How To Take Birth Control Pills Correctly
When used as directed, birth control pills are up to 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. Most birth control pills are taken daily for 21 days on and seven days off. Some pills are taken for 28 straight days and others for 91 straight days. Pills may be different colors to indicate different levels of hormones. Some days you may take pills that contain no hormones. Theyre meant to keep you in the habit of taking your pills.
Your doctor will advise you about when to start taking your pills. This is usually the first Sunday after your menstrual cycle starts or the first day of your menstrual cycle. You should take your pills at the same time each day. If you dont take your pills consistently, your risk of becoming pregnant increases.
Birth control pills are just one of many birth control options. Other options include:
- pills
- implants
- diaphragms
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends asking yourself these questions when deciding which option is best for you:
- Do you want to have children some day?
- Do you have any medical problems?
- How often do you have sex?
- How many sex partners do you have?
- Will the birth control prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases?
- How well does the birth control work?
- What are the side effects?
- Is it difficult or inconvenient to use?
Foods Herbs And Supplements That Can Make Your Birth Control Less Effective
You might not realize that there are certain foods, supplements, and other things you consume that can be getting in the way of how well your birth control works. It sounds crazy, but its actually really easy to stop contraception in its tracks, so make sure its not happening to you by keeping these 14 things out of your diet:
Licorice Its delicious as a snack, but avoid too much of it if youre on the birth control pill. Licorice can boost your blood pressure which isnt a good thing since oral contraceptives do the same thing. It can also effect your reproductive hormones, which could make you fall pregnant!
Grapefruit Its a healthy, tasty fruit, but it can affect your intestinal enzymes that control how your body absorbs certain medicines. Grapefruit also decreases how much estrogen gets broken down by the body, which boosts the hormones presence. It could therefore potentially cause your contraception side effects to be increased.
St. Johns wort This is a herbal remedy people use for treating depression, but it can decrease how well your birth control works, according to Brown University in Rhode Island. Be sure that any liquid extracts, pills, or herbal teas you consume dont contain this flowering plant.
Red clover If youre suffering from bad PMS symptoms, you might reach for red clover to treat it but dont. It contains isoflavones that act like estrogen, so it can increase the estrogen-related side effects of your birth control.
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Other Possible Side Effects
- emotional lability or mood swings
- nervousness
- gas in stomach and intestines
- painful menstruation
- implant site pain and/or reaction
- itching
- vomiting
Apart from these side effects, a rise in blood pressure has occasionally been observed. Also oily skin has been observed.
You should see your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms of a severe allergic reaction such as:
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What Do I Need To Know About Rifamycins
Rifamycins are a class of antibiotics. The most commonly prescribed rifamycin is known by the name rifampin. Rifampin is not prescribed very commonly in the United States.
Rifamycins, are most commonly prescribed for the treatment of mycobacterial infections, including tuberculosis , or for treating travelersâ diarrhea caused by E. coli .
Rifampin can sometimes be used in combination with other antibiotics to treat other bacterial infections too . .)
Rifampin, can speed up the liverâs ability to break down molecules and medications, including hormonal birth controls, which are processed continually through the liver .
For this reason, anyone taking any form of hormonal contraceptive, like the pill, patch, ring, mini-pill, and the implant, who is prescribed rifampin treatment should note that their hormonal contraceptive will not be as effective, and may increase their likelihood of becoming pregnant .
Rifampin does not interact with other forms of birth control, such as the contraceptive shot, the copper IUD, and the hormonal IUD, meaning that you can continue to use these types of contraception while undergoing rifampin treatment .
Before You Start With Implanon Nxt
You must tell your doctor or family planning counsellor if you have any of the conditions listed below. You may need to be kept under close observation. Your doctor can explain this to you.
Tell your doctor if:
- you have had breast cancer.
- you have or have had a liver disease.
- you have ever had a thrombosis.
- you have diabetes.
- you have high cholesterol or triglycerides
- you suffer from epilepsy.
- you suffer from tuberculosis.
- you have high blood pressure.
- you have or have had Chloasma if so avoid too much exposure to the sun or ultraviolet radiation.
Tell your doctor if you have a condition that occurred for the first time or worsened during pregnancy or previous use of sex hormones:
- jaundice or itching.
- systemic lupus erythematosus , a disease affecting the skin all over the body).
- haemolytic uraemic syndrome , a disorder of blood coagulation causing failure of the kidneys.
- Sydenham’s chorea .
- Herpes gestationis.
- hearing loss.
