LoveToKnow Pregnancy:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Pregnancy

Comments

Just a note on something that needs to be cleared up: while on the pill, you have NO "normal ovulation time" - whether around day 14 or not. The 28-day cycle only applies to women who (1) are not on the pill and (2) have a very regular cycle. One of the primary modes of pregnancy prevention while on birth control is that you don't ovulate at all, and in the event this mechanism fails, you're just as likely to have breakthrough ovulation on day 3 as you are day 13 and day 28. Ovulation while you're on the pill would be the result of taking it incorrectly, taking a medicine that interfered, or being part of that 1-ish% the pill just fails for...and it can happen at any point during the cycle. It is NOT being controlled by your natural cycle rhythm. There is NO reason that "if" you were going to ovulate while you're on the pill, it would be more likely to come mid-cycle. You have no set "fertile time" while on the pill or any time that you're more likely to get pregnant than any other, barring other factors like medication, forgetting to take pills, etc. Even if you're on antibiotics during the first of your pack and you ovulate, it's most likely going to happen within a few days of beginning those antibiotics - your body won't wait until day 14 and say, "Oh! I'm supposed to pop out this egg now!" It just doesn't work that way. Being around day 14 while on the pill has no special effect or meaning for anything.

Also it's also commonly recommended that after taking an antibiotic, protection is generally only needed for two weeks of ACTIVE PILLS maximum. That means that no matter where you are in your pack, whether at the beginning or the end, you need 7 to 14 ACTIVE pills between when you stopped your medication and when you have unprotected sex if you're trying to avoid pregnancy. Your sugar (period week) pills don't count toward this - you need to take enough active pills from your next pack to meet the 7-14 active pill threshold to be on the safe side.

-- Contributed by: Lena

Ashley, since the unprotected sex happened before you started the antibiotics, it probably won't have an effect. The time to worry is if you are on the antibiotic during the beginning and middle of the month and have sex during or after that time. For the rest of the month, you should use a back-up form of birth control to be safe.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I had unprotected sex and then developed a UTI. I am now being put on antibiotics. Will this be impacting my coming period? Should I be concerned about the ineffectiveness of my birth control considering I had sex before I began the antibiotics?

-- Contributed by: Ashley

Anne,

anytime you take an antibiotic while on the pill, you should use a backup form of birth control. The antibiotic doesn't make you fertile, though, within a few hours. For the rest of the month, you should use backup birth control, especially around day 14 of your cycle when you are likely to ovulate.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I have been taking my tri cyclen lo for almost a year, I take it daily and hardly ever am late with it or miss it. I just started taking amoxicillin for a throat infect and after about an hour of taking my first pill had unprotected sex. should I be worried about anything?

-- Contributed by: Anne

Natasha,

if the penicillin was a one time dose given in the doctor's office, I don't think the chances are very high that it would interfere with your pill. It is still a good idea though to use a backup method anytime you doubt your pill's effectiveness.

To be sure, you should take a pregnancy test if your period is late, but I don't think you conceived.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

Montana,

double check with your physician or pharmacist, but I think you should start taking your pills on the day that you normally would. If a woman has an irregular month, she can't really adjust her pills to fit the cycle. As an extra precaution, you may want to use a back-up form of birth control for August.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I've been taking tri-cyclen lo for about 10 months. Last week my doctor prescribed me penicillin V K 300MG due to wisdom teeth extraction. Earlier this week I had sex without any backup method, and did ejaculate in me. I was wondering if this could mean I'm pregnant. I'm not due for my period for another week. Also, I've never missed a pill and take them roughly the same time every day.

-- Contributed by: Natasha

hello I finished my my antibiotic prescription Thursday and my birth control packet on Friday. My period has alwasy been regular: beginning on Tuesday and I beginning the new birth control packet on Saturday. Unfortunately I woke up this morning and I am already spotting. When should I start my new birth control packet? I am not currently sexually active and have not been for 7 mths. My husband comes home from Iraq in August and we do not want to have kids as yet. Plase tell me if I begin my birth control pills on the regular day or not? By the way I have been on birth control since I was 18.

