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Maternal (Expert Forum)
is it too soon
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
is it too soon
by Katy__0, Feb 12, 1999 12:00AM
Hello there!
I am taking the antibiotic called Zithromax and had been taking it for a full week when I had sex
with my husband. I am also currently on Tri-Levelen, but I have heard that antibiotics take away the efficacy of the birth
control pill. Is it very likely that I could be pregnant? It's only been a week and a half since. Is it too soon to
take a pregnancy test, either urine or blood?
I am a little worried about this. Please write back!
(and does it depend on the antibiotic or do all of them affect birth control
the same way?)
thanks for your help!
Doctor's Answer
by hfhsmdrcs, Feb 12, 1999 12:00AM
_
Dear Katy:
Most antibiotics do not interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills. Zithromax is not a member of the anti-tuberculous or anti-fungal drugs which are known to increase the breakdown of the pills. Hence, it is unlikely that the TriLevlen would be any less effective on Zithromax.
A urine pregnancy test is reliable 3 days beyond the missed menstrual flow, or 17 days from ovulation. The rules break down in a birth control pill cycle because you cannot know when you ovulated. Thus, the best you can do is test when you have finished the last active pill plus 3 days and if you do not start a menstrual flow by the end of the placebo pills (the last week of different colored pills), see your physician for a blood pregnancy test before starting a new pill package.
Keywords: antibiotics, birth control pills
This information is provided for education purposes only and is not a medical consultation.If you have specific questions, please speak with your physician.
