Birth control pills are one of the most popular forms of contraception in the United States. They’re effective at preventing unintended pregnancies as well as helping to manage gynecological conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.
Despite the pill being one of the most common forms of birth control, many women may not know that taking oral contraceptives with certain other medications may make your contraception less effective.
At Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, in Hastings and Grand Island, Nebraska, our women’s health specialists think it’s important for women to know about how other medications interact with birth control pills so they can take the necessary precautions to prevent pregnancy.
How birth control pills work
Estrogen and progestin are the active ingredients in birth control pills. These hormones play a critical role in managing your menstrual cycle and ovulation, when your ovaries release an egg.
Birth control pills work by preventing ovulation. If you don’t release an egg, pregnancy can’t happen. When taken as prescribed, birth control pills are effective at preventing pregnancy.
The pill is safe to take with most other medications and doesn’t affect how those other drugs work. However, certain medications may make birth control less effective at preventing pregnancy.
Risks of mixing medications
Birth control pills are metabolized in the liver. Medications that interact with the same liver enzymes as birth control may affect how quickly your body metabolizes your contraceptive. Some medications may speed up the breakdown of birth control, affecting hormonal levels.
Effectiveness of your birth control depends largely on the levels of hormones in the body. Changes in hormone levels may trigger your menstrual cycle and ovulation. That’s why we recommend taking birth control at the same time every day for maximum effectiveness. This helps keep hormones at the levels needed to prevent ovulation.
Medications that speed up the breakdown of birth control affect hormone levels, increasing risk of pregnancy. Additionally, medications that slow down digestion may affect absorption of birth control pills, making them less effective.
Medications that interact with birth control
Most medications don’t interact with birth control. However, there are a few that you should be aware of. These include:
- Anti-epileptic drugs
- Antiretrovirals for HIV
- Antibiotics like rifampin, tetracycline, amoxicillin
- Antifungal drugs
- GLP-1 agonists (Ozempic®, Mounjaro®)
Not all antibiotics and antifungal drugs affect birth control pills, but it’s important to know that some may. Herbal supplements like St. John’s Wort may also make your birth control less effective.
How to stay protected
It’s not the birth control pills that interact with other medications, but the other drugs that may make your birth control less effective.
When you have any doubts about the effectiveness of your birth control, use a second form of protection like condoms or spermicide.
If you have concerns about birth control pills interacting with other medications, talk to your pharmacist or schedule an appointment with the team at Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC. We can take a closer look at the medications you take and provide accurate information that can help you stay protected.
We’re here to provide the answers you need. Call us today or request an appointment online.
