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You’re out with your friends. You’ve had a couple drinks. Someone suggests shots. Before you know it, you and your friends are playing drinking games, talking about which characters from your favorite TV show you would date, and downing tequila shots to finish off the night. This type of night out is common for many millennials and Gen Zers when they hang out with their friends.
But if you’re on the hunt for a new partner or trying to avoid one-night stands, how do you balance having fun while also protecting yourself from negative consequences? And more importantly – is there any way to do both at the same time? If you’re worried that drinking alcohol while taking birth control pills might have negative effects or neutralize their effectiveness, then this article is for you! We will go over everything you need to know about the connection between birth control and alcohol as well as give some helpful tips on how to have fun without compromising your safety.birth control and alcohol
What is the Connection Between Birth Control and Alcohol?
Birth control is a term used to describe any form of contraception that prevents pregnancy. There are several different types of birth control options available, including birth control pills, the copper intrauterine device (IUD), and the contraceptive implant.
The most common type of birth control pills are called oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). These OCPs are comprised of synthetic forms of the hormones estrogen and progesterone and are available in different doses. While OCPs are generally safe to use, alcohol can affect the way they work, depending on the type of OCP you use.
Some OCPs can increase your risk of
experiencing side effects, especially if you drink alcohol while taking them.
For example, drinking while on progestin-only birth control pills (POPs) can
increase the risk of negative side effects. On the other hand, drinking while
on estrogen-progestin birth control pills (EPPs) may decrease the chances of
experiencing negative side effects.
How Does Alcohol Affect Birth Control?
The connection
between alcohol and birth control pills is that alcohol can decrease the
effectiveness of OCPs by increasing the breakdown of the hormones in these
pills. A study published in 2016 found that consuming two or more drinks per
day slowed down the metabolism of the hormones in birth control pills. This
slowdown can reduce the effectiveness of OCPs and increase the risk of
unplanned pregnancies.
When taking a copper IUD, the risk of serious side effects increases.
There are a few potential risks with using a copper IUD. The first is that women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant may be at risk. copper IUDs are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States. This is because they are known to be risky and can contain high levels of copper. Another risk with using a copper IUD is that it can lead to cushingitis, a serious condition that occurs when the heart's muscles can't get enough oxygen. This condition can cause the heart to race and cause chest pain. In some cases, cushingitis can lead to death.
Effect of Birth Control on Alcohol Consumption
A study published by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found that women who drank alcohol while taking the combination estrogen-progestin OCPs were more likely to experience negative side effects than women who didn’t drink while on the same OCPs.
The same study found that women who drank alcohol while taking the progestin-only OCPs were more likely to experience negative side effects than women who didn’t drink while on the same OCPs. These results suggest that the negative side effects of the OCPs increase when women drink alcohol while taking them.
This may occur because alcohol depresses some of the
metabolic pathways that break down the OCPs. As more alcohol gets into your
system, it can take longer for your body to break it down and get rid of it,
making the negative side effects last longer.
Can You Drink alcohol While Taking Birth Control?
The short answer is yes – but with some caveats. First, remember that you should always talk to your doctor before you make any changes to your birth control routine. They know your medical history and can provide you with the best and most appropriate advice for your situation.
Second, you should drink within the
recommended guidelines for safe alcohol consumption. Third, if you drink
alcohol while on the progestin-only OCP, you may be more likely to experience
negative side effects. Finally, if you drink alcohol while on the combination
estrogen-progestin OCP, you may be less likely to experience negative side
effects.
Overall, the connection between birth control and alcohol is that alcohol can affect the way birth control pills work. Drinking alcohol while taking birth control pills may decrease the effectiveness of these OCPs and increase the risk of unplanned pregnancies.
If you are looking to protect yourself from unplanned pregnancies,
you may want to consider using a different type of birth control. Additionally,
if you are serious about avoiding unplanned pregnancies, you may want to
consider cutting back on your alcohol consumption while on birth control pills.
