Overview
Ever felt like you’re doing everything right with your birth control but still wondering if something’s secretly working against you? Yes, Antibiotics can be one of the culprits that might increase your chance of getting pregnant just when you are trying not to conceive. Well, not all antibiotics, but some decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills by reducing the hormones in the body. Antibiotics like rifampin decrease the hormone levels by getting them destroyed through the liver, which can increase the chance of pregnancy.
As per recent studies, amoxicillin has very little effect compared to other antibiotics and is preferred over those to be taken with birth control medications. It’s important to consider medical consultation to get the right prescription for antibiotics to be taken with birth control pills.
It’s important to get yourself checked and discuss the medication history and ongoing medication when getting prescribed the antibiotics to take the best alternatives by your doctor.
Read till the end of this blog to learn all the aspects that might affect the effect of birth control pills and how you can avoid it!
Does amoxicillin affect birth control pills?
Not all antibiotics affect the effectiveness of birth control pills; however, when on antibiotics, it is important to discuss your medication regimen with your healthcare provider to get the prescription that suits your needs without impacting the absorption or effectiveness of any medication.
Amoxicillin belongs to the penicillin class of antibiotics, which has little effect compared to other antibiotics for which it is preferred over others, along with birth control medications. However, it may reduce the effects of ethinyl estradiol used as birth control in some women. If you are using ethinyl estradiol, you may be at increased risk for pregnancy or breakthrough bleeding.
Classes like rifamycins prescribed to treat tuberculosis and other bacterial infections (rifampin) affect birth control pills. In such cases, your healthcare provider will prescribe the best alternatives based on your medical condition and the severity of your bacterial infection. You may also get alternatives for your birth control to avoid any of the ineffectiveness of both medications.
While some early theories suggested that antibiotics like amoxicillin could disrupt the gastrointestinal absorption of hormones, leading to a decrease in birth control efficacy, more recent studies and reviews have generally found no strong evidence supporting this. However, some caution is advised because individual responses can vary, and some isolated cases of decreased contraceptive efficacy have been reported.- says Dr.Ricahrd Honekar
Which antibiotics affect hormonal birth control?
Antibiotics like Rifampin from the Rifamycin class greatly affect the activity and effectiveness of hormonal birth control pills. These medications affect the liver, which increases the breakdown of hormones in the body.
Hormonal birth control pills need hormones in the body (bloodstream) to show their effect, which becomes difficult when the hormones in the body and the bloodstream decrease due to medications. For hormonal birth control pills to work, they need hormones in the bloodstream, which get destroyed or broken down by the liver due to rifampin. For this reason, they are prescribed after the course of one medication is complete. They are not prescribed at the same time.
Antibiotics that have zero to very little effects on birth control are:
- Doxycycline
- Tetracycline
- Cephalexin
- Ciprofloxacin
How long do you have to wait to take birth control after antibiotics?
If you are taking antibiotics other than rifampin class, there is no need to wait after hormonal birth control as they do not impact the effectiveness of birth control pills, patches, rings, etc.
If you are taking rifampin, it’s crucial and important to talk to your healthcare provider before starting medications, either antibiotics or birth control pills, to get the right medication, as they both can not be taken simultaneously. When taking rifampin, it’s recommended to use an additional form of contraception, like condoms, while on the medication and for a short period afterward to ensure protection.
Other than antibiotics, medicines like anticonvulsants and HIV medications can also impact the effectiveness of birth control pills, for which your healthcare provider will analyze and decide the best course of action for medications according to your medical condition.
What interferes with birth control?
Are you wondering if something you’re doing is reducing the effectiveness of your birth control medication? Well, that is a point to consider on birth control because there exist several factors, including some daily life activities, diet changes, and medications you are taking with birth control, that can impact the effectiveness of birth control to a greater extent.
Some Diet changes that can impact the birth control effect are:
- You are consuming grapefruit juice with birth control medications that impact the mechanism of action of birth control pills.
- Missed pills when on birth control can also affect the hormonal balance. It’s important to take the pills on time.
- Smoking is injurious to overall health and can affect the birth control process.
Medications that interfere with birth control are:
- Antibiotics: Rifampin (prescribed for tuberculosis)
- Anti-seizure medications, e.g., Phenytoin, Carbamazepine
- Certain HIV medications, e.g., Efavirenz, Ritonavir
- Enzyme-inducing medications like Griseofulvin (an antifungal), barbiturates
Protip: It is important to consult your doctor and pharmacist when adding medications with your birth control pills to get the right medications that suit your needs as well as not interact and affect each other’s effectiveness in the body.
Discuss your medications with your doctor now to get a well-tailored prescription.
When should I consult a doctor?
Hormonal birth control medications and pills need to be administered without any inference in diet and medications to work properly. It’s important not to take any medications that affect the effectiveness of birth control pills.
In case of any bacterial infection that needs antibiotics to be treated, consult your healthcare provider and discuss your medication history to get the prescription that goes along well. Taking medication without discussing your medication history can result in one of the medications not working or showing effect to its maximum level.
FAQs about amoxicillin for birth control
Yes. It will work if your healthcare provider prescribes plan B according to your antibiotics and other medications. It’s important to follow your doctor’s guidelines and prescriptions.
You can take amoxicillin on an empty stomach, but it’s best to take it with food to avoid gastrointestinal effects like stomach upset and diarrhea.
The chances of getting pregnant while on birth control and amoxicillin are very low. Unlike rifampin, most antibiotics, including amoxicillin, do not significantly reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. However, if you’re concerned, using a backup method (like condoms) may offer extra protection.
