Did you know that antibiotics could affect the menstrual cycle? Indeed, most of them can have an effect on menstrual periods, with some reporting delays. Find out more about the connections between antibiotics and the menstrual cycle below.
Your Regular Cycle
During the first 14 days of a 28-day menstrual cycle, your follicle will start to grow and kick-start the initial production of additional estrogen. It will start to make the endometrium lining thicker. When ovulation commences, the estrogen hormone will be joined by the progesterone hormone from the corpus luteum to make the endometrium mature and thicker.
How Antibiotics Affect the Normal Cycle
Antibiotics can interfere with your body’s mechanism, which secretes the human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone (hCG) and cause uterus shedding to delay your period. This will happen mainly because the available estrogen will be reduced to cause a change in your cycle for it to become irregular.
A study done in 1947 shows that Penicillin caused heavier bleeding, changes in pain and PMS symptoms and the start of the cycle itself, but they stated that they weren’t able to find any correlative information regarding that.
There are actually two ways antibiotics could affect the estrogen metabolism. Most antibiotics are metabolized in the liver, and when they are present, the metabolism rate of estrogen as well as progesterone will be affected. This can interfere with the estrogen supply that is in the blood and causes an irregularity of the menstrual cycle.
In order for the follicular phase of menstruation to occur, the estrogen is needed to stimulate the ovaries and thicken the uterine wall. Without this, ovulation doesn’t happen or it happens late, which obviously affects when your period will arrive.
Other Issues with Antibiotics
There are some antibiotics that will cause diarrhea-like symptoms when they interfere with the stomach flora.
Even though it’s supposed to kill the bad bacteria in the body, it also affects and kills the good bacteria as well, which is why some women report yeast infections as well after their use of antibiotics.
The entero-hepatic circulation will be affected and cause a reduction of estrogen levels in the blood. It’s becausegut bacteria that usually re-activates small amount of estrogen in intestine are no longer available [1].
When the estrogen levels change in the blood, your cycle will be affected low estrogen levels fail to stimulate pituitary release of hormones. Your body actually ovulates based on the pituitary gland’s ability to identify that sufficient estrogen is in the blood, and then cause LH surge which causes ovulation on 14th day of cycle. So antibiotic treatment can affect these delicate hormonal balances.
So your body doesn’t have enough estrogen to regulate normal menstrual cycle.
Another important point to note is that antibiotics change your body’s metabolic performance and the ability to sustain a steady hormone level.
Use the Second Form of Protection if you are Not Trying to Get Pregnant
Antibiotics can also affect the estrogen as well as progestin levels in oral contraceptive pills. Estrogen is actually an active ingredient in these pills and the antibiotics will affect how it’s metabolized in the body.
Rifampicin and Rifabutin are liver enzyme-inducing drugs and can clear the estrogens from blood at faster rate thereby reducing the contraceptive benefit anticipated from contraceptive pills.
You should get medical advice if you are taking antibiotics in the first seven days of a new pill packet and you engage in sexual intercourse in the last five to seven days. The antibiotics could disrupt the normal protection that the pills provide and cause you to get pregnant.
So if you are taking antibiotics, ensure that you are also protecting yourself as well if you are not looking to have another child right now.
Reasons other than antibiotics that affect your period
While antibiotics get a bad rap regarding the effect on the body and the menstrual cycle, there can be other potential issues and situations that can go on with the body during the time frame. When sick, antibiotics or not, the body is being stressed to the max.
It is trying to accommodate for being sick and the stress of still having to maintain a home, a job, children, a spouse (because you know, moms don’t take sick days). So take into consideration that it can be affected by the meds or by stress, weight loss or gain, usage of birth control, and PCOS or thyroid conditions.
How to Prevent Antibiotic Related Period Issues
One way to help balance your hormones while you are on antibiotics could be to switch up your diet while you are taking antibiotics (and after as well if you are looking to maintain a healthy balance).
In order to balance the estrogen levels, you can add some fish oil, vitamin D, and vitamin B to your diet as well as probiotics, which can help balance that gut bacteria in a beneficial way.
Plus you’ll want to get enough sleep (which helps so many bodily systems) and be stress free (see above).
In general, antibiotics can affect so many bodily systems. Know that they shouldn’t be something that you take on a regular basis because it can cause antibiotic resistance in the body.
Take them only if necessary and ensure that you take the proper precautions for preventing pregnancy and keeping your other systems in balance.
If your period is still late, however, take a test and be confident with the results. But if you are still concerned with what is going on, be sure to talk to your doctor if you need more information on the effects of antibiotics and menstrual cycle.
References
- Estrogen-gut microbiome axis: Physiological and clinical implications. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28778332
Am Naomi,l saw my period on the 12 August,l took amoxicillin 500 g for 3 days,since the 12 till today l haven’t seen my period for like 45 days now,l went to to doctor and did ecography,no pregnancy,he prescribed me Lutenyl for 10 days,l have taken the drugs for 10 days and waited for two weeks,my period till hasn’t come,what can l do,l want to conceive.
Hi Naomi, you period might be delayed due to the high potency antibiotic you are taking. You should get your period soon. Regards
Hi,
I took antibiotics for 10 days for a muscle infection in my neck. And I had my period while taking them, but it was brown and pink and a little lighter than normal. I researched it and it turns out it was a side affect of the medication. But it delayed my period, and now I haven’t had one since then and that was from Aug. 29-Sept. 4. Could this be from the medication, or should I see someone?
