Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:52 pm Post subject: Can i get pregnant whilst taking antibiotics?
Hi, i'm 16 and i suffer from mild acne it's not noticable but no girl likes to have a spot or two. I had been subscribed an antibiotic called Acnamino MR and have been taking them for about a year now, as I got bullied through my school years for having a huge spot I was determined to get rid of them. I also have a long-term relationship with my boyfriend, and considering i had unprotected sex, (which is not unusual for where i live lol) i got myself checked out at a clinic without my parents knowing, with my local youth workers. When i finally got into the room and got pregnancy and chlamydia tests over and done with (they were negative so i am SAFE!) i have been subscribed on the pill, i stopped taking my antibiotics since i was on the pill because she said it might interfere. But now my spots are getting worse again and i really want to start taking the tablets, but i am scared because they are antibiotics and i'm having unprotected sex. Does this mean if i take the Acnamino MR i can get pregnant even though i'm on the pill or not?
Yes, there is a potential for you to get pregnant.
There is disagreement on whether antibiotics (in general) will affect the effectiveness of birth control pills.
There is one known study clearly revealing that rifampin decreases the effectiveness of birth control pills in preventing ovulation. However, you are not on rifampin.
Hypothetically, other antibiotics may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. However, no large studies have proved this. (There were earlier studies that drew the wrong conclusion due to bad data, and these errors were disproved by later studies.)
You will have to decide which risks you are willing to take with your life. Personally, I would not engage in intercourse when I am still living with my parents and rely on their financial support. If I were you, I would discontinue taking birth control, go back to taking Acnamino MR, and abstain from intercourse. Then once I am living independently and supporting myself, I may consider using the old barrier method of conception such as the condom.