What Could Make Your Birth Control Less Effective?

One of the best things about the birth control pill is that you feel like you can take it and forget about it for the rest of the day. While this may be so for many people, some substances could actually make your birth control less effective and cause other complications. You might not be happy with the effects of less effective birth control, which can include pregnancy and hormonal concerns.

Check out these medications to see if they might interfere with your current hormonal contraception.

Antifungal Medications

Some antifungal medications increase enzymes in your body that relate to your blood concentration. This influences the way your body breaks down progestin, a hormone that is frequently used in hormonal birth control pills. If you do not take medication with progestin, you may not have to worry about this.

Seizure Medications

Topamax is a common medication used to prevent seizures for people with certain disorders. This drug, and those like it, can actually impact the way your body breaks down the hormones in the birth control pill. This means your pills are less effective.

Certain Antibiotics

Not every antibiotic play a role in your birth control efficacy. Rifampin is the only antibiotic proven to affect birth control pill efficacy. This pill increases a chemical in your body that breaks down hormones like estrogen. This means that your estrogen levels decrease, which can make your hormonal birth control pill less effective.

St. John's Wort

Many people think over-the-counter supplements do not have any sort of medical interactions because they are not at the pharmacy. The truth is that St. John's Wort can interfere with several types of medications, including birth control.

HIV Medications

Antiretroviral medications, specifically those used to treat HIV, may also interfere with your cycle. If you already use either one of these medications, you may need more information about how it may influence your body. Always speak with your doctor before you add any new supplements to your current routine.

If you realize that you take these medications and hormonal birth control, it is a good idea to discuss other options with your doctor. You may need to consider other forms of protection while taking this medication if you are trying to avoid pregnancy. If you are already taking birth control, ensure that you bring this up to your doctor any time he or she suggests you take a new medication.

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Health is such a complex matter. If you don't have your health, then everything else in life tends to fall apart. And yet, maintaining your health is such an intricate process. You need to eat right, get enough exercise, sleep well, and know when to see a doctor. There's always more to learn about health and about the medical treatments that keep us healthy. We're not doctors, but we are well-informed and happy to share our knowledge with you on this website. Whether you're passionate about alternative medicine, fitness, or physical therapy, you're sure to find our articles inspiring and informational.

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