Hi Alex, the condition you are experiencing is definitely because of those antibiotics you are taking. You should see your doctor and discuss this with him/her. I hope this helps! Regards
Hi,
I was given Biocine (lyncomycin) to take for 10 days. This is because I complained about acne on my face and needed to take a drug. I am currently taking Solgar’s woman supplement to correct my hormonal imbalance as well. I was supposed to see my period yesterday but till today it hasn’t come out. Am a bit worried
Hi Chessy, antibiotics can have a huge effect on your period. They can delay you periods. You period should come in few days. Regards
Hi, I’m Crexy. I get my period first week of July, since I get sick ; my madam gave me a very strong med ; antibiotics, it’s 2 months now I didn’t get my period, ; I have pain in my ovaries, is this normal?
Hi Crexy, Thanks for your comment!
Antibiotics can delay your period as long as you are taking it. You should see your doctor and get advice. Regards
Everytime I’m placed on antibiotics the past 2 time my cycle starts and is very heavy 7-10 pads a day . I have been treated with heavy antibiotics for a while now for ongoing infection at the base of my spine . For years now. My cycle goes till the antibiotics stop. None of my doctors seem to care
Hi Clovis, Heavy antibiotics can either stop your period or make it heavier. The condition your are experiencing is not normal. You should immediately go to specialist and get your self checked. Regards
Hi,
I am currently ttc. My doctor prescribed me clomid. I am on day 4 of my cycle. Normally my period cycle is 5 days long. My PCP prescribed me augmentin. I’ve been taking that for 3 days now. My period today is lighter than normal. Could this augmentin mess my cycle up to where I don’t conceive this month??
Hi, I was on antibiotics for sometime, I got sick and was place on some antimalarial, not too far from that I got an infection that made me use Fluconazole and now I have not seen my period since July. I have done several strip tests but it came out negative. Please am I OK?
Hi, Antibiotics can delay your period. You should get your period after you stop using those high potency antibiotics. Furthermore, you should visit your doctor and discuss this issue with him/her. Regards
Hi Im on my second period with 12 days interval and this is the first happend. However yes im again on antibiotics becuz at first I had tonsillitis and I was on Augmintien 1 g per day for 6 days and now furnucle in my ear which the physician had instructed amoxecillin 1.5 g per day ..
As my period history has not been regular .do u think this will affect me now?
Hi Sam, Antibiotics can surely delay your periods. But the illness itself can affect the menstrual cycle. You should go to a doctor to get yourself checked. Regards
Hi,I had my period on the 2nd of this month, it lasted for 5 days,then I got malaria and I was treated for it,I was taking Amoxicillin antibiotics for I was also having yeast infection only for me to see blood spotting 10 days after my last period, I tot it was going to stop but this is the 3rd day and I woke up feeling the normal menstrual cramps and the blood was still little not like my normal flow. am I OK?
Hi Rita, antibiotics can delay your period or change your period cycle. You should ask your doctor about the side effects of that antibiotic he/she recommends you. Regards
Hi I recently use amoxicillin after I experience vagina fungi’s I haven’t get my periods yet.
Hi Noluthando, antibiotics can delay your periods. You should always ask about your doctor about the side effects of the antibiotics, he/she recommends you. Regards
Hello,
I have been recently subscribed Doxycycline Hyclate for an open wound under my right arm for any possible infection before my surgery. My period usually comes along 27/28/29 within a month. But now that I have been taking said antibiotic, I am 12 days late. Is this normal or should I be worried?
Hi Donta, antibiotics can surely change your period cycle and delay your period. The period delay you are having might be because of the antibiotics you are having. Regards
I took 3 card of Ampiclox within the interval I was taking Ampiclox I had protected sex. 3 of this month was meant to be my period but am yet to see it. Am I pregnant
Hi Joan, antibiotics can surely change your period cycle and delay your period. The period delay you are having might be because of the antibiotics you are having. Regards
I was recently on two different types of antibiotics for pneumonia. I’m supposed to have my period two weeks from now, but I’m currently experiencing pms symptoms that I don’t usually experience until right before my period; this includes extremely sore breasts, emotional outbursts, insomnia, and cravings. Could my period be coming early because of the antibiotics?
Hi Anisah, antibiotics can surely change your period cycle and delay your period. The period delay you are having might be because of the antibiotics you are having. Regards
Hi, I took antibiotics twice in one day because of an toothache a week before my period was to come on and my period is late. I’m experiencing heart burn and a sore stomach. Could it be because of the antibiotics.
Hi Kara, the symptoms you are having might be because of the antibiotics you are having. You should always ask your doctor about the side effects of the antibiotics he/she recommends you. Regards
Hi… I usually get my periods on the 27th/28th/29th of every month. So this month, I went to see the doctor and prescription was given to me.. The last time my boyfriend and I got intimate, we used a condom. But now, my periods are late…should I be worried??
Hi Skyler, Antibiotics can delay your periods. Your periods should come in few days. Regards
Hi, my name is Donna. I was diagnosed of having U. T. I on Aug. 12 and I was supposed to have my period on Aug. 25-26 but I only got spotting. I’ve been experiencing that after I took my antibiotics Cefalexin 4 times a day. Are these because of the antibiotics I am taking now?
Hi Donna, Antibiotics can change your period cycle. And yes, the period delay you are having might be because of those antibiotics. Regards