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How Antibiotics Might Affect Birth Control
Some types of antibiotics have the potential to affect birth control because they can alter the bodys hormone levels. Hormonal birth control methods that these antibiotics might impact include:
- The pill
- The ring
- The shot
All four of these birth control methods contain the hormones estrogen and/or progestin which thickens the mucus in the cervix, making it difficult for sperm to fertilize an egg, and thin the lining of the uterus to reduce the chance of getting pregnant. The methods that contain estrogen also prevent you from ovulating, while progestin-only methods stop ovulation but not consistently. Certain antibiotics can lower the levels of estrogen and progestin in your body, potentially to the point of affecting your birth control.
Theoretically, antibiotics might also reduce your birth controls efficacy by interrupting the recirculation of estrogens in the body a process called enterohepatic circulation. They do this by killing the bacteria in the small intestine that help break the hormone down and redistribute it within the body.
For these reasons, many manufacturers have historically placed warnings on antibiotic labels to inform women about this risk. Over the years, scientists have done many studies on various types of antibiotics effects on hormonal birth control to determine which ones you should and should not take at the same time.
Can Anyone Have A Nexplanon
Most women who want a Nexplanon can have it.
Conditions which may mean you may not be suitable for Nexplanon.
- Now or in the past you have had breast cancer
- You have had certain types of liver disease
- You have bleeding between the periods or after sex and you have not seen a doctor or nurse about this, or you have seen a doctor or nurse but you are still waiting to be told why this is happening
- You have certain rheumatic diseases
- Also you should stop using Nexplanon if you have a heart attack or stroke
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The Connection Between Antibiotics And Birth Control Pills
To date, the only antibiotic proven to impact birth control pills is rifampin. This drug is used to treat tuberculosis and other bacterial infections. If you take this medication while using birth control pills, it decreases the hormone levels in your birth control pills. This decrease in hormone levels can affect whether ovulation is prevented. In other words, your birth control becomes less effective. Rifampin also decreases hormone levels in the birth control patch and vaginal ring.
Other drugs may make birth control less effective, such as:
- some anti-HIV protease inhibitors
- some anti-seizure medications
- the antifungal drug griseofulvin
Birth control pills may make other drugs less effective, such as analgesics and blood pressure medications. The effects of antidepressants, bronchodilators, and tranquilizers may be increased when you use them with birth control pills.
Mood Stabilizer & Epilepsy Medicines
Women taking some medicines to treat bipolar disorder or epileptic seizures have a double reason to choose their birth control carefully:
1) Many of the medicines used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorderBarbituates, Carbamazepine, Oxycarbazepine, Phenytoin, Primidone, Topiramate, Felbamate, and Lamotrigine when taken alonemake the pill, patch, ring and mini-pill less effective, increasing the chance of an accidental pregnancy.
2) Theres some evidence that these methods of birth control change the effectiveness of those particular medicines, too. That increases the chance of having a seizure, or a manic or depressive episode. If you have epilepsy or bipolar disorder, its really important to talk with your provider about what birth control method is best for youthere are still good options!
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Alternatives For Preventing Pregnancy
Examples of other drugs that may be used to help prevent pregnancy include:
- the birth control ring ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel vaginal ring
- the birth control patch ethinyl estradiol/norelgestromin patch
- the birth control injection medroxyprogesterone
- the birth control gel citric acid/lactic acid/potassium bitartrate
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Nexplanon.
Insertion And Removal Related Events
The implant may move from the original insertion site in the arm, if incorrectly inserted or due to external forces . In these cases localisation of the implant may be more difficult and removal may require a larger incision. If the implant cannot be found, and there is no evidence it has been expelled, contraception and the risk of progestagen-related undesirable effects may last longer than you want.
In rare cases implants have been found in the pulmonary artery . If the implant cannot be found in the arm your healthcare professional may use x-rays or other imaging methods on the chest. If the implant is located in the chest, surgery may be needed.
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Dose And Method Of Administration
Pregnancy should be excluded before insertion of Implanon NXT.Healthcare professionals are strongly recommended to participate in a training session to become familiar with the use of the Implanon NXT applicator and the techniques for insertion and removal of the Implanon NXT implant and where appropriate, request supervision prior to inserting or removing the implant.Before inserting the implant, carefully read and follow the instructions for insertion and removal of the implant in the sections How to insert Implanon NXT and How to remove Implanon NXT.Videos demonstrating insertion and removal of Implanon NXT, are available online .Please contact your local MSD office if you have any questions:Australia: Telephone Toll Free: 1800 818 553.New Zealand: Telephone Toll Free: 0800 500 673.If you are unsure of the necessary steps to safely insert and/or remove Implanon NXT, do not attempt the procedure.
Changing From A Progestagen
As there are several types of progestagen-only methods, the insertion of the implant must be performed as follows:
- Injectable contraceptives: Insert the implant on the day the next injection is due.
