Does LSD use impact efficacy of birth control pills?

Dear Wondering,  

Unfortunately, researchers are still a little tripped up when it comes to the interactions between LSD (or acid) and birth control. The short answer is that there isn’t enough research to know whether LSD can make the contraceptive pill less effective at preventing pregnancy or if there are any unique health effects. However, they can both affect your mood and how blood moves in your body. As to your second question, getting pregnant from pre-ejaculatory fluid (also called pre-cum) is possible, especially if you’re not regularly using a contraceptive. Read on to learn more about the interactions between LSD, birth control, and pre-ejaculatory fluid.  

Does LSD reduce the efficacy of the birth control pill?  

Currently, there’s no clinical evidence indicating LSD reduces the efficacy of birth control pills. However, they work in similar areas of the brain, so there is potential for disruption.  If you’re concerned, consider using a barrier method, like a condom, while taking LSD to provide additional protection. 

How might LSD and the birth control pill interact?  

LSD and the birth control pill can both influence the movement of blood through your body. Many birth control pills increase blood pressure and slightly raise your risk for blood clots. LSD can also have the same effects, which isn’t the high most people are looking for. More research is needed to understand how these side effects may interact. However, if you’re at higher risk for high blood pressure or blood clots, it may be worth speaking with your health care provider about this.  

While there is no research specifically on how the interaction of LSD and birth control can affect mood, research does show they can both affect serotonin. Serotonin is a natural brain chemical that’s important for stabilizing mood and anxiety. LSD causes hallucinations and alters thinking because it activates serotonin in the brain. On the other hand, there’s some evidence that birth control pills could decrease serotonin activity in some people. Since both LSD and birth control may affect serotonin in the brain in different ways, it’s possible that you may experience changes in your mood as a result. However, more research is needed to specifically assess the interaction between birth control pills and LSD.  

Can you get pregnant from pre-ejaculate?  

The short answer is yes. Pre-cum itself doesn’t contain sperm, but it’s possible that it may pick up sperm from a previous ejaculation on the way out of the penis. Due to this, it’s possible that some can enter your body and cause pregnancy. Your chance of pregnancy from pre-ejaculate is lower if you’re on a contraceptive like the birth control pill. If you’re concerned about a recent encounter, you might find it helpful to use an emergency contraception method.  

To learn more about the mechanisms of how birth control works, you can review the Birth Control Basics fact sheet. You can also learn more about pre-ejaculate in the Go Ask Alice! question Why doesn’t my boyfriend produce any pre-cum?.  

The jury’s still out on what could happen when you take LSD and the birth control pill at the same time. However, whether you’re worried about LSD or pre-cum, using a barrier method contraceptive, like a condom, might help keep your wondering from getting in the way.