- 1. Using medicines
- 2. Having vomiting or diarrhea
- 3. Diseases or changes in the Intestine
- 4. Forgetting to take the pill
- 5. Consuming alcohol in excess
- 6. Take teas
- 7. Taking drugs
Taking certain antibiotics, having Crohn's disease, having diarrhea or taking certain teas can cut or decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pill, with a higher risk of pregnancy.
Some signs that may indicate that there is a decrease in the effectiveness of the pill include changes such as no menstruation or minor bleeding outside the menstrual period, this being one of the clearest signs that the woman is not having the amount of hormones she needs in her chain blood steadily.
Find out the most common situations that decrease or cut the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, which are taken in pill form:
1. Using medicines
Some antibiotics and anticonvulsants can cut or decrease the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill and, therefore, whenever it is necessary to take any of these drugs, you should use a condom up to 7 days after the last dose of the medicine. Some examples are rifampicin, phenobarbital and carbamazepine. Learn more names of remedies that decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pill.
2. Having vomiting or diarrhea
Having an episode of vomiting or diarrhea up to 4 hours after taking the contraceptive can mean that he has not had time to be absorbed, losing it completely or decreasing its effectiveness.
Thus, if vomiting or diarrhea has occurred during this period, it is recommended to take the next pill to ensure the daily dose necessary to protect yourself from unwanted pregnancy. However, in case of chronic diarrhea or when it is not possible to control liquid stools for more than 4 hours, another contraceptive method, such as a condom, implant or IUD, should be chosen.
See 10 contraceptive methods to prevent pregnancy.
3. Diseases or changes in the Intestine
Those who have an inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease, had an ileostomy or underwent a jejunoileal bypass have a greater risk of becoming pregnant even using the pill because these situations can prevent the small intestine from correctly absorbing the hormones of the pill, thus decreasing its effectiveness in protection against pregnancy.
In this case, it is recommended that the woman use another contraceptive method, such as a condom, implant or IUD to protect herself from an unwanted pregnancy.
4. Forgetting to take the pill
Forgetting to take the contraceptive for 1 day or more in any week of the cycle can alter its effectiveness. The same happens if the woman who takes the pill of continuous use, forget to take her pill always at the same time, and therefore in case of delay or forgetfulness, read the package insert to know what to do or watch the next video.:
5. Consuming alcohol in excess
Consuming beverages like beer, caipirinha, wine, vodka or cachaça does not decrease the effectiveness of the pill. However, women who overuse this type of drinks and get drunk are more likely to forget to take the pill at the right time, increasing the risk of an unwanted pregnancy.
6. Take teas
Taking large doses of diuretic teas right after taking the contraceptive can decrease its effectiveness, because the body may not have time to absorb the medicine, which can be expelled from the body immediately through the pee. So it is not recommended to consume more than 5 cups of tea, such as horsetail or hibiscus, moments before or after taking the pill.
In addition, St. John's wort tea, commonly taken to combat depression and anxiety, can also interfere with the pill by decreasing its effectiveness and that is why it is not recommended to drink this tea. If you are undergoing treatment with this medicinal plant you should choose another method of contraception.
7. Taking drugs
The consumption of illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, crack or ecstasy, among others, does not directly decrease the effectiveness of the pill chemically because the compounds do not interact with each other, but as women who use drugs are more at risk of forgetting to take the pill in exact time, it is recommended that those who use them, have another way to avoid pregnancy, because they are very harmful and put the baby's life at risk.
