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On Medication For Birth Control. Had Unprotected Intercourse. What Are The Risks?
Question: I am taking XXXXXXX Be for birth control and have been for several years. I just finished a ten day course of antibiotics and then started taking a different antibiotic again four days ago, there may have been four days in between. I had sex without a condom last night and need to know whether or not there is a real risk of becoming pregnant from this. Also can I use my regular birth control as a "plan B"?
Hello, I would be happy to help you with your question.
The idea that all antibiotics affect the effectiveness of birth control pills is a common misconception. It is a fact that the ONLY antibiotic that has been shown to decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills is called Rifampin. it goes by other names as well: rifaldazine, R/AMP, and rofact (in Canada). In answer to your question, your risk is no greater than the risk of getting pregnant on birth control pills (if taken effectively) and assuming that this is not the antibiotic that you are taking / took.
Your birth control is a progesterone only birth control. It is a different progesterone than that contained in PlanB. While it probably could be used in this manner, given that it is slightly different and not usually used for this purpose, I would recommend that you buy the actual PlanB over the counter if you are concerned about sexual contact - it must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, as you probably know.
I hope this helps! DR. XXXXXXX
The idea that all antibiotics affect the effectiveness of birth control pills is a common misconception. It is a fact that the ONLY antibiotic that has been shown to decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills is called Rifampin. it goes by other names as well: rifaldazine, R/AMP, and rofact (in Canada). In answer to your question, your risk is no greater than the risk of getting pregnant on birth control pills (if taken effectively) and assuming that this is not the antibiotic that you are taking / took.
Your birth control is a progesterone only birth control. It is a different progesterone than that contained in PlanB. While it probably could be used in this manner, given that it is slightly different and not usually used for this purpose, I would recommend that you buy the actual PlanB over the counter if you are concerned about sexual contact - it must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, as you probably know.
I hope this helps! DR. XXXXXXX
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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