 Search the Questions & Answers |
 Browse by Category |
|
|
|
<< Return to questions
|
| Does the condom slippage, taking antibiotics and my diarrhea place me at risk for pregnancy? #831/9 |
|
On August 17th, I had sex with my boyfriend and after he finished, he pulled out and the condom slipped off. The condom was half hanging outside of my vagina and most of the sperm dripped on the bed and was only on my butt. I had just finished a 3-day course of antibiotics
(Nitazoxanide) for a parasitic infection I came back with when I returned from Senegal. I had diarrhea for about a week and 2 days and was somewhat dehydrated for one day. I finished the course of antibiotics August 16th but my pharmacist said it would have little to no effect on my birth control pills.
I'm wondering if my chances for pregnancy are really high. I am on birth control pills and have been since May in order to stop my period for the month of July while I was gone.
I ended up missing a pill on Thursday, August 20th, so I had to double up on Friday. On Monday, I woke up and used the bathroom and had some dark brown discharge on the toilet paper and I was feeling a little nauseated for about 10 minutes in the afternoon. Could this be from doubling up on the pill or could I be pregnant?
Please reply!
|
The condom slippage does not place you at risk for pregnancy. When the condom slippage occurred, you were well protected by your pills.
The antibiotic you are on does not lower pill effectiveness.
Diarrhea for a week could lower pill effectiveness, but it has to be severe diarrhea and if you were back to using condoms during this stretch of time. You are in good shape.
Doubling up on pills is not necessary and could lead to both nausea and even spotting a day or so later. |
According to the World Health Organization you are not in a bad situation at all.
Women have so much more latitude in taking pills than you realize as suggested by the following guidance from the World Health Organization developed by contraceptive experts from around the world. Missing as much as a single pill can lead to spotting, so staying on schedule is important.
|
Regardless of the time-zone you are in, stick with your pattern of taking pills at about the same time. Missing a pill for a day is not wise, but is also not likely to lead to a pregnancy. Starting a new package of pills a day late is definitely not wise, but also does not increase your risk of pregnancy much.
There is a lot more flexibility taking pills than most women and most clinicians realize. You have more wiggle room than you may have thought you have. See the following guidance from the World Health Organization: |
MISSING PILLS
What can a woman do if she misses combined oral contraceptives (COCs)?
For 30-35 µg ethinylestradiol pills:
Missed 1 or 2 active (hormonal) pills or if she starts a pack 1 or 2 days late
- She should take an active (hormonal) pill as soon as possible * and then continue taking pills daily, 1 each day.
- She does not need any additional contraceptive protection.
Missed 3 or more active (hormonal) pills or if she starts a pack 3 or more days late
- She should take an active (hormonal) pill as soon as possible* and then continue taking pills daily, 1 each day.
- She should also use condoms or abstain from sex until she has taken active (hormonal) pills for 7 days in a row.
- If she missed the pills in the third week, she should finish the active (hormonal) pills in her current pack and start a new pack the next day. She should not take the 7 inactive pills.
- If she missed the pills in the first week and had unprotected sex, she may wish to consider the use of emergency contraception.
For 20 µg or less ethinylestradiol pills:
- If the woman misses 1 active (hormonal) pill or starts a pack 1 day late, she should follow the guidance above for “Missed 1 or 2 active (hormonal) pills or if she starts a pack 1 or 2 days late.”
- If the woman misses 2 or more active (hormonal) pills or if she starts a pack 2 or more days late, she should follow the guidance above for “Missed 3 or more active (hormonal) pills or if she starts a pack 3 or more days late.”
For both 30-35 µg and 20 µg or less ethinylestradiol pills:
Missed any inactive (nonhormonal) pills
- She should discard the missed inactive (nonhormonal) pill(s) and then continue taking pills daily, 1 each day.
* If a woman misses more than 1 active (hormonal) pill, she can take the first missed pill and then either continue taking the rest of the missed pills or discard them to stay on schedule.
|
Depending on when she remembers that she missed a pill(s), she may take 2 pills on the same day (one at the moment of remembering, and the other at the regular time) or even at the same time.
From the World Health Organization’s Selected Practice guidelines - 2005 |
http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/publications/
You DO NOT NEED TO take emergency contraceptive pills if you are late for one or several pills or if you miss one pill in the future.
Did I adequately answer your questions? Good luck!
Key Words: sex, condom, vagina, sperm, antibiotics, infection, diarrhea, dehydrated, effect, discharge, pregnant, risk, protected, lower pill effectiveness, late pills
Posted 9-7-2009, Updated 9-16-2009
|
Robert A. Hatcher MD, MPH
Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, GA
---2009-09-15
|
|
|
| |
The directors and owners of this website and any publications and information concerning health matters offered here advise a person with a particular problem to consult a primary-care clinician or a specialist in obstetrics, gynecology, or urology (depending on the problem or the contraceptive) as well as the product package insert and other references before diagnosing, managing, or treating the problem. |
| Visitor Comments |
No visitor comments posted.
Post a comment
|
| Related Questions |
|
No related questions were found.
|
| Attachments |
|
No attachments were found.
|
Suggestions, recommendations, questions, comments, data from the literature, interpretation of laboratory tests and other information provided on this site are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be relied upon as advice from or implied to be a substitute for the professional advice of a physician, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, counselor or other healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your clinician or other professional for any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, method of birth control and other family planning or personal/social issues. Periodic references to costs of birth control methods on this website are estimates only and your actual cost for any specific method of birth control may be more or less than the stated amount. Emory University School of Medicine, Bridging the Gap Foundation, and Bridging the Gap Communications Inc are not responsible for any damage or loss you may incur as a result of your use of or reliance on any material or information provided through this website.
|
|
Print this page
Email this page
Post a comment
Subscribe me
Add to favorites
Remove Highlighting
Edit this Question
