http://ask.metafilter.com/tags/oralcontraceptives Questions tagged with 'oralcontraceptives' at Ask MetaFilter. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:54:38 -0800 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:54:38 -0800 en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://ask.metafilter.com/133074/Sources%2Don%2Dthe%2Dside%2Deffects%2Dof%2Doral%2Dcontraceptives%2Dand%2Dthe%2Dhealth%2Drisks%2Dof%2Dabortion I'm a girl in my early twenties who's recently started having sex with my first partner. I'd like to read some trustworthy sources about the side effects of oral contraceptives (worried in particular about weight gain and diminished libido) and the health risks of abortion (worried in particular about reduced fertility). Can you please recommend some reading material? (Online only -- I currently don't have access to a real library, although I do have remote access to databases my university subscribes to.) Thanks for any help you can provide! tag:ask.metafilter.com,2009:site.133074 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:54:38 -0800 abortion oralcontraceptives sex thepill Anonymous http://ask.metafilter.com/30760/Will%2DBactrim%2Dknock%2Dme%2Dup What is the real-world probability of my getting pregnant while taking antibiotics and oral contraceptives? I take Seasonale as my primary form of birth control, so I only have a period every three months. I was recently put on Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) to treat an ear infection. My doctor warned me, when writing out the prescription, to use a backup barrier method of birth control "until my period would normally arrive" (ie, for another three weeks).<br> <br> I've pubmedded this to death, and I can't find *any* studies indicating a link between antibiotics and a decrease in OC efficacy (with the exception of rifampin); I did find several finding no (statistical) drop in efficacy, and some attribute that decrease not to the antibiotics but to women forgetting to take the pill when they feel crappy.<br> <br> I know, I know, the easy answer is, "Just use a condom for three weeks." But I really want to know! Is this a myth? If so, how did it get started--typical CYA? Does anyone have any experience with (not) getting pregnant while mixing BC and antibiotics?<br> <br> Other possibly influential factors:<br> <ul><li>I'm slender (5'9", 130 lbs), so in general not worried about the dosage of contraceptives being too low for my body weight.<br> <li>I just started a new pack of contraceptives the day before starting the antibiotics.<br> <li>I am absolutely religious about taking the pill at the same time, *every* day. <br> <br> So what are the odds?</ul></li></li></li> tag:ask.metafilter.com,2006:site.30760 Fri, 13 Jan 2006 10:25:55 -0800 antibiotics Bactrim birthcontrol contraception contraceptives oralcontraceptives pregnancy Seasonale fuzzbean