Can antibiotics affect your menstrual cycle?

Google is never a replacement for a Dr. But....

Antibiotics effect your birth control if you're on that

I'll agree with everyone else here saying that you should really contact your doctor about this issue. Most offices will answer questions like this via phone call with a nurse or the doctor herself; no need to go in for an appointment.

That said, antibiotics are pretty serious medications and a woman's cycle is quite sensitive and personal. So it seems pretty likely to me that they could interact with each other. Your hormones are sensitive to literally everything, from food to sleep to stress to sunlight, so, yeah, antibiotics could affect that.

What antibiotics DEFINITELY affect is your birth control function. If you really are concerned, go to Walmart and pick up a triple pack of pregnancy tests and take one every few days for a week or so to be absolutely sure. The pregnancy tests at the ED are going to be exactly the same as the ones from the store, so you don't need to incur that extra cost.

Def doesn't sound like cancer to me, though. But, once again, I'm not a doctor. Just someone who works in the medical field.

Thanks guys; I am asking here because 1. Its the health section and 2. I cannot go as we cannot currently afford it. I have tried calling the local hospital before for other questions about medication but since I'm not regularly seeing a doctor there all I get is the receptionist and she doesn't know that stuff, or just can't answer it. Either way, no information comes from that for me but I might try a pharmacy.

Again, thank you all for your answers.

Certain antibiotics can mess with your menstrual cycle and affect your birth control. Yes.

Antibiotics can mess with your cycle and birth control. However, that does not mean you aren't pregnant or that there is something else going on. You need to go to a medical professional, not the health section on a wedding forum.

This is a wedding forum. This really is a question for a medical professional.

This is the health section. So asking a health question is normal, yes? Also, I did explain why I'm here and not asking doctors right now, so telling me to go see one is pointless. I will when I am financially able. But know that I appreciate all of your responses.

Most hospitals offer payment plans and there's even an office near me that provides a discount on services for people without insurance. I would never let money keep me from being seen if I was concerned about something going on with my body. Shit...I'd take out a loan if I had to pay all the expenses up front if it was that bad. Your health isn't something that you should brush aside or wait it out because of finances.

^That.

The "health section" is not for us to give professional medical advice.

Call your doctor or nurse practitioner.

See a doctor.

Planned Parenthood has a family benefit program for those without health insurance. If you qualify, your services can be free or drastically lower than what a private physician would charge you. You need healthcare -- and not just for this.

Here's the link:

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-upper-hudson/patient-resources/family-planning-benefit-program

Anecdotal: yes, it's happened to me.

Does that mean you shouldn't call a doctor if you're worried? No.

Just call the office and ask.

The "health" section doesn't mean a lot, just a heads up. They still let anyone in here.

Go to an urgent care facility, MUCH more affordable than the ER. You need medical advice, which internet strangers cannot accurately provide. Eta: PU, antibiotics impacts the efficacy of birth control NOT your menstrual cycle. Reason #325 not to ask strangers on the internet for medical advice, you have no idea what is accurate and what is false. Also, no this is not a normal question to ask in the "health" section of a wedding forum.

You need to see a medical professional. They can work with you on a payment plan. Also, Planned Parenthood might be a low-cost option as well.

There may be a "health" section on here, but I can assure you, we may have some doctors on WW, but we're not all doctors.

However, what we can advise you on is that your health is not something to gamble with, especially because of money. Health offices will work with you cost-wise, more than you think.

I am a medical professional. We hate when people turn to message boards for medical advice. I would way rather my patients call me than ask for advice on the internet. Particularly if you don't have insurance. You don't have to go to the ER for this, you're wasting their time and your money.

Some antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of birth control. Make sure you're not pregnant. It's not abnormal to miss a period here and there either. If you miss 3 or 4 or 6 in a row and you're not pregnant, then get concerned.

But seriously, don't be afraid to call your provider