Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAntibiotics and Birth Control EfficacyHow Rifamycins Affect Birth ControlWhat to Do if You Are Prescribed a Rifamycin AntibioticOther Drugs That Affect Birth ControlOther Reasons for Birth Control Failure
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Antibiotics and Birth Control Efficacy
How Rifamycins Affect Birth Control
What to Do if You Are Prescribed a Rifamycin Antibiotic
Other Drugs That Affect Birth Control
Other Reasons for Birth Control Failure
Hormonal contraceptives (e.g., birth control pills, patches, rings) are the most common method of contraception. As with many medications, hormonal contraceptives can have interactions that affect how well they work.
There is a common misconception that allantibioticscompromise the efficacy ofhormonal contraceptives. Though there is an exception, the truth is that most antibiotics will not affect your birth control.
The one exception is rifamycins, a type of antibiotic taken to treat tuberculosis. When taken together, rifamycins can interfere with how hormonal contraceptive methods prevent pregnancy.
If prescribed a rifamycin, use backup birth control for at least one month after finishing your treatment.
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The research data available shows that only rifamycin antibiotics can lower the effectiveness of contraceptives. There is no evidence that non-rifamycin antibiotics interfere with hormonal birth control methods at all.
Examples of non-rifamycin antibiotics (antibiotics that will not interact with your birth control) include:
Rifamycin antibiotics are commonly taken to treattuberculosis. Rifamycin antibiotics include four drugs:
Research has shown that rifampin and rifabutin reduce plasma estrogen concentrations, which counteracts the effects of hormonal contraception.
As mentioned above, studies show that rifamycin antibiotics (rifampin and rifabutin) may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptive methods.
Rifamycins decrease the concentration of estrogen and progestin in the blood. These hormones break down in the liver. Rifamycins induce liver enzymes that decrease these hormones' levels in the blood and reduce their effect.
If you are taking these antibiotics, you may need to take extra contraceptive precautions such as condoms, intrauterine devices (IUDs), or diaphragms.
Rifamycin antibiotics can limit the effectiveness of the following hormonal contraceptives:
It’s important to keep using the extra protection during the antibiotic treatment and for four weeks after finishing the course of antibiotics to be safe.
Ask your healthcare provider for the most suitable alternative contraception method for you.
In addition to antibiotics, several other medications or supplements may interfere withbirth control. These include:
Hormonal birth control failure causes include:
Nonhormonal birth control failure causes include:
Summary
Both contraceptives and antibiotics are widely used drugs. There are several myths regarding the simultaneous use of them.
One is that antibiotics make hormonal contraceptives less effective. However, the data shows that no antibiotics other than rifamycins affect how well hormonal contraceptives work.
If you are taking a rifamycin antibiotic, make sure to use backup birth control while undergoing treatment and for up to a month afterward. Nonhormonal methods, such as condoms, diaphragms, and cervical caps, will all remain effective.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Simmons KB, Haddad LB, Nanda K, Curtis KM.Drug interactions between non-rifamycin antibiotics and hormonal contraception: a systematic review.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2018;218(1):88-97.e14. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2017.07.003.Simmons KB, Haddad LB, Nanda K, Curtis KM.Drug interactions between rifamycin antibiotics and hormonal contraception: a systematic review.BJOG. 2018;125(7):804-811. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.15027.MedlinePlus.Rifampin.MedlinePlus.Rifabutin.MedlinePlus.Rifapentine.MedlinePlus.Rifaximin.Zhanel GG, Siemens S, Slayter K, Mandell L.Antibiotic and oral contraceptive drug interactions: Is there a need for concern?Can J Infect Dis. 1999;10(6):429-433. doi:10.1155/1999/539376National Cancer Institute.Hormonal contraception.Howard SA, Benhabbour SR.Non-hormonal contraception.J Clin Med. 2023;12(14):4791. doi:10.3390/jcm12144791Schoretsanitis G, Deligiannidis KM, Paulzen M, et al.Drug-drug interactions between psychotropic medications and oral contraceptives.Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2022;18(6):395-411. doi:10.1080/17425255.2022.2106214Nanda K, Stuart GS, Robinson J, et al.Drug interactions between hormonal contraceptives and antiretrovirals.AIDS. 2017;31(7):917-952. doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000001392Skelley JW, Swearengin K, York AL, Glover LH.The impact of tirzepatide and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists on oral hormonal contraception.J Am Pharm Assoc. 2024;64(1):204-211.e4. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2023.10.037Berry-Bibee EN, Kim MJ, Tepper NK, et al.Co-administration of St. John’s wort and hormonal contraceptives: a systematic review.Contraception. 2016;94(6):668-677. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2016.07.010Planned Parenthood.Fertility awareness.UpToDate.Patient education: vasectomy (Beyond the Basics).Planned Parenthood.Breastfeeding.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Simmons KB, Haddad LB, Nanda K, Curtis KM.Drug interactions between non-rifamycin antibiotics and hormonal contraception: a systematic review.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2018;218(1):88-97.e14. