Antibiotics may make the contraceptive pill less effective, scientists warn

Women advised to use extra precautions when taking both drugs

The UN study found the coronavirus pandemic could dramatically weaken headway to meet long-standing global health targets due to clinics being forced to close or run skeleton services (Getty/iStock)

Taking antibiotics may reduce the effectiveness of birth-control pills, researchers say.

Scientists are advising women to take extra precautions to avoid unwanted pregnancy when they are on the drugs that kill bacteria.

In a study published in the British Medical Journal’s Evidence-Based Medicine, they wrote: “This evidence suggests there is an interaction of antibacterial drugs with hormonal contraceptives, which can potentially impair the effectiveness of the contraceptives.