Thread: is there higher risk of getting pregnant when you switch bc brands to lower dose?

I just switched from tricyclene lo to Alesse, and I was wondering if by going to a lower dose pill if i am at higher risk for conceiving. I finished tcl on Aug 15 and started on alesse on AUG 23. Had intercourse with no condom on Aug 28, am concerned. Also has anyone heard if anti histamines(claritin) can diminish effeciveness of birth control pills? Thanks
Sara

I switched from a higher hormone pill to Alesse about 6 months ago, and I too was very concerned about getting pregant. I talked to my doc about this and she was very reassuring that switching to a lower hormone pill will NOT increase your risk of pregnancy. It has something to do with the fact that it's still preventing your body from releasing an egg or something to that effect. So don't worry, you should be fine! I haven't heard anything about antihistimines having an effect on BC, and I'm on allegra-d every day, and my doc said there shouldn't be any side effects from combinding the two.