-- Contributed by: montana

Michelle, although taking an antibiotic while on birth control can cause the pill to fail, it's only a chance and not a definite. So although your chances are greater this month, I don't have a percentage or anything like that of what your risk is. But since you are close to getting your period, you could take the First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test, which is accurate four days before your period is due.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I have been taking Ortho Tricyclen lo for a number of years and am currently taking 150 mg of Doryx once a day for acne. I had sex on day 14 of my cycle. We did not use a backup method, but my partner did not ejaculate in me. I'm not due to get my period for a few more days, but I'm freaking out a bit. What is the likelihood that I could have gotten pregnant?

-- Contributed by: Michelle

Samantha, since you last had sex a week before starting the antibiotics, you wouldn't have conceived as a result of them. But, if you aren't taking your birth control regularly, that could have caused you to conceive. Since your period is late, you should take a pregnancy test. If it's negative, wait a few days and test again. While you are taking the antibiotics and getting back on track with the pill, make sure you use a back form of birth control.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

So I was on penicillin for 10 days, but since I missed a pill or two I ended up finishing the pills 12 days in. I've also been taking my birth control (Demulen 21) every night (between 1-4am) like always. The last time I had sex was a week BEFORE I even started the antibiotics, yet I'm currently one day late! I don't think it's even possible that I'm pregnant, but I don't know why my period is late! Can taking the antibiotics and my birth control at verryyyy random hours affect it that much?! HELP!

-- Contributed by: samantha

Michelle,

I've only heard the recommendation to use back-up birth control during the month you are taking the pill. Even though the antibiotic can interfere with the birth control, it's not a definite that it will happen. You should take a pregnancy test when your next period is due, but it's only a small chance that you have conceived.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

Wondering if anyone has thoughts on this one, because i haven't seen a situation like mine: i take the 28 pill ortho-tri-cyclen. i had to take a z-pac (azithromicyn) last month for 5 days. i took my last antibiotic pill in the middle of my sugar-pill week, and had my period as normal. i started my fresh ortho-tri-cyclen pill pack the following sunday as usual. on day 10 of my new pill pack, i had unprotected sex with my husband and he ejaculated in me. my doctor says that they recommend a back-up method for 2 weeks after FINISHING the antibiotic. The day we had sex was 10 days after (not full 2 weeks). I don't want to be pregnant right now, and wondered what people that the chance was?

-- Contributed by: Michelle

I've been taking Yaz for about 6 months now and my cycle starts faithfully at 26 days... I always have two white pills left. I recently took Metronidazole for 10 days and didn't use any back up. Silly me! I know it's too early, but I know my body and I'm not feeling any of the usual premenstrual symptoms! Not planning another addition yet, but we are married! Wish me luck!

-- Contributed by: Nichole

I've been on the pill and took Penicillin .. and got pregnant TWICE. I didn't even THINK when I was recently on Penicillin.. AND NOW.. haven't started yet. So i'm worried. But if it happens, it happens because i'm happily married. :)

-- Contributed by: April

Roxanna, Plan B is usually only taken the day after you have unprotected, so it's likely too late now for you to take it. Although the antibiotic can interfere with the birth control pill, it doesn't mean that you did ovulate. If you did, it probably happened earlier in your cycle.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I have been on the pill for several years. well, I was recently sick and had to take Amoxicillin for 10 days. It was twice a day and 875 mg. I have been off the antibiotics for 4 days and had sex. I did not use back up. I am on my sugar pills .. I should be getting my period tomorrow. do i need to take the plan b pill or will i be ok?

-- Contributed by: Roxanna

Rach, if your doctor has prescribed antibiotics, you should take them now if you need them for a current health problem. As long as you use back up birth control for the rest of this cycle, you should be fine. Since you had sex on day 4 of your cycle and didn't take the antibiotic, you haven't ovulated yet.

