QuestionI have been taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen for about 2 years. (For the past few months, I've been taking the generic brand, Tri-Sprintec.) I take my pill at 10 p.m. every night...sometimes varying between 10 and 10:30 p.m. I am very consistent. My boyfriend and I have been having sexual intercourse for about 2.5 years, and he always, yes always, "pulls out" or withdrawals before ejaculation.
During the month of January and the first couple weeks of February, I was very stressed out at work. I took one 250 mg pill of Kava Kava, a "calm well-being" herbal supplement, almost every day for about a month (I can't remember exactly how many days I took the supplement).
My last period started Feb. 3, and I had some light red, followed by brown spotting on Feb. 14-18. It's very unusual for me to spot since I've been on the pill.
I was worried, and looked at my Ortho Tri-Cyclen package, and read a small blurb about how herbal supplements may interfere and decrease the effectiveness of the pill. I then researched Kava Kava and it's effects with oral contraceptives, and found it MAY decrease the effectiveness of the pill.
Now I'm freaking out, thinking I may be pregnant. My OB/GYN says I am "probably fine," and her nurse told me that I was spotting because the Kava Kava-- if it, indeed, decreases the effectiveness of the pill-- decreased the amount of hormones I usually get, and therefore I spotted because of the lower dosage.
But I'm freaking out because I wasn't abstinent during this month. My boyfriend and I had sex on Feb. 8 and Feb. 13. And I'm worried that the spotting was implantation bleeding. And my breasts have been very tender the past 2 days...a sign of pregnancy.
OK, so after that long description of my most intimate life occurrences...my questions: 1) Have you heard of any studies about herbal supplements, specifically Kava Kava, decreasing the effectiveness of the pill? and 2) Seeing that I am very consistent with taking my pill AND that my boyfriend withdrawals before ejaculation always, BUT that the Kava Kava likely decreased the effectiveness of my pill, do you think I could be pregnant right now?
Thank you so much for your help. We're both worried and any help you could provide would be appreciated. Thank you!
AnswerI am not very familiar with Kava Kava or any other herbal supplements but I can tell you that I think you are most likely fine. Although "pulling out" is not a form of birth control you did use it in consistancy with the pill. As your doctor/nurse said, you should be ok and it is probably effects of the pills mixed. Good Luck!
