Antibiotics bad for conception?
March 20, 2009 1:38 PM Subscribe
Wife and I are trying to conceive and I just began antibiotics. Any risk?
Its late Friday and our doc isn't picking up...I came down with a virus that I couldn't shake off and have begun taking Ambramicicna (antibiotic). Is this a good reason not to try to conceive until perhaps her next cycle?
Its late Friday and our doc isn't picking up...I came down with a virus that I couldn't shake off and have begun taking Ambramicicna (antibiotic). Is this a good reason not to try to conceive until perhaps her next cycle?
Tetracycline has been associated with poor sperm counts. But more concerning:
I came down with a virus that I couldn't shake off and have begun taking Ambramicicna (antibiotic).
You shouldn't be on antibiotics for a viral infection.
posted by gramcracker at 1:43 PM on March 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
I came down with a virus that I couldn't shake off and have begun taking Ambramicicna (antibiotic).
You shouldn't be on antibiotics for a viral infection.
posted by gramcracker at 1:43 PM on March 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
(I am not your doctor, this is simply education, not medical advice.)
posted by gramcracker at 1:44 PM on March 20, 2009
posted by gramcracker at 1:44 PM on March 20, 2009
Why would you be taking antibiotics for a virus? Also, can't you ask the prescribing doctor? Or is that the doctor you can't get in contact with?
posted by R343L at 1:45 PM on March 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by R343L at 1:45 PM on March 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
Questions of antibiotics, which are for bacterial infections, aside, you are fine. You can take antibiotics while TTC with your wife.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:50 PM on March 20, 2009
posted by DarlingBri at 1:50 PM on March 20, 2009
You should not take tetracycline for a virus.
posted by grouse at 1:52 PM on March 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by grouse at 1:52 PM on March 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: good points, i should have mentioned that there is also a common cold and the vestiges of an asthma attack at play here.
posted by lapsang at 2:03 PM on March 20, 2009
posted by lapsang at 2:03 PM on March 20, 2009
(Aside from the nonsensical virus/antibiotic issue) You're trying to conceive, this is a big deal, right? So why wouldn't you have asked your doc when they were prescribed? Are you using up leftover antibiotics that were prescribed in the past?
posted by zerokey at 2:06 PM on March 20, 2009
posted by zerokey at 2:06 PM on March 20, 2009
IANAD -- the common cold is also caused by a virus ('acute viral rhinopharyngitis').
Asthma is more likely to be treated with steroids, not antibiotics -- do you know what condition you are receiving the antibiotic?
posted by pointless_incessant_barking at 2:07 PM on March 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
Asthma is more likely to be treated with steroids, not antibiotics -- do you know what condition you are receiving the antibiotic?
posted by pointless_incessant_barking at 2:07 PM on March 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
The common cold is also a virus. Antibiotics will not help it. Antibiotics will not help your asthma either (in fact, there is some evidence that antibiotic exposure as an infant may be a risk factor for the development of asthma).
posted by grouse at 2:09 PM on March 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by grouse at 2:09 PM on March 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
If you have health insurance, your insurance company might have a nurse advice line you could call. They might have knowledge about this kind of thing.
You're trying to conceive, this is a big deal, right? So why wouldn't you have asked your doc when they were prescribed?
I don't think it is unusual for patients to come up with questions after they have left the doctor's office.
posted by DrGirlfriend at 2:42 PM on March 20, 2009
You're trying to conceive, this is a big deal, right? So why wouldn't you have asked your doc when they were prescribed?
I don't think it is unusual for patients to come up with questions after they have left the doctor's office.
posted by DrGirlfriend at 2:42 PM on March 20, 2009
Uh, you should find out why you are taking tetracycline. Tetracycline is susceptible to bacteria developing resistant to it and you should not be taking it to treat a cold, another virus, or asthma.
Do you know why you're taking this medicine?
posted by Justinian at 3:05 PM on March 20, 2009 [3 favorites]
Do you know why you're taking this medicine?
posted by Justinian at 3:05 PM on March 20, 2009 [3 favorites]
You should opt out this month. Not because of any danger from the antibiotics (I don't know anything about that), but because you shouldn't be subjecting your wife to your bodily fluids if you're sick.
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:20 PM on March 20, 2009
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:20 PM on March 20, 2009
Did a doctor prescribe the antibiotics for your current symptoms or are you self-medicating with leftovers/someone else's?
If you're worried, why not just take the weekend off and get a hold of your doctor on Monday? Alternatively, can your wife get in contact with her ob/gyn?
posted by curie at 4:09 PM on March 20, 2009
If you're worried, why not just take the weekend off and get a hold of your doctor on Monday? Alternatively, can your wife get in contact with her ob/gyn?
posted by curie at 4:09 PM on March 20, 2009
Call your pharmacist, and tell them what you told us. They should know. And they'll give you shit for taking antibiotics for a cold/asthma.
posted by Simon Barclay at 4:53 PM on March 20, 2009
posted by Simon Barclay at 4:53 PM on March 20, 2009
This is ANOTHER reason why people should ALWAYS finish off all their antibiotics when prescribed...even when they think that they are cured.
Just in case it wasn't clear to the OP - that's so you don't breed yourself some antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
posted by you're a kitty! at 7:11 PM on March 21, 2009
Just in case it wasn't clear to the OP - that's so you don't breed yourself some antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
posted by you're a kitty! at 7:11 PM on March 21, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 1:42 PM on March 20, 2009