If you do ovulate, it will happen around day 14, which is when you could conceive.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

i started a new pack of birthcontrol pills. I have taken four days worth, but i wanted to start on some antibiotics, but my partner and i had sex 2 days ago and he came in me. Do i need to wait a few more days to start the antibiotic?

-- Contributed by: rach

Jules, you should see your pharmacist right away about the Plan B. From what I can based on Internet searches, you can take the morning after pill while on the birth control pill, but your pharmacist will tell you for sure.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

help! im on antibiotics, and... ando on my ovulation day (13th) and yesterday we had sex and he came a littlebit inside! im panicking, can i get the "morning after" pill, while on birth control??

-- Contributed by: jules

Samantha, tetracycline can interfere with your pill, so you should use a back up form of birth control while you are taking it. It's possible that you are pregnant and that the spotting you noticed was from implantation bleeding. If that's the case, you can take a pregnancy test now and get accurate results

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I have been on microgestin birth control for about a year and a half. I've recently started taking tetracycline 500mg 2/day for acne (July 29th) so far I have had unprotected sex at least 5 times and my period was supposed to come Aug. 3rd but I didn't get it until Aug. 5 and then it was next to nothing, basically spotting, and lasted for not even a full day. Is it possible that I am pregnant? If so when should I take a test? Also, I heard that tetracycline can cause some sort of birth defect.

-- Contributed by: Samantha

Emilia, the bleeding you notice might be from ovulation. It's entirely possible that the antibiotic is affecting your pill causing you to ovulate each month. You should use another form of birth control while you are on the antibiotic and, if you are bothered by needing extra protection, talk to your doctor about another form of medication.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I am currently on Loestrin 24. I was taking dynacin for a month, twice a day, for acne. I started spotting in between my periods about 2 weeks into taking the antibiotic. I was wondering if that could be due to the fact that antibotics make the pill less effective?

-- Contributed by: emilia

Megan, antibiotics can alter the effectiveness of Seasonale, so you should continue to use a back form of birth control for the rest of the month. Since the birth control pill works over the course of the month, not just on a daily basis, to prevent you from ovulate, a woman could conceive a week after ending the cycle of antibiotics.

But, taking antibiotics doesn't automatically mean you will ovulate this month. In about two weeks, you should take a pregnancy test to find out if you conceived.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

hi, i have been on seasonale for a year. i took amoxicillin for 6 days. during the time i was on the antibiotics, i used condoms. the day after i finished the pills, i had sex with no backup method. i'm really concerned. what is the chance that i may be pregnant?

-- Contributed by: megan

Jessie, there is a chance that you could be pregnant, but it would be a slim one. I'm not sure about the timing that you took the antibiotic. If you took it and then got your period, you are probably not pregnant. If you had your period, started a new pack, and then took the antibiotic, you need to use a backup form of birth control for the month.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

Kathy, it doesn't really make a difference. Some medications, like Tylenol, are designed to treat a specific problem like a headache and work immediately. Antibiotics are designed to stay in your system and work for a longer period of time, so taking it at a different time wouldn't prevent it from affecting your birth control pill.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

i have been on the pill for 5 years... i was taking amoxocillin and then after a week had to go on a different antibiotic (sulfamethoxazole/trimethroprim) ... my boyfriend and i had unprotected sex but he did not ejaculate in me, however pre-ejaculation i'm sure occurred.... my birth control pills are ortho tricyclin lo... do you think i could be pregnant? i just finished my period yesterday

-- Contributed by: Jessie

Since it is the metabolism of the birth control pills that antibiotics effect, does it make a difference if one takes the antibiotics and birth control pills at different times (such as, 6 hours apart); or does it not matter, since the antibiotics are in the person's system once taken?