- Progestagen-only pill: A woman may switch from the progestagen-only pill to Implanon NXT on any day. The implant should be inserted within 24 hours after taking the last tablet.
- Implant/Intrauterine system : Insert the implant on the same day the previous implant or IUS is removed.
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How Is A Nexplanon Removed
It can be left in place for 3 years or it can be taken out sooner. A specially trained doctor or nurse will inject a small amount of local anaesthetic into the skin and will then make a small cut in the skin through which the Nexplanon will be removed. They will apply some paper stitches and a dressing to keep the area dry and clean. The dressing can be removed after a few days and the stitches can usually be removed after a week. The area may be a bit sore and bruised for a few days. If a Nexplanon is very difficult to feel under the skin it may not be so easy to remove. The doctor or nurse may refer you to a specialist centre to have it removed with the help of an ultrasound scan.
Can I Have The Implant After Emergency Contraception
After taking levonorgestrel as emergency contraception the implant can be inserted immediately. You should avoid sex or use a barrier method of contraception for 7 days. In addition you should take a pregnancy test 3 weeks or so after the time you had unprotected sex.
If you took ulipristal acetate the implant should be inserted 5 days after taking the tablet. You should avoid having unprotected sex or use a barrier method of contraception until the implant is inserted and for 7 days after. You should also take a pregnancy test no sooner than 3 weeks after the last time you had unprotected sex.
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Can Cold Medicine Affect Birth Control
Cold does not affect the effectiveness of birth control pills. However, there are a few other things you should know about the effectiveness of birth control pills going forward, so it is important to speak with your primary care physician. First, you should never take birth control pills that have expired.
Theoretically, antibiotics can kill the bacteria that convert the inactive chemicals to the active estrogen, and, therefore, may interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills. Unwanted pregnancies could occur.
Several common foods, including licorice, yam, soy and dairy products, can theoretically impair the effectiveness oral contraceptives.
Although there are some great birth control options that you can buy over -the- counter , unfortunately, birth control pills are not one of them. As of now, the only available over -the- counter birth control pills are for emergency contraception.
Cold does not affect the effectiveness of birth control pills. However, there are a few other things you should know about the effectiveness of birth control pills going forward, so it is important to speak with your primary care physician. First, you should never take birth control pills that have expired.
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How Do Antibiotics Impact The Birth Control Pill Birth Control Ring Birth Control Patch
There are two different ways that antibiotics can interfere with the birth control pill, birth control patch, birth control rings effectiveness. Mainly, antibiotics can decrease the level of estrogen hormones in your blood and how the liver processes these hormones. The estrogen in most birth control pills and in the birth control patch, and the birth control ring is a synthetic hormone called ethinyl estradiol. Estrogen helps prevent ovulation and subsequent conception from occurring.
The liver processes everything a person puts into their body, including the hormones in birth control pills, birth control patches, birth control rings, and other medications. When someone takes specific antibiotics, these antibiotics increase the livers ability and speed at which it breaks down the estrogen hormones in the pill, patch, and ring. If someone is taking the pill, using the birth control patch or ring and one of these antibiotics at the same time, the estrogen in the pills/patch/ring that helps prevent pregnancy will be decreased. An unintended pregnancy can result from this process.
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Q& a: Antibiotics And Birth Control
I have heard that taking antibiotics can make the birth control pill not work. I recently had a bladder infection and had to take antibiotics. Do I need to be using another method of birth control and for how long?
Answer:
This is an excellent question as there are definitely misconceptions about how other medications may affect the birth control pill. The most commonly used birth control pills are a combination of estrogen and progesterone. A birth control pill may also consist of progesterone alone, this is often referred to as a mini-pill.
The most common medications that can increase the livers activity are actually anti-seizure or anti-convulsant medications. According to the World health Organization women taking the anticonvulsants phenytoin , carbamazepine , barbiturates, primidone, topiramate or oxcarbazepine should not rely on a birth control pill for contraception. A birth control pill is not harmful to these women but its effectiveness may be decreased and the woman could experience an unplanned pregnancy. There are other effective methods of birth control for these women including depo-provera, nexplanon and intrauterine devices. Interestingly, birth control pills may actually reduce the effectiveness of the anticonvulsant lamotrigine by increasing the livers clearance of that medication. Anti-convulsants that do not seem to affect the birth control pill include gabapentin , levetriacetam , and tiagabine.
What You Should Do About This Interaction:
General consensus is that a backup method of birth control is not needed while taking this antibiotic. If you have questions or concerns, discuss them with your healthcare professional .Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department.
Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.
CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.
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