Penicillin and BCP

[shygirl1981]

Good day girls!! I am taking co-axicillin for BV. the infection seems to have cleared up, but I know I have to finish the penicillin regardless. I have about 5 days left of meds.
I just started a new pack of pills, and my penicillin will last until about pill day 6-7.  How much longer after that do I have to wait to have unprotected sex ?!
there is so much contraversy on this subject. my doc said penicillin doesnt really affect the pill, one pharmacist told me, 'you know your body better than anyone else'. not sure how that one was supposed to help me. and then the last pharmacist told me that co-axicillin will cancel the pill right out.

I'm a bit confused here, I chart my bbt's to make sure I am not ovulating, and this month my temps are right on par with any other month, well below ovulation temperatures, so this tells me that the penicillin is not affecting my pill.

how long should I play it safe for ?!

[pixijal]

I would surely 'play it safe' until your next cycle, unless your willing to take the gamble.....It is very strange to me that your dr. told you not to be concerned....that shocks me.  I have 2 friends that conceived during a course of antibiotics.  

I would call the pharmacy and ask them how long you are required to 'play it safe'.  You could have this rectified with one phone call.....Good luck!

[Kate987]

I take BC and was told to wait at least a week before having unprotected sex.  I would recommend calling the pharmacy and asking though, you never know =)

[krushing]

Definitely wait til the next pill pack to try unprotected.  My doctor always told me to wait til after my period to have unprotected sex when I'm taking antibiotics.

[shygirl1981]

grrr, I don't want to wait. I'm in an amazing monogamous relationship, and I want to get it on!!!

Besides condoms, is there any other back up method I can use !? like, the sponge or diaphram or something ?!

[kenziesmom]

You know how I feel about those nasty antibiotics... If you need to "get it on" (too funny :) )  I would strongly advise using something to be safe.  I'm not brave enough to try anything besides condoms.  Go ahead and try one of the other things you mentioned.  And don't forget the probiotics...

[monkeyflower]

Recent studies have shown that aside from rifamprin, antibiotics do NOT affect the effectiveness of birth control pills. I know women have gotten pregnant while on antibiotics and the pill, but statistically speaking, those women would have gotten pregnant regardless :-) The pill is not 100% effective, and the number of women who get pregnant on the pill while using antibiotics is no different from the number of women who get pregnant on the pill while NOT using antibiotics.

[shygirl1981]

monkeyflower I do believe you are right!! thanks.  

if it just so happened that I did ovulate this month, wouldn't my BBT spike, and wouldnt I get the EWCM ??