The Pill and alcohol
 

Hi everyone, just a quick question here. I did a search on both Google and TGP but couldn't find anything about this. I wasn't sure whether to put this in Tilted Health or Sexuality.

Anyway, if someone is on the Pill, can she drink alcohol? I know a lot of medications react badly with alcohol, is there any effect if you go out to a club or a bar and you're on the pill?

Not that I know of... but I am by no means a doctor, or a woman for that matter !

The only thing I can think of is if a lady has far too much to drink and throw up pretty soon after she's taken her pill, it will be ineffective. That's why I'm a fan of Ortho-Evra, the birth control you wear like a Bandaid!

I'm on the pill. NO incidences yet. Thank goodness. I take mine in the am so that when I'm out at night I don't end up taking it at the same time.

As far as I know alcohol can affect the absorbsion of the pill if you take them at the same time. If you've taken the pill in the am it's been in your system all day and much of it has already been absorbed. The alcohol can only speed up the absorbsion if it gets to what hasn't been absorbed yet. From what I know alcohol gets absorbed directly into the blood stream mostly through the stomach. It won't even get to the "remanants" of what hasn't been absorbed by the pill there.

I have looked into it myself for the same reason.

No, the pill doesn't become less effective when mixed with alcohol. Unless, of course, she pukes part of it up because of the alcohol as SabrinaFair suggested. Extra protection can never hurt, though, so do what makes you both feel confident that no babies are being made.

The only thing I know of that makes the pill less effective is her taking antibiotics.

According to my doctor, alcohol DOES cause the pill to be less effective. I'm not sure what kmonkey's sources are, but my doctor recommended using a condom any night that she drinks a lot. It doesn't affect the entire cycle or anything, but make sure to be careful. Honestly, in my experience, I've had no problems, but you can't really be too safe. Prevent against babies!

Thanks for the replies everyone. I couldn't find any information on mixing the Pill with alcohol, the closest I could find was a brief mention that the Pill is less effective for overweight people and/or smokers. I assumed since there were no big red warnings on the websites and various pamphlets I've got that alcohol reduces the reliability of the pill.

Thanks again :-)

EDIT: Thanks for the reply siryn. My girlfriend hardly ever drinks (once or twice a month, and never more than one or two drinks) so she never vomits it up or anything like that. We're also using condoms every time so I think we should be fairly safe :-)