Birth control, antibiotics and retroactive protection...

[xasgoodasitgets.livejournal.com]

Alright, so I'm SUPER paranoid about getting pregnant. I take my pill the EXACT same time every day, and have for 8 years now. I don't take any chances.

I'm getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow morning. The oral surgeon prescribed me some Amoxicillin to take to prevent infection. Now, I know that antibiotics can possibly decrease the effectiveness of the pill. I also know that some people say it's not ALL antibiotics, and it's not definitely the case, but like I said...I'm super paranoid and take no chances.

I'm definitely going to use a backup for the course of my antibiotics and for a month afterward (paranoid!) BUT my boyfriend and I had sex without a condom last night and he came inside of me. I didn't even consider it, because I haven't started the antibiotics yet.

I've heard that sperm can live inside of you of up to a week. So...if I start antibiotics tomorrow, am I still protected from the sperm that are already inside of me? And if so...how? I mean, don't you need s steady stream of the hormones to protect you? If that 'stream' is interrupted and sperm are inside of me...isn't there a larger chance that I can get pregnant? I'm feeling really uneasy about it, and am considering not taking the antibiotic. I mean, everyone says to use a backup for the course of the antibiotics, but no one says anything about not having sex for a week BEFORE you start the antibiotics.

I need some opinions, please! I'm freaking myself out here. Thanks!

Comments

[anowyn.livejournal.com]

I had this same fear when I was getting a root canal a while back. I just did another google search just in case and found this:

Amoxicillin can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking amoxicillin. Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Amoxicillin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Do not share this medication with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

- drugs.com (http://www.drugs.com/amoxicillin.html)

As well as this:

Experts rarely agree, and there is a lot of controversy on the significance of the interaction between birth control pills and antibiotics. Amoxicillin is said to interact with birth control pills 1 percent of the time. That is a small number, but for most women, an unplanned pregnancy is a significant event. Most doctors recommend using a back-up method of birth control while you're taking antibiotics and for seven days after the antibiotic course is complete, just to be safe.

- Livestrong.com (http://www.livestrong.com/article/33056-amoxicillin-effects-birth-control/)

So just to be safe I would use condoms if you plan to be sexually active during the course of the treatment, as well as a week after the treatment is finished.

ETA Sorry, reading fail. Gah! Hmm, have you talked to your dentist/doctor about that? I would assume you'd be okay.... but then again I'm not a doctor.

Sorry for the huge comment and reading fail. :(