Emergency Contraception??

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
Emergency Contraception??
4
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 3:12pm
here's my situation... i am on birth control, and i always use a condom as well during sex as a back up. anyway, i started my pills on friday, had sex with my boyfriend sat night, and the condom broke. usually this isn't a huge deal, because i am on the pill and we are careful. the PROBLEM is, i was just on antibiotics for about a week and a half. i know this lowers the effectiveness of birth control, and while i had been off them for a day when we had sex, i don't know if they are still in my system or effecting my birth control. any ideas?? i know that you can get emergency contraception pills up to 5 days after, but i dont want to go through that if i'm just being paranoid. any advice?????
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 6:37pm
Hi saraj57, welcome!

I don’t think you are being paranoid to ask that question. Unfortunately, no one can say how great your risk is because only some antibiotics reduce the effectiveness of Oral contraceptives in some women and no one knows who they will be ahead of time. This board recommends using back-up while on ABs and for at least 7 days after taking the last dose. It’s a risk, probably small, but no one can say for sure. If I were you I’d talk with the doctor who prescribed your pills or a doctor at Planned Parenthood in your area and be guided by their advice. If you haven’t already seen it, the EC site is http://ec.princeton.edu/ Please let us know how you’re doing, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2003
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 8:54pm
I don't know where you live, however, here in the Northwest section of the US we can just go into a pharamcist and talk to them, they evaluate your situation, whether or not you need the EC and can precribe it themselves w/o a Dr.'s order.

It might be worth calling your local pharamacy or planned parenthood. The new EC's they have don't usually make people as sick as the older ones used to. I've taken some before and didn't notice any difference. Sometimes it's better to be safe then sorry if you really can't afford to have a child right now (for whatever your reasons may be).

Christina

~Christina~

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
Wed, 04-14-2004 - 4:05pm
thanks for the advice. i ended up going to the local planned parenthood and they were pretty helpful. they said ultimately it was up to me, but i was probably safe. i decided to be extra safe anyway, and got the ec. i am still a bit paranoid, because i;ve been having these weird gastro-issues, but it's probably just my mind working against me. thanks!

sara
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2004
Wed, 04-14-2004 - 4:40pm
We went to get Plan B (emergency contraceptive) once just for peace of mind. It's $30 at planned parenthood and the side effects aren't bad if there are any. i needed the peace of mind and would take it again if necessary. (let's hope i won't need to)

oh, and Plan be is most effective the sooner you take it, so if you are going to, hurry!