bcp and uti - Women's Health Message Board

yasmine22 · 09-09-2004, 10:03 AM

I recently went to my doctor because I had a urinary tract infection. He gave me some pills to take, and I just assumed that if they would interact badly with my birth control pills, he would have said something. He didn't ask me if I was on any meds, but the nurse did and wrote in on my chart that he looked at.

Anyway, the pills didn't get rid of the infection, so I went back in and he prescribed me a diffrent set of pills, which I started yesterday. Again, never said anything about my bcp pills. Now I hear from a friend that antibiotics can cause your pill to fail.

The first set of anitbiotics my doc gave me were called bactrim-ds, and the second ones were tequin.

I was just wondering if anyone knows if this is true or not or had a similar experience? I'm not too worried about that pills that I just started because I havnt had sex since Friday plus i'm on the sugar pills at the moment....

but what about the time before. Could I be pregnent. I did get my period this month, but it is really light. My period usually starts on the 3rd sugar pill, but this time it started on the first and lasted untill the 5th or 6th pill, but it was super light. Like It probably wouldn't have filled up 2 pads the whole six days.

I took an HPT when I heard that the pills I was on could interact with my birth control pills and it was negative. But I did sort of get my period, so maybe the HPT isn't accurate in some cases like that?

I guess my question is does anyone know if antibiotics can affect your pills? If so wouldn't you think the doctor would have said somthing?

~and~

Is it normal to have a really light, irregular period on birth control and not be pregnent?

~and~

If they do affect your BCP, if I started the tequin while on my sugar pills, and I havnt had sex since last friday would it make too much of a diffrence in reguards to me getting pregnent due to pill failure?

Any input or suggestions wold be great. Should I stop taking my antibiotics? I mean I don't want my UTI to come back or not get better, but I don't want to get pg either. The doctor only gave me 3 pills to take though. I have had some cramping in my stomache, I hope this is a side effect of the antibiotics and because I am pregnent. What do you think?

Thanks.

yasmine22 · 09-09-2004, 10:09 AM

Also, the bcp that I am on is called ortho tri cyclen lo. Does anyone know that since it is lo, does that mean it is not a potent as other bcps? Thanks!

atvgirl03 · 09-09-2004, 11:59 AM

My doctor didnt tell me that the medication he prescribed me affected my birth control. Normally when you get something filled at a pharmacy it comes with a sheet that lists side effects, etc. And if should tell you on that sheet if it makes your birth control less effective. If not you can look up information on the internet about the prescriptions he gave you. Good Luck!

brendiqueen · 09-09-2004, 01:51 PM

I am on Orthotryciclen(not Lo) and recently had a UTI when I went to the doctor, she said to use back up while taking (3 days) it and 3 days after.. From my experience, after the 3 days that I was on the antibiotics, I did not do "anything." But, the other 3 days I did w/o back up.. It's hard to give you an "accurate" answer just because we are all different as far as your body reacting to a certain medication.. I've been on the pill almost 5 years.. I hope this helps.. I honestly think you are fine..

Nikkijot · 09-09-2004, 11:30 PM

Yes, antibiotics can reduce the effect of birth control pills, so you always want to be careful and use a "backup plan" when taking them - shame on your doctor for not telling you!!!

The antibiotics and/or the UTI could have had an effect on your period, causing it to change as it did, so I wouldn't worry too much!