What should be discussed when prescribing drugs to women using hormonal contraception?
• Clinicians should consider the possibility of a drug interaction when prescribing contraception and when prescribing other medicines to women using hormonal contraception (Good Practice Point). • Clinicians giving women information on contraceptive options should enquire about current and previous drug use; prescription, nonprescription and herbal drug use; and specifically about use of drugs which induce liver enzymes and non-liver enzyme-inducing antibiotics (Good Practice Point). • Women should be informed that some drugs might reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraception and should be advised where to seek advice if other drugs are taken (Good Practice Point). • After counseling, women using short courses of drugs that interact with hormonal contraception may choose to continue their current hormonal method even if additional contraception, such as condoms, is required. However, women on long-term courses of drugs that continue to interact with hormonal contraception should
