01 January 2003
I have acne and I also taken birth control pills I was taken antibiotics for acne and I had to stop because am taken the birth pills and my acne is getting worse and worse i can not take antibiotics because the effect of the birth pills won't be 100% and now I don't know what to do

Response
It is possible to take antibiotics with birth control pills. The effectiveness of the pill will be reduced for the first 3 weeks that you take the antibiotics. You should use extra precautions, such as condoms for this time, but then you can trust the pill again. Remember though, that if you stop the antibiotics for more than a week and then restart them, that the effect of the pill will be reduced again for another 3 weeks.

The reason that antibiotics reduce the effectiveness of the pill is because they reduce the amount of bacteria which are normally present in the gut. These bacteria are responsible for recycling oestrogens and when their numbers are reduced, the amount of available oestrogen is also reduced. After 3 weeks on the antibiotics, resistant bacteria are produced and the amount of oestrogen goes back to normal. If you start to take the pill and have already been taking antibiotics continuously for 3 weeks or more, then the pill will not be affected. Read our article on acne which will describe all the available treatments for acne. Consult your medical advisor if you are not happy with your skin. The reason that antibiotics reduce the effectiveness of the pill is because they reduce the amount of bacteria which are normally present in the gut. These bacteria are responsible for recycling oestrogens and when their numbers are reduced, the amount of available oestrogen is also reduced. After 3 weeks on the antibiotics, resistant bacteria are produced and the amount of oestrogen goes back to normal. If you start to take the pill and have already been taking antibiotics continuously for 3 weeks or more, then the pill will not be affected. Read our article on acne which will describe all the available treatments for acne. Consult your medical advisor if you are not happy with your skin.