What Happens If I Had Sex While Taking Metronidazole?
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By:
Mike
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March 25, 2025
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Key Points
– Metronidazole primarily treats mouth infections, rosacea, and other skin infections including dental abscesses and infected gums. It is effective in treating infections caused by bacteria that can survive without oxygen and protozoan infections (e.g. Trichomoniasis and Amebiasis)
– Metronidazole decreases your desire for sex and performance. This drug causes inability to achieve an erection and maintain it for long. It also causes penile pain that makes you experience a painful sexual intercourse
– Metronidazole is typically a well-tolerated drug. It has some minimal and most common side effects like nausea, headache, and diarrhea. You can also feel a metallic taste in your mouth while taking metronidazole. If you are under prescription for metronidazole, you should avoid sexual intercourse
Metronidazole is an antibiotic available only with prescriptions. It is available as pills / capsules, liquid suspension, powder for suspension, topical and intravenous (IV) formulations. Metronidazole is an antiprotozoal medication used separately or with other antibiotics for endocarditis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) treatment.
Metronidazole decreases your sex drive, desire, and your sexual performance. It also makes you feel uninterested in having a sexual intercourse. Taking this drug causes inability to have an erection and difficulties to maintain erection for long. You may also feel pain in your penis that makes you experience a painful sexual intercourse.
Having sex might disturb the pH balance in your vagina. You should allow your vaginal environment to return to normalcy. During this period, you need to stay away from having sex. It helps metronidazole work more effectively.
Sex after using this medication may also not offer fullest benefits. The drug may become ineffective and lose potency. This prevents it from working properly, and may also worsen the symptoms. Metronidazole works within a few hours of your first dose. However, you need to wait a few days for symptoms to subside.
Oral-form of metronidazole stays in your body for ~2 to 3 days i.e., after last dose. However, if you are suffering from liver disorders, this drug can stay for a longer duration. If you still plan to have sex with your partner, you should ensure you have completed the dosage plan.
Consuming alcohol with metronidazole can trigger other symptoms. You are advised to consume alcohol after 2 days from the time of stopping metronidazole. This allows time for the drug to leave your system completely.
If you take metronidazole for trichomoniasis (a sex organ infection), your caregiver might also want your sexual partner to undergo treatment i.e., even if your partner has no symptoms. In addition, your caregiver would suggest the use of condoms. This will prevent you from contracting infections from your partner.
Is it safe to have sex during antibiotic treatment?
Mostly, it is not a good idea. You must avoid any form of sexual activity, especially unprotected sex, while on antibiotics. Moreover, if you have any Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) or if you are on treatment for STIs, you should refrain from having sex until your treatment is over.
Metronidazole takes a week’s time to function. It is crucial to note that during the course of this medication, you can stay away from having sex for at least a week, after both your partner and you are treated.
You also need to avoid vaginal sex during medication. After completing all dosages of this drug – as per medication plan, you can continue for a week without having vaginal sex. Most doctors suggest that it is a good thing to avoid all sexual activities during this time. This includes oral, vaginal, anal sex, and sex using a condom.
If you are taking any treatment for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) – the latter is not a sexually transmitted disease, you may need to avoid sex, as chances of reinfection or transmission are quite high. If you have sex during this time, there are chances of bacterial regrowth in your vaginal tract. Therefore, it can prolong the infections or you might get it again even after treatment plan gets is over.
In addition, your sexual activity during the medication period might also reduce the effectiveness of the drug i.e. oral metronidazole or metronidazole gel. This may undermine the medication plan.
Mostly, antibiotics are strong. At times, you may have the desire to have sex while you are on antibiotics. Such urges need to be controlled. If you are suffering from chronic bacterial prostatitis and premature ejaculation, use of antibiotics may have an impact of these conditions.
If your healthcare provider prescribes metronidazole suspension or tablets, you can take it as a one-time dose or you can divide it into two doses per day. You can consume the capsules for two to four times per day. You can take metronidazole for a period of 10 consecutive days, or maybe even longer.
Some common side effects of metronidazole include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fever, anorexia, malaise, dark urine, mastic colored or putty stools, fatigue, jaundice, or itching.
