Girlfriend Injured in Diving Accident

[uncfnp]

Although a frequently cited interaction, several studies have not supported this advice. None of the commonly used antibiotics have been shown to interfere with BCPs. The only antibiotic that is known to reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills is Rifampin and that antibiotic is not used for sinus infections.

If you do elect to start the antibiotic now and want to be extra cautious, just use a backup form of birth control, such as a condom, the first 2 weeks of the next cycle.

 

[BeeOnLotus]

Well, this simply shows my ignorance regarding these things. I always thought that you should not stop the birth control for the full cycle, even if you only had sex on the first day of the cycle. Even as I write this, however, I see that this doesn't make much sense. I clearly should learn more about these things.

After what you've all shared, and then doing some research on my own, I think I will ask her to start on the decongestent and anti-biotic immediately, as long as it doesn't contain Rifampin. I will let you know how things go.

Thank you all again!

 

[uncfnp]

Well, this simply shows my ignorance regarding these things. I always thought that you should not stop the birth control for the full cycle, even if you only had sex on the first day of the cycle. Even as I write this, however, I see that this doesn't make much sense. I clearly should learn more about these things.

Not sure but if this is in response to what I wrote about backup for the first two weeks of her cycle, this is in addition to the BCP! Do not stop the pill!

With the low dose BCP in use today, even a single missed dose will increase the risk of pregnancy, especially if missed early in the cycle.

 

[Steve_C]

Not all antibiotics are equally effective. Get professional advice. Some work better for sinus infections than others (says my ENT doc)

It may be only anecdotal, but my wife and I worked with a group of political refugees from Butan. The women, who were educated and literate, all went on Birth Control at their request when they got to the US. Several had serious health issues like TB and were put on serious antibiotics for several months. There were pregnancies during this time.

 

[uncfnp]

Not all antibiotics are equally effective. Get professional advice. Some work better for sinus infections than others (says my ENT doc)

It may be only anecdotal, but my wife and I worked with a group of political refugees from Butan. The women, who were educated and literate, all went on Birth Control at their request when they got to the US. Several had serious health issues like TB and were put on serious antibiotics for several months. There were pregnancies during this time.

Hey Steve. And TB treatment is one of the primary uses for Rifampin.

 

[lowflyer]

@uncfnp, I don't think anyone suggested stopping the BC pills.

@Steve_C
Even though you didn't intend it, I wouldn't want your post to suggest that because some Butanese women got pregnant taking antibiotics for tuberculosis, other women should fear pregnancy taking antibiotics for other infections. As per @uncfnp, the Butanese women were very possibly taking Rifampin, which is known to decrease certain hormone levels that would decrease the effectiveness of BCPs. Rifampin is not likely going to be prescribed for other infections except in rare circumstances.

Of course women sometimes don't take their BCPs which may also have been an issue with the Butanese women.

So, the bottom line IMO is if a woman has an infection that requires an antibiotic, take the antibiotic and stay on your birth control pills.

 

[Steve_C]

So, the bottom line IMO is if a woman has an infection that requires an antibiotic, take the antibiotic and stay on your birth control pills.

I agree completely. If I was a woman I might also want to review the test group for the studies mentioned to be sure they cover me. The human genome is surprisingly varied with different subpopulations immune to or highly susceptible to all sorts of environmental factors.