- nitrofurantoin (Macrobid or Macrodantin)
If you are using birth control pills and need to take an antibiotic, doctors generally recommend the use of a condom or spermicide as a back-up during and for a least one week after to help avoid your chances of pregnancy while taking the antibiotic. It’s recommended to follow this routine – use the pill, back-up method, and antibiotics together – as opposed to stopping the pill while taking antibiotics and restarting the following month. When you stop and restart it can cause unnecessary readjustment for your body.
While the “how” and “why” of antibiotics interfering with birth control pills is still unclear, with interferences only happening a few times, don’t take any chances. Always use a back-up method.
BirthControlBuzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control(prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line. For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
I know that antibiotics can affect birth control pills, but what about Mirena? I have been using it for 3 years with no problems, but after taking antibiotics about 6 weeks ago, I am having pregnanacy symptoms. Any information?
Comment by Anonymous — October 29, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
What information I could find showed that antibiotics do not affect Mirena..But having said that you should still take a pregnancy test to be on the save side. Here’s a link for further information (it’s a bit scientific). Note points #5 and #6.http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss=15&doc;_id=7286&nbr;=4339Hopefully this helps.p.s. “levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system” refers to the IUD
Comment by Ashlynn — October 31, 2007 @ 8:18 am
I have a question about birth control. In the 90′s, I did birth control for about 5 years and it took me over a year to get pregnant with my second child. I also took antibiotics several times during those years. Now my sister in law said, she got pregnant before she got married because of an antibiotic this also happen in the 90′s. I was under the understanding that back then the pill were so strong that it took a while for it to wear out. What are the adds here?
Comment by golddigger — March 10, 2008 @ 7:28 am
I just spoke with a nurse with Planned Parenthood, with the same question. She stated that there are no drug interactions with Mirena because it only secretes progesterone, not estrogen. However,you should check that your strings are in place monthly to ensure that your device hasn’t been dislodged, and take a pregnancy test to be on the safe side. No birth control method is 100% effective, except abstinence.
Comment by Anonymous — November 13, 2008 @ 10:45 am
I have been on Tri-Cyclen for nearly 3 years now, it has cleared up bad period pains and my acne. However, over the past few months my acne is becoming much more severe and I want to talk to my Dr. about trying Tetracycline to clear it up but am afraid this will make my birth control pills less effective. Should I be trying a stronger pill to clear my acne or will I be ok to try other medication?
Comment by Anonymous — September 12, 2009 @ 10:39 am
Dear Anonymous,Tetracycline will effect your birth control. It is one of the antibiotics listed on one of our similar blog posts about which antibiotics will effect birth control. Check out the post here: http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/blog/2007/05/what-antibiotics-affect-birth-control.htmlWhat I would suggest is that you speak to your Doctor about finding a birth control that will help with acne. Speak to your doctor about Diane. Diane is a birth control usually prescribed to treat acne.Goodluck
Comment by Janine — September 14, 2009 @ 9:36 am
uh.. good thread..
Comment by Anonymous — December 12, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
Hi i am on macrodantin for 2weeks and taking the pill microlite, will it affect the pill???
Comment by Nicola — October 3, 2011 @ 4:30 pm
Hi Nicola,
I couldn’t find the pill microlite. Do you know if it has another name or if it was misspelled?
Comment by Janine — October 4, 2011 @ 11:46 am
I can understand why antibiotics would affect “the pill” and not the mirena. Is read on a website that it prevents the pill from absorbing correctly but what if you had to insert antibiotics vaginally bc of a yeast infection all while having the mirena? Would that affect it? I’ve been having pregnancy symptoms like sore breast, tightness in lower abnomin, and my appetite has increased tremendously! My daughter is one now, so I’ve had the mirena for almost a year. Any answers would be helpful! I plan on testing and talking to my doctor but until my appointment I need some answers
Comment by nicole — December 5, 2011 @ 1:23 am
Dear Nicole,
There are some that you can take vaginally for localized infection (e.g. Metronidazole Gel for bacterial vaginosis)
There are two ways antibiotics can have an effect on the pill (simple explanations) –
1. As suggested, by decreasing absorption
2. By increasing the breakdown and elimination of the pills through the liver (certain antibiotics)
Mirena works by two mechanisms. First, the mechanical presence of the IUD. Antibiotics wouldn’t impact that factor. Second, the synthetic progesterone which keeps the lining of your uterus very thin add extra contraceptive protection. Unlike birth control pills/patches/rings the synthetic progesterone is in direct contact with its target tissue so even vaginal antibiotics are unlikely to affect hormone levels.
Comment by Janine — December 5, 2011 @ 12:07 pm
I get all of that I just didn’t know if there ways any ways that would be affected maybe too strong of meds but I did test negative. Im still confused bc now I have discharge from my nipples which to me looks like breast milk. I only got to nurse my daughter for 6 weeks and I dried up nicely so idk what could be going on. They have been very sore like when I was pregnant. I just feel pregnant, don’t really want to be. I wouldn’t mind if I was, I had trouble getting pregnant bc of PCOS so im blessed to have my little girl. I just want to know why I feel like this. If its bc of the mirena I don’t think ill keep it in much longer.
Comment by nicole — December 6, 2011 @ 10:09 pm
Dear Nicole,
How did you feel with the Mirena before you had to take antibiotics? If everything was fine, what you are experiencing is probably not from the Mirena. I would suggest you wait until you are done taking antibiotics and see if the symptoms continue.
Comment by Janine — December 7, 2011 @ 11:04 am
Hi,
Very helpful article!
Last week, I was on Itraconazole for 2 days, then on Acyclovir for another 2 days while on birth control pills. I was also sexually active during this period.
Is there any chance for pregnancy?
Thanks in advance.
Comment by Daisy — December 21, 2011 @ 8:44 am
Dear Daisy,
If you had unprotected sex during the period you are on an antibiotic that interferes with your birth control, your risk for pregnancy increases. To find out if you are pregnant, you can wait for your next period to come. If you don’t get your period, you can take a pregnancy test. If you do get your period then you should be fine.
Comment by Janine — December 21, 2011 @ 9:55 am