Pregnancy when using birth control and antibiotics

Dear Ask The Doctor: How high are the risks of pregnancy when using birth control and taking an antibiotic at the same time?

Dear Misty: A number of medications including certain antibiotics decrease the levels of oral contraceptives in the blood. The actual decrease in the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill due to antibiotics has not been studied.

Because of a theoretical increased chances of pregnancy when using antibiotics with birth control pills, I would advise additional methods of protection like condoms.