I was on Augmentin for a sinus Infection. I also took the medication the week I was off my birth control. I only had the last dose on the first day I started my new set of pills. I did have sex about my 13th day of taking my pills. I understood that I was supposed to have a back up method during my antibiotic use, however, I had my period during the time I took this medication. Would I still be at risk if I had sex two weeks after my last dose? Taking two weeks of pills regularly during this time. Was wondering how effective the dose ( BC)would be still after two weeks.
Thank you. I was advised that I should wait a full cycle by one pharmacist, and then the other said to wait 7 days after finishing antibiotic before the BC is effective. So I was just wanting other opinions. I'm a smart person, and I am married, so we never use condoms. I've been on BC for years. This was just a one time occurance. I was told by both Pharmacist and Physician that I most likely am fine. I just had forgotten about even taking the antibiotic when having sex with my husband two weeks later.. In the moment. So thank you for your advice and opinions. I will know in a week if I am pregnant, so I'll update again.
Updated: got my period on schedule. Lesson learned. Thank you all for your answer!
Yeah...I should have named my first kid "Penicillin".....
I would probably stay away from anything you would avoid when pregnant until I got my next period, then start a new pack of pills with that cycle. If it hadn't happened to me, I would think that is paranoid, but it CAN happen!
Our running joke is that one of my grrandchildren should have been named z-pak because of birth control failure after taking antibiotics. Use additional protection until your next cycle unless you want to add to your family.
I got pregnant using antibiotics while on the pill. Don't take any chances - use a backup.
I had to take some major antibiotics so I asked my doctor. What antibiotics do is mess up your ability to absorb any pills. You will absorb but not at a normal level, so yeah, for some it would be like you are not taking the pills at all.
Thing is you took the antibiotics when you weren't taking your pills so there was nothing to not absorb. Worst case it would be like you skipped your first pill which is unlikely to cause pregnancy.
Still you would probably feel better hearing this from your doctor so give them a call.
Oh, the other thing my doctor said was if you did not spot, the pills were effective.
If you do not want to be pregnant, I would either abstain until I had another period and the antibiotics were cleared from my body or I would use another double, triple form of birth control if I just couldn't wait to have sex.
You are taking a chance, not sure how high specifically...... but if you don't want to be pregnant, that chance is too high!!
We are not Dr's and we can't 100% answer your question. You should ask your Dr. or pharmacist but still.... they don't know 100% either. They can only give you statistics.
My grandson was conceived by this method. Antibiotics for something while mom was on birth control. I hope that you are prepared either way if this should happen and that you will be okay with another one sooner than later in your family planning.
I just wanted you to know that I can happen. It doesn't mean that it will.
the other S.
The reason antibiotics counteract birth control is that antibiotics induce (increase) the production of enzymes in the body that break down estrogen. Since the active birth control pills contain estrogen, this results in a decrease or complete lack of effect by your birth control.
Induction is not something that occurs instantaneously - the body needs to create the proteins that are responsible for the creation of enzymes - this can take up to 7-14 days. Once these enzymes have been made, there is a natural time period for them to be utilized & drop back to normal levels, even after the antibiotics are stopped.
For this reason, there is a larger window of time to use back-up birth control than just the time you are taking the antibiotics. Every person's body is different, so for some people a week, for others a month, after the antibiotic has stopped. Where you are in your cycle also plays a factor in determining when it is safe to rely on the BCP only.
I would err on the side of caution, & use a back-up condom until your next period just to be safe.
FYI - the information above is what I have learned in my courses @ Pharmacy school. Here is a link to the same information, with a bit more detail. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey...
T.
You're smart to be concerned about antibiotic effects on BC and to pay attention to this, but this is truly a question for your ob/gyn to answer. Most will answer questions like this if you just phone them, and you shouldn't have to go in for an appointment for this (unless the doctor wants to take blood to test for levels of meds or whatever). I would not trust to answers on an online forum about this -- we're not doctors.
I want to say that every time i used antibiotics while on the pill I used condoms for the full month like they suggest, but that would be a lie. Luckily I never got pregnant, but many people have. All you can do at this point is wait and see.
If you have any doubts and you don't want to get pregnant, get some condoms and use them.
IF you have already talked to two pharmacists, and your physician, it sounds like you MOST Likely will be fine. You were off the antibiotics when you started your new set of pills, so most likely after waiting the 7 day after thing, and then waiting an additional 5 or so days, you most likely are safe.
Next time I bet you learn and just do other things with your husband for that month. Better safe then sorry.
It's good that you double checked though.