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2017.07.003.Simmons KB, Haddad LB, Nanda K, Curtis KM.Drug interactions between rifamycin antibiotics and hormonal contraception: a systematic review.BJOG. 2018;125(7):804-811. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.15027.MedlinePlus.Rifampin.MedlinePlus.Rifabutin.MedlinePlus.Rifapentine.MedlinePlus.Rifaximin.Zhanel GG, Siemens S, Slayter K, Mandell L.Antibiotic and oral contraceptive drug interactions: Is there a need for concern?Can J Infect Dis. 1999;10(6):429-433. doi:10.1155/1999/539376National Cancer Institute.Hormonal contraception.Howard SA, Benhabbour SR.Non-hormonal contraception.J Clin Med. 2023;12(14):4791. doi:10.3390/jcm12144791Schoretsanitis G, Deligiannidis KM, Paulzen M, et al.Drug-drug interactions between psychotropic medications and oral contraceptives.Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2022;18(6):395-411. doi:10.1080/17425255.2022.2106214Nanda K, Stuart GS, Robinson J, et al.Drug interactions between hormonal contraceptives and antiretrovirals.AIDS. 2017;31(7):917-952. doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000001392Skelley JW, Swearengin K, York AL, Glover LH.The impact of tirzepatide and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists on oral hormonal contraception.J Am Pharm Assoc. 2024;64(1):204-211.e4. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2023.10.037Berry-Bibee EN, Kim MJ, Tepper NK, et al.Co-administration of St. John’s wort and hormonal contraceptives: a systematic review.Contraception. 2016;94(6):668-677. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2016.07.010Planned Parenthood.Fertility awareness.UpToDate.Patient education: vasectomy (Beyond the Basics).Planned Parenthood.Breastfeeding.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Simmons KB, Haddad LB, Nanda K, Curtis KM.Drug interactions between non-rifamycin antibiotics and hormonal contraception: a systematic review.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2018;218(1):88-97.e14. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2017.07.003.Simmons KB, Haddad LB, Nanda K, Curtis KM.Drug interactions between rifamycin antibiotics and hormonal contraception: a systematic review.BJOG. 2018;125(7):804-811. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.15027.MedlinePlus.Rifampin.MedlinePlus.Rifabutin.MedlinePlus.Rifapentine.MedlinePlus.Rifaximin.Zhanel GG, Siemens S, Slayter K, Mandell L.Antibiotic and oral contraceptive drug interactions: Is there a need for concern?Can J Infect Dis. 1999;10(6):429-433. doi:10.1155/1999/539376National Cancer Institute.Hormonal contraception.Howard SA, Benhabbour SR.Non-hormonal contraception.J Clin Med. 2023;12(14):4791. doi:10.3390/jcm12144791Schoretsanitis G, Deligiannidis KM, Paulzen M, et al.Drug-drug interactions between psychotropic medications and oral contraceptives.Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2022;18(6):395-411. doi:10.1080/17425255.2022.2106214Nanda K, Stuart GS, Robinson J, et al.Drug interactions between hormonal contraceptives and antiretrovirals.AIDS. 2017;31(7):917-952. doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000001392Skelley JW, Swearengin K, York AL, Glover LH.The impact of tirzepatide and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists on oral hormonal contraception.J Am Pharm Assoc. 2024;64(1):204-211.e4. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2023.10.037Berry-Bibee EN, Kim MJ, Tepper NK, et al.Co-administration of St. John’s wort and hormonal contraceptives: a systematic review.Contraception. 2016;94(6):668-677. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2016.07.010Planned Parenthood.Fertility awareness.UpToDate.Patient education: vasectomy (Beyond the Basics).Planned Parenthood.Breastfeeding.
Simmons KB, Haddad LB, Nanda K, Curtis KM.Drug interactions between non-rifamycin antibiotics and hormonal contraception: a systematic review.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2018;218(1):88-97.e14. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2017.07.003.
Simmons KB, Haddad LB, Nanda K, Curtis KM.Drug interactions between rifamycin antibiotics and hormonal contraception: a systematic review.BJOG. 2018;125(7):804-811. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.15027.
MedlinePlus.Rifampin.
MedlinePlus.Rifabutin.
MedlinePlus.Rifapentine.
MedlinePlus.Rifaximin.
Zhanel GG, Siemens S, Slayter K, Mandell L.Antibiotic and oral contraceptive drug interactions: Is there a need for concern?Can J Infect Dis. 1999;10(6):429-433. doi:10.1155/1999/539376
National Cancer Institute.Hormonal contraception.
Howard SA, Benhabbour SR.Non-hormonal contraception.J Clin Med. 2023;12(14):4791. doi:10.3390/jcm12144791
Schoretsanitis G, Deligiannidis KM, Paulzen M, et al.Drug-drug interactions between psychotropic medications and oral contraceptives.Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2022;18(6):395-411. doi:10.1080/17425255.2022.2106214
Nanda K, Stuart GS, Robinson J, et al.Drug interactions between hormonal contraceptives and antiretrovirals.AIDS. 2017;31(7):917-952. doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000001392
Skelley JW, Swearengin K, York AL, Glover LH.The impact of tirzepatide and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists on oral hormonal contraception.J Am Pharm Assoc. 2024;64(1):204-211.e4. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2023.10.037
Berry-Bibee EN, Kim MJ, Tepper NK, et al.Co-administration of St. John’s wort and hormonal contraceptives: a systematic review.Contraception. 2016;94(6):668-677. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2016.07.010
Planned Parenthood.Fertility awareness.
UpToDate.Patient education: vasectomy (Beyond the Basics).
Planned Parenthood.Breastfeeding.
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