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The intake of medicines, no matter what the type, always generates doubts and questions for several reasons. One of the issues that causes the most confusion when it comes to medicine, is whether an antibiotic cuts the effect of the contraceptive. Is this true or just a myth?
The truth is that yes, some types of antibiotics cut the effect of the contraceptive yes. But not every type of antibiotic completely affects the other medication, and it can only lessen the effect of the pill many times.
Also, not all types of contraceptives necessarily have the effect cut off. But how do you know how the drugs will work in each case? What to do when a woman taking birth control pills needs to take antibiotics? How does an antibiotic cut the effect of the contraceptive? To know this, we first need to better understand what each of these two types of drugs is.
What is an Antibiotic?
In short, an antibiotic is any type of medicine used to fight some other type of organism within a person, especially bacteria. However, antibiotics have no effect against viruses, and another type of treatment is necessary for these cases.
Antibiotics basically work by killing these microorganisms that cause infections or by preventing them from proliferating. It is important to understand how this type of medicine works to better understand how an antibiotic cuts the effect of the contraceptive.
What is a Contraceptive?
The birth control pill is usually a pill that contains hormones with the function of preventing ovulation in a woman’s body, but for that to happen it has to be taken correctly according to the doctor’s prescription. There are several types of pills, the most popular of which are 21-day, 24-day and continuous pills.
In addition to the pills, there are also other contraceptive methods such as the morning-after pill and contraceptive injections . It is important to highlight all these types of methods to understand which are and are not affected by antibiotics, as well as to understand how some of them are affected.
Which Antibiotic Cuts the Contraceptive Effect?
There is a possibility that any type of antibiotic will have some kind of effect on women who take 21 and 24-day birth control pills, as well as women who have used the morning-after pill or who have had some type of contraceptive injection.
The recommendation is that the woman who needs to use antibiotic drugs, have sex only with a condom during treatment and up to 7 days after taking the last antibiotic.
If the woman has had any sexual intercourse without a condom during this period, the chances of a pregnancy occurring are increased. Of course, there is no need to despair, but it is time to pay attention to the signs that can lead to pregnancy. The medications do not alter the effects of the continuous use contraceptive pill at any level .
Why Antibiotic Cuts the Contraceptive Effect?
This phenomenon occurs because the concentration of hormones within a birth control pill is decreased by the effects that an antibiotic has on a person’s body. This is mainly because the intestine is responsible for producing bacteria that generate reactions in a woman’s fertility.
When antibiotics are used, these bacteria are also affected by these medications, preventing these reactions from occurring and, consequently, the woman becoming fertile during the action of that medication on her body.
Although there are not enough studies that prove the action of each type of antibiotic in the woman’s body, it is important to know that this risk exists and that the chances of an unwanted pregnancy occurring are much greater when using medications.
Therefore, when you need to take antibiotics, always use a condom during sexual intercourse up to 7 days after the end of your treatment. This is the only way to ensure that nothing goes out of plan. Although there are several hypotheses, it is not yet known exactly why the contraceptive pill of continuous use does not have its effect cut due to an antibiotic.
Other Effects
In addition to doubts about antibiotics , some others arise frequently, such as whether the intake of alcohol cuts off the effect of the contraceptive and what are the remedies in addition to the antibiotics that can also cause some change in the effect of the contraceptive. Well, let’s go in parts to answer those two questions.
Does Alcohol Cut the Contraceptive Effect?
Drinking alcohol does not stop the contraceptive effect at any time, even if it is taken with the pill. But it is good to pay attention not to overdo the consumption of alcoholic beverages, since both they and the pill are metabolized in the liver and an overload in this organ can cause complications.
Which Remedies Cure the Contraceptive Effect?
In addition to the antibiotics, which we have already mentioned here, several types of anticonvulsants and antidepressants also cut the effect of these pills. In addition to them, some types of antifungals and drugs to control HIV can also affect or even cut the effect of the contraceptive.
By understanding better about issues such as whether an antibiotic cuts off the contraceptive effect, we can also understand how these types of medications affect our lives and how best to solve these types of problems.
Despite being a reality, there are several ways to protect yourself so that an unwanted pregnancy does not occur and also so that there is no consequence for the woman who needs to take antibiotics and who uses some type of contraceptive. So the importance of having this information and knowing how to protect yourself when situations like this occur.
See also: Contraceptive Effects – Answers to Common Questions
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
