Amoxicillin Birth Control Can you take antibiotics with birth control? from www.ildme.org
Introduction
If you are taking birth control pills and need to take antibiotics, you may be wondering if they will interfere with your birth control. Amoxicillin is a commonly prescribed antibiotic, but does it affect how well your birth control works? Let's take a look.
How Birth Control Works
Before we dive into the effects of amoxicillin on birth control, let's review how birth control pills work. Oral contraceptives contain hormones that prevent ovulation, which is when the ovaries release an egg. Without an egg, there can be no fertilization and no pregnancy.
How Antibiotics Interact with Birth Control
While antibiotics are often used to treat infections, they can also interfere with how well birth control pills work. Some antibiotics, like rifampin, have been shown to decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. However, the evidence for other antibiotics, including amoxicillin, is less clear.
Studies on Amoxicillin and Birth Control
There have been several studies on the interaction between amoxicillin and birth control pills. One study found that amoxicillin did not decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. However, another study found that women who took amoxicillin had lower levels of hormones in their blood, which could potentially affect how well their birth control works.
What to Do If You Need to Take Amoxicillin
If you need to take amoxicillin and are also taking birth control pills, it's important to talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you determine the best course of action. In some cases, your provider may recommend using a backup method of contraception, such as condoms, while you are taking amoxicillin.
How Long to Wait
If you do need to use a backup method of contraception while taking amoxicillin, it's important to know how long to wait. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should use a backup method for at least seven days after finishing your course of antibiotics.
Other Options
If you are concerned about the interaction between antibiotics and birth control pills, there are other forms of contraception you can consider. These include long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) or hormonal implants. These methods are highly effective and do not rely on daily pill-taking.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the interaction between amoxicillin and birth control pills is not fully understood. While some studies suggest that amoxicillin may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills, others have found no such effect. It's important to talk to your healthcare provider if you need to take amoxicillin while on birth control pills, and to use a backup method of contraception if recommended. There are also other forms of contraception available that do not rely on daily pill-taking.