# Presence of Drug Interaction Between Penicillin and Hormonal Contraceptives in Women: A Scoping Review

## TL;DR

This review examines whether penicillin interacts with hormonal contraceptives in women, finding limited but suggestive evidence of a drug interaction.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive scoping review of the existing evidence on a previously understudied drug interaction.

## Key findings

- Nine studies were identified, but they showed variability in methodology and conclusions.
- The literature suggests a possible interaction, but the evidence remains scarce and inconsistent.
- More research is needed to understand the interaction and its implications for women's health.

## Abstract

Drug interactions (DIs) can alter the effects of medications or result in adverse reactions. This scoping review aimed to map the existing scientific evidence regarding the DI between penicillin and hormonal contraceptives in women. Following the PRISMA-ScR, we conducted electronic searches in the MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and the Virtual Health Library databases from August 2023 to January 2024. Observational studies, monographs, dissertations, theses, and conference abstracts with adolescent, adult, and elderly women who were concurrently using hormonal contraceptives and penicillin were eligible. DIs were defined based on the signs/symptoms presented by the women and self-reported pregnancies. Of the 4023 records identified in the databases, nine studies, published between 1979 and 2021, were included. Variability was found among the studies in terms of sample size, data collection method, participant’s age, medication types, diagnostic approach used to confirm the pregnancy, and the author’s recommendation of the DI. It could therefore be concluded that while the literature suggests a DI between hormonal contraceptives and penicillin, the level of scientific evidence is still scarce. Additional research on systemic and population factors is essential to better understand this DI and its repercussions.