skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Women on the Pill Need Not Worry about Allergy Season Antibiotics

play audio
Play

Thursday, April 3, 2014   

PHOENIX - It's the season for allergies and sinus infections, and there's a concern among women that fighting the sniffles with antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of their birth control pills. According to Planned Parenthood Arizona physician Dr. Laura Dalton, that belief is largely a "misunderstanding." She said there's only one class of antibiotic, commonly used to treat tuberculosis and known as Rifampin, that decreases contraceptive effectiveness.

"We don't have any evidence from studies that show the other types of antibiotics affect the concentration of contraception in the bloodstream," the physician said.

But Dalton cautioned that side effects from antibiotics, such as vomiting or excessive diarrhea, can affect the absorption of birth control medications.

She said a woman's physician should be knowledgeable, both about contraception and whatever medical condition the patient is being treated for.

"If you have other health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and make sure that provider can give you the right precautions for any side effects that you may develop beyond those medications, and if the birth control method that you're using is the right method for whatever preexisting conditions you have, or any new medications they may be prescribing," that should suffice, she said.

Dalton said it's always safer and more effective to use two forms of birth control, whether a woman is taking an antibiotic or not.

"At Planned Parenthood, we always recommend that you use the barrier method, or a condom, to protect yourself against sexually-transmitted infections, in addition to using other forms of contraception, such as birth control pills or IUDs," she advised.

Dalton noted that Planned Parenthood now provides primary care services at three of its Phoenix area centers, in addition to family planning.




get more stories like this via email

more stories
Opponents of a South Dakota bill that would require the Ten Commandments be posted in all public school classrooms say it would be an unfunded mandate. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A South Dakota House committee takes up a controversial bill today that would require all school districts in the state to display the Ten Commandment…


play sound

Virginia ranks third behind only Maryland and Delaware among the worst states for the average amount of back wages companies owe to their workers…

Environment

play sound

Some North Dakota school districts are part of a movement that has embraced electric school buses, but the federal funding shakeup carried out by the …


Florida immigrant advocacy groups are intensifying efforts to help undocumented individuals navigate encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. (David Peinado/Pexels)

Social Issues

play sound

Immigrant advocates in Florida are ramping up efforts to help families navigate President Donald Trump's new immigration orders, which have increased …

Social Issues

play sound

The rate of U.S. high school seniors seeking higher education is on the upswing, according to research from Lumina Foundation. Although Hoosier …

Gov. Kathy Hochul's free community college proposal would apply to people pursuing first-time associate degrees for jobs in high-demand fields, including nursing, teaching, technology and engineering. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

New York State is making historic higher education investments. As part of the 2026 budget proposal, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes free community …

Social Issues

play sound

Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed state budget includes a significant increase for public education to address Pennsylvania's school funding issues and …

Social Issues

play sound

Alabama nonprofits are coming together to tackle challenges that may threaten their survival, from declining donor support to shifting federal …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021