-- Contributed by: Kathy

Veronica, you've stumped me. I looked up Macrobid and it's listed as an antibiotic that can decrease the effectiveness of the Birth Control Pill, but to a lesser degree than other antibiotics. Since you take the macrobid right before sex, it's unlikely that it would cause you to ovulate unless it was taken right around your ovulation time and you'd taken it several other times during the month. Since you definitely don't want to get pregnant, I'd recommend using a back up method since it's not clear to me how much of an effect this has on your cycle. Maybe your doctor or pharmacist can give you some better info.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I am currently taking birth control, but I was prescribed Macrobid to take before having sex to prevent Urinary Track Infections (I get them chronically). I don't always take the Macrobid, and I have only taken it one time during the past two weeks of my cycle. I had sex with my boyfriend last week (second week of my cycle) and we did not use a back up form of contraception, and I took the macrobid afterwards. He did not come inside of me. What are the chances then of me getting pregnant? I feel like I am over reacting a bit, but I want to be safe. If I am just taking the Macrobid occasionally, do I still need to a back up form or contraception?

-- Contributed by: veronica

Candice, anytime you use antibiotics, you should use a backup form of birth control for the month, just in case. You would be unlikely to conceive this early in your cycle, but I'd recommend that you be careful for the rest of the month if you don't want to conceive.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I started my pill pack on sunday and have only had three days of the pill. i finished my antibiotic tuesday morning and had unprotected sex that night. Am i alright or should i go get the morning after pill? Technically you dont ovulate untill day 14 and im only on day 3 of the pill. Thanks

-- Contributed by: Candice

Veryworried,

it's important to always be careful when taking a prescription with vitamins, supplements, and herbal products because of potential interactions. But, none of these should have affected your pill. As long as you are taking the Alesse regularly it should be fine.

But I would recommend talking to your pharamcist about these supplements since they could have other unwanted effects.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

Rebecca,

check with your pharamcist or doctor to be certain, but I didn't find any info stating that antibiotics would affect the shot. Since the shot is not an oral medication, the antibiotic doesn't influence it's absorption like it can to the pill.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

this question is pertaining to vitamins and supplements.

After a horrible haircut I decided I wanted to start taking hair pills to make my hair grow. I did a bunch of research and ended up combining different vitamins and supplements in order to make this happen: 2 hair skin and nail pills, kelp, biotin, and horsetail rush. Upon further investigation one of the hair, skin and nail multi-vitamin contains saw palmetto which I guess in theory could interfere with your hormone levels and birth control. My last period was on April 2nd, I took some vitamins on April 16th and I had unprotected sex on April 17. I am currently on Allesse and am very worried that this pill combo decreased the effectiveness. My doctor told me that if my birth control was ineffective I would have been spotting or bleeding throughtout the month. Please advise!

-- Contributed by: veryworried

I get the depo shot every three months and i take minocycline every night (100mg) for my acne. Is there an increased chance of pregnancy due to the depo and the high dosage of minocycline?

-- Contributed by: Rebecca

Annabelle,

the antibiotics shouldn't make your period late. Did you start taking the pills at the correct time? I don't know why your period came in the middle of the pack, but if it was a full, regular period, I think you should have started a new pack then rather than continue with the inactive pills after the period was over.

Talk to your pharmacist or OB/Gyn since you might be taking the pills at the wrong time in your cycle. In the meantime, use another form of birth control until you get this all sorted out.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

Thanks for the information.. but i'm still a bit frightened about my situation. I started my first month of birth control about a month and two weeks ago. i started taking antibiotics about the second week in, and took them for four days. I told my boyfriend we still had to use a condom for a week after using the antibiotics, so we did. That was the first time we had unprotected sex. I had a premature period, so we didn't have sex for a week, then i started on the "inactive" section of my birth control. we have been having unprotected sex, and it is about a month after having my last period. i haven't started my period, i don't even feel like it's coming. i don't have any symptoms of pregnancy, but i'm paranoid. do you have any ideas as to why my period may be late? Do you think it's because of the antibiotics? I don't know, i need help! Thanks!

-- Contributed by: annnabelle

AmberG, it doesn't appear that antibiotics affect the ring like they do the pill. If you are worried though, I'd use a backup method this month anyway.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

do the amoxicillin antibiotics have the same affect on the nuvaring as the birth control pill.

