Pregnant On Contraceptives?
Although there are many women trying to have children without success, the most common is that pregnancy occurs normally even when we do not expect it. For this reason, getting pregnant while taking contraceptives can happen with some frequency. As we know, the use of the contraceptive pill must be correct to guarantee better results.
Therefore, the failure of oral contraceptives is usually human. In other words, if we fail to take the pill, it will also fail to work. In addition, it is also possible that when combining this drug with others, the effectiveness of the product is compromised. Next we will tell you, how it is possible to get pregnant while taking contraceptives.
Why can we get pregnant by taking contraceptives?
Forget the pill
One of the main causes in these cases is forgetting to take the pill. As we know, the function of this product is to inhibit ovulation through synthetic hormones such as progestin and estrogen. By forgetting to take the corresponding dose, we can cause the levels of these hormones to fall, interrupting their function.
Consequently, we risk pregnancy when we create an imbalance in the hormones we are taking. In this sense, to avoid risks, it is recommended to use a complementary method in case of forgetting the pill. However, only 3% of couples decide to solve this with the use of a condom.
Altering the intake schedule
Some oral contraceptives require a daily intake at the same time. That is, they have action lapses between 6 and 12 hours. Those that are composed of progesterone and estrogen, cannot exceed the time between each dose.
If we don’t take the progesterone-only pill at the same time every day, we risk losing its effect. Being this way, without realizing it we could be running the risk of pregnancy, even taking the pill.
Interaction with medications
Because it is a daily and uninterrupted routine, it is possible in many cases that the pill interacts with other medications. There is no general contraindication for all drugs, but some are more risky. For example, antibiotics generally detract from oral contraceptives. Others such as griseofulvin, Rifadin, anticonvulsants and HIV inhibitors, are able to accelerate the absorption of hormones, making the effect last less.
Consumption of St. John’s herbs
It is understood that St. John’s herbs can decrease or cancel the effect of the pill due to its ability to accelerate metabolism. However, this is only possible when the amount we consume or the frequency in which we do it is exceeded. For example, doses greater than 300 mg three times a day can cause breakthrough bleeding.
In this sense, we advise you that if you are taking St. John’s herbs regularly along with the pill, use another additional contraceptive method. These recommendations were made by researchers who determined a possible risk of pregnancy in these conditions.
Other unconfirmed factors
There are no conclusive results on the decrease in the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill in case of obesity. However, it is considered that in some way it can be related when there are hormonal problems.
On the other hand, the consumption of alcohol, although it does not nullify the effectiveness of the pill, can be an enemy. That is, we could forget to take the pill if we have consumed alcohol and we are not clear about what we are doing.
The expiration of the pill can cause you to get pregnant on birth control, but it is very rare. According to what has been pointed out by specialists, the components of this drug are stable enough to continue their effect even when they have expired.
Studies on the consumption of grapefruit juice have revealed that it is capable of interfering with the efficacy of more than 80 drugs. However, it has not been shown to nullify the effect of the pill.
In any case, although we are almost certain that many of these factors may not affect the effect of the contraceptive we are taking, it is best to prevent. If you find yourself in any of these situations , we recommend the use of a complementary contraceptive.
