Does penicillin reduce the effectiveness of birth control?
On One Hand: Penicillin Reduces Birth Control EffectivenessWomen who take birth control pills–especially in low doses–potentially face a greater risk of becoming pregnant if they take penicillin at the same time because the penicillin sometimes lessens the potency of the birth control, according to Drugs.com. The Mayo Clinic reports that this generally occurs in only a small percentage of women and is disclosed as a precaution to all patients taking birth control pills.On the Other: More Clinical Studies Need to Be PerformedPenicillin, a prescription antibiotic, has not undergone any large clinical studies that prove it reduces the effectiveness of birth control pills.