-- Contributed by: Amberg

Amanda, you should use a back up method for the full month that you took the antibiotics.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

Jessica, if you were to ovulate, it would probably be around the time that you would normally ovulate, so it would have happened during the second week, 14 days after your period. If your pill is ineffective this month, you would have a cycle that mimic a normal, non-pill cycle.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

Cherisse, when you get closer to your period, you should probably take a pregnancy test. Antyime you doubt the effectiveness of the pill, whether its from antibiotics or missing a pill, you should use a back up method birth control.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I just finished taking an antibiotic, Azithromycin(Z-Pak). I took my last dose on Saturday at about 1AM. I take the birth control pill Femcon. How long before I should wait to not use a back up method?

-- Contributed by: Amanda

Hello, Thanks so much for the informative article - it's great to have these sort of resources on the web!

I am currently taking Aviane and I finished up a 2/day regimen of 250mg Cipro on Wednesday morning. Although I have managed to not partake in sexual activity for the duration of the treatment, I have a question pertaining to the use of a backup method for the remainder of my cycle.

I started on the antibiotics on Wednesday morning the week prior and I missed a dose, which pushed up my end date by 12 hours. I ended the treatment Wednesday morning on the second week of my pills (i.e, the normal ovulation point in a regular cycle). Assuming that Cipro *does* affect my birthcontrol, does that mean that the ovulation point would be *next* Wednesday since my body may have been effected for a week? Or would it have just been at the normal point?

If my ovulation was at it's normal point (Wednesday of this week) does that mean that the normal fertility curve would be applying to it - mainly, that the most likely time to get pregnant would just be around the days prior to and following that date of ovulation?

Thanks so much for your time, I hope my questions are not bothersome. :)

-- Contributed by: Jessica

I've been taking Seasonal for about a year but was just recently on amoxicillin for about 2 weeks. My husband and I had sex twice without usuing anything since I never really knew I had to use a back up. I didn't worry till this week I started cramping and now I started bleeding all while still on the pill. Should I be concerned...buy a test or what?

-- Contributed by: Cherisse

ShellBe, if the unprotected sex happened around the time you would have ovulated, there is a chance you could be pregnant. If you did ovulate, it would have happened about two weeks after your most recent period.

Most pregnancy tests can be used on the day you expect your peiod, but you can take the First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test four days before your period is due.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I am currently taking amoxicillin and yasmin (birth control). I know I should have used protection, however, the sex wasn't planned. My boyfriend came over one night. I told him to tell me this time...before he finished. He forgot to, the second night after too. In about one week...my period is due to start. I am affaraid that I may have gotten pregnant. What do you think the real proballity of this would be? Also, I just 3 days ago...got a yeast infection. How soon from now can I take a home-pregnancy teast...and will the infection or medication interfere with it. I will be on amoxicillin for 2 more days. Plaese help me

-- Contributed by: ShellBe

Laurie, if the antibiotics made you ovulate, it would have happened during the second week of your pills, which was a week after you had unprotected sex. So you couldn't be pregnant from that experience. It's good that you are using condoms now since a back-up method is important when you take an antibiotic on the pill.

As for your symptoms, even if you were pregnant it's really too early for you to be having any of the early signs of pregnancy. I don't know if it could be related to the medication, but you should ask your doctor or pharmacist if these are common side effects.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

Worried, with your period starting on February 4, you would have ovulated around February 18, so you're right that was a pretty fertile time for you. Although you should use an additional form of birth control whenever taking antibiotics, you may not have ovulated. The antibiotics increase the chances of it happening, but it's not a definite that you would ovulate.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I am currently taking Doxyccycline and Reclipsen birth control. The first week into this months birth control I had unprotected sex, the next day I started the antibiotics, and a week later I had sex again, but we used a condom. I'm only in the beginning of week three of my brith control now and I had random bleeding, but it wasn't my period. I've also been very queezy and have had symptoms identicle to morning sickness. Could this just be my medications making me sick or is there a larger chance of pregnancy?

