[imported_deb116]

Ok, First off I'm a guy. I'm coming to this forum so I can get a better educated before I talk to my girlfriend. Here's my situation. She's 8 days late. She's on birth control (OthraTri Light I believe). She said she missed one day and took the pill the day after. What I am now worried about is that I have just read that anti-biotics really effect birth control. 3 weeks she had a yeast infection and took an antibiotic to get rid of it. Basically, have any of you ever run into something like this?

How should I approach the situation without coming off like I just care about my part of the situation. I'm 20 years old and in college, and she's 18 and in college. There is no way either of us are near mature enough to raise a child. If she is pregnant...what's the best of way of talking to her about this?

I'm sorry to come here ladies, but I feel as though my friends would not be much help and I feel as though I cannot talk to my parents about it.

[AFemaleProdigy]

Welcome Deb116!! And don't be ashamed or sorry that you came here in search of information! As a female, I am impressed that you are taking the initiative to find out for yourself. This is a great resource to learn about women and sexually related topics.

Antibiotics have been found to interfere with the effectiveness of combination oral contraceptives by decreasing steroid hormone plasma concentrations. Women who use combined oral contraceptives should use an alternative method of contraception during months that they take antibiotics; the recommendations from the journal Contraceptive Technologies include the use of an alternative contraceptive for the longer of either the length of antibiotic therapy or 14 days, plus 7 additional days. This plan should be implemented on Day 1 of antibiotic therapy.

So the answer is, yes, she could be at higher risk for pregnancy while taking antibiotics. And her chances may increase if she is missing a dose here and there. I would most certainly recommend using condoms during those times as well.

There is no shame in bringing up a discussion like this with your partner. You are only looking out for both yours and her welfare. Since you seem to know that you are not ready to have children, just sit down and gently express your feelings. Then explain to her what you have learned about the antibiotics. I know that I would much rather find out about that sooner then later if I were her. I also do not think that a lot of women realize that this is a problem.

I hope this helps! If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask! Good luck!

[sironside]

I'm not sure how much help I can offer you but... My mother-in-law got pregnant while she was using birth control pills AND a condom. She was also on antibiotics at the time so that definately had something to do with it. I usually see a bunch of stickers with warnings on medications I take and my birth control pills warn that "effectiveness of the pill may decrease while taking antibiotics". You need to talk to her and be frank. She needs to get a pregnancy test especially since she missed pills AND is on antibiotics because she needs to discontinue BCP's if she is pregnant. Whatever the outcome, keep moving forward and take it one step at a time!