HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Will Contraceptive Pills Get Ineffective By Taking Antibiotics?

Is the ocp loette affected by antibiotics? I have been on 2 courses the last month and my period was not normal for me - very light brown discharge. Just need to know if this is normal or if the pill was made ineffective by taking antibiotics and hence I may be pregnant?
Mon, 26 Dec 2016
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello dear
I understand your concern
Yes antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pill.
It depend on the type of the antibiotics.
Following are the antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pill:
Rifampicine, Amoxicillin, ampicillin, griseofulvin, metronidazole and tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, tetracycline, minocycline, and nitrofurantoin.
Very light brown discharge could be due to implantation bleeding.
So it should be confirmed by the urine pregnancy test.
You can also confirm the pregnancy by blood HCG test. (will give positive result even 10 days after the sex)
So birth control pill may decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pill by decrease the concentration of the active hormone in the blood as it increase the metabolism in the liver.
Avoid stress, take healthy diet, drink plenty of water and do regular exercise.
Hope this may help you

Contact HCM for further health query
Best regards
Dr. Sagar
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Recent questions on Combined oral contraceptive pill


Loading Online Doctors....
Will Contraceptive Pills Get Ineffective By Taking Antibiotics?

Hello dear I understand your concern Yes antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pill. It depend on the type of the antibiotics. Following are the antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pill: Rifampicine, Amoxicillin, ampicillin, griseofulvin, metronidazole and tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, tetracycline, minocycline, and nitrofurantoin. Very light brown discharge could be due to implantation bleeding. So it should be confirmed by the urine pregnancy test. You can also confirm the pregnancy by blood HCG test. (will give positive result even 10 days after the sex) So birth control pill may decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pill by decrease the concentration of the active hormone in the blood as it increase the metabolism in the liver. Avoid stress, take healthy diet, drink plenty of water and do regular exercise. Hope this may help you Contact HCM for further health query Best regards Dr. Sagar