-- Contributed by: Laurie

I was prescribed Augmentin (amoxicilin) for a sinus infection and took it from Feb. 1 to Feb. 10. I am also taking Aviane birth control. My last period was from Feb. 4 to Feb. 9. My husband and I had sex last night on Feb. 17, which I am guessing is a prime ovulation time for me. Are my chances of getting pregnant much higher since I had been taking the Augmentin? I am not ready for baby #2 just yet!

-- Contributed by: Worried

Tammy, you should be okay since the medication was taken during your last cycle, but anytime you have doubts about the effectiveness of your pill you should use a back-up form of birth control. Better safe than sorry.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I took azythromcyicin my the day before my period started--it was a one dose, large doze antibiotic--but they said it has a very long half-life. I started the next month of birth control pills 5 days after taking the one-larg-dose antibiotic.

Should my birth control pills be effective for this month?

-- Contributed by: tammy

yeah, i told my dr that i was on birth control pills when she prescribed antibiotics. She didnt mention anything about using a back up method. i trusted her and i am not pregnant with baby #5. yikes! wish she would have told me to use a back up method.

-- Contributed by: natalie

Brandi,

yes, there's a chance you could conceive so you should use another form of birth control for the month. Although there is a smaller chance of getting pregnant from pre-ejaculate, it's still a possibility.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I have been on ortho-tricyclin for 6 years and am currently taking Amoxicillin for a sinus infection. Is there a chanc I could become pregnant from pre-ejaculation, since the effectiveness of my pill is less?

-- Contributed by: Brandi

Hi Kelli,

antibiotics don't affect the ring like they do the pill. With oral pills, the antibiotic affect the absorption of the pill in the stomach. Since the ring doesn't work like that, you don't have to worry.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I use Nuvaring as my form of birth controll. This past week I was put on the antibiotic Augmentin 850/125 for a head cold. We were both sick this week and didn't get to do much together. So last ngiht we had date night and ended up having intercourse. I didn't think much of it since I have the Nuvaring. However, later it hit me that I am currently on this antibiotic. Is there still a risk of pregnancy with the inserted vaginal contraceptive like there is with the oral contraceptive?

-- Contributed by: Kelli

Sarah, your pill should be effective the first full month after finishing the antibiotic. So if your antibiotic was taken in the middle of your pack of pills and you finished them that same month, you'll be fine the following month.

If the antibiotics are taken during two pack of pills, you'll need to use other birth control methods until the next month when you are completely free of antibiotics.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

How long after taking antibiotics does the birth control pill regain its effectiveness?

-- Contributed by: Sarah

I've read that metronidazole doesn't affect the pill, but you're always better off being safe. You should consider using extra protection this month and anytime you are unsure of the effectiveness of your pill.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I have been on birth control lo ortho for about 3 years and i had to take metronidazole 500mg for 1 week 2 pills a day.I was taking birth control and pills at the same time. but i was not taking my birhtconrol pill at the same time all the time. I started metronidazoleon OCT.14 and i started my birth control on Oct.15 but we have been active all that week.Would i be in large percentage of being pregnant? and how soon can i take a test to check?

-- Contributed by: metronidazole 500mg

Excellent questions, Missy, but it's one that you will have to take up with your doctor. Without knowing what exactly the medication is, I can't say if it will have an effect on your pills.

Or you could play it safe and use an back-up form of birth control for the month.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

I had a shot of antibiotics for strep throat last week and I want to know if that will affect my birth control pills.

-- Contributed by: Missy Lanier

Paranoid, the antibiotic can affect how the pill is absorbed, so it's almost like missing a dose of the birth control pill. If you are taking an antibiotic for 1 one, you might miss a week's worth of the pill, causing you to ovulate.

This doesn't happen in all cases, but you're better off being safe. You should use extra protection for the entire cycle that you are on while taking the antibiotic.

-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

My question is, is the decreased effectiveness only when you're taking the medication? I was prescribed a zpak and am curious how long I should be extra careful.

-- Contributed by: Paranoid
> Return to article