While it is possible to become pregnant while on Depo and antibiotics, it is highly unlikely. If you are extremely concerned about this, you can take a pregnancy test approximately five weeks after the incident.
The effectiveness of any type of hormonal birth control method may be impaired during treatment with antibiotics. However, the risk is very slight, and the supportive evidence is primarily limited to anecdotes from case reports. In fact, according to Contraceptive Technology, 19th Edition, it is not necessary to use a back up method of birth control while on antibiotics because they do not lower the levels of hormones in your system to the point that you would be at risk for pregnancy. The only exception is the medication, rifampin (which is primarily used to treat tuberculosis). To be on the safe side, however, we do recommend the use of condoms or sexual abstinence during antibiotic treatment and for at least one week after.
However, for future reference, the following drugs or herbal products can decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives:
- barbiturates
- bosentan
- carbamazepine
- felbamate
- griseofulvin
- oxcarbazepine
- phenytoin
- rifampin
- St. John’s wort
- topiramate
- HIV protease inhibitors or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
15. March 2012
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