Some serious skin reactions include sores or ulcers on the skin, severe acne or a skin rash, red skin lesions when taking metronidazole. Other side effects include fever / chills, loosening, blistering, or peeling of the skin.
If these side effects arise or persist, you must immediately consult with your dermatologist or any healthcare provider. They will immediately examine your current health condition and prescribe a lesser dose or an alternate medicine that has minimal side effects.
You need to inform your healthcare professional if you are already on medication for any other health issue. Your healthcare professional will find if metronidazole will interact with the already prescribed drug. If so, your caregiver will change the medication to prevent other potential side effects.
It is also important for you to visit your caregiving team frequently while you are on metronidazole medication. By regular health check-ups and visits to your doctor, you can know if your system is responding well to this drug.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Global Discount Drugs follows sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies and information from top institutions.
URLs Reffered
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/metronidazole-oral-route/description/drg-20064745
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20304-metronidazole-vaginal-gel
- https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a617051.html
Mike is a licensed pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in community pharmacy management. He is dedicated to helping people understand their medications and improve their overall health. Mike enjoys reading medical journals and sharing practical health tips. Connect with him on LinkedIn for the latest in pharmacy practices."
Key Points
– Metronidazole primarily treats mouth infections, rosacea, and other skin infections including dental abscesses and infected gums. It is effective in treating infections caused by bacteria that can survive without oxygen and protozoan infections (e.g. Trichomoniasis and Amebiasis)
– Metronidazole decreases your desire for sex and performance. This drug causes inability to achieve an erection and maintain it for long. It also causes penile pain that makes you experience a painful sexual intercourse
– Metronidazole is typically a well-tolerated drug. It has some minimal and most common side effects like nausea, headache, and diarrhea. You can also feel a metallic taste in your mouth while taking metronidazole. If you are under prescription for metronidazole, you should avoid sexual intercourse
Metronidazole is an antibiotic available only with prescriptions. It is available as pills / capsules, liquid suspension, powder for suspension, topical and intravenous (IV) formulations. Metronidazole is an antiprotozoal medication used separately or with other antibiotics for endocarditis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) treatment.
Metronidazole decreases your sex drive, desire, and your sexual performance. It also makes you feel uninterested in having a sexual intercourse. Taking this drug causes inability to have an erection and difficulties to maintain erection for long. You may also feel pain in your penis that makes you experience a painful sexual intercourse.
Having sex might disturb the pH balance in your vagina. You should allow your vaginal environment to return to normalcy. During this period, you need to stay away from having sex. It helps metronidazole work more effectively.
Sex after using this medication may also not offer fullest benefits. The drug may become ineffective and lose potency. This prevents it from working properly, and may also worsen the symptoms. Metronidazole works within a few hours of your first dose. However, you need to wait a few days for symptoms to subside.
Oral-form of metronidazole stays in your body for ~2 to 3 days i.e., after last dose. However, if you are suffering from liver disorders, this drug can stay for a longer duration. If you still plan to have sex with your partner, you should ensure you have completed the dosage plan.
Consuming alcohol with metronidazole can trigger other symptoms. You are advised to consume alcohol after 2 days from the time of stopping metronidazole. This allows time for the drug to leave your system completely.
If you take metronidazole for trichomoniasis (a sex organ infection), your caregiver might also want your sexual partner to undergo treatment i.e., even if your partner has no symptoms. In addition, your caregiver would suggest the use of condoms. This will prevent you from contracting infections from your partner.
Is it safe to have sex during antibiotic treatment?
Mostly, it is not a good idea. You must avoid any form of sexual activity, especially unprotected sex, while on antibiotics. Moreover, if you have any Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) or if you are on treatment for STIs, you should refrain from having sex until your treatment is over.
Metronidazole takes a week’s time to function. It is crucial to note that during the course of this medication, you can stay away from having sex for at least a week, after both your partner and you are treated.
You also need to avoid vaginal sex during medication. After completing all dosages of this drug – as per medication plan, you can continue for a week without having vaginal sex. Most doctors suggest that it is a good thing to avoid all sexual activities during this time. This includes oral, vaginal, anal sex, and sex using a condom.
If you are taking any treatment for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) – the latter is not a sexually transmitted disease, you may need to avoid sex, as chances of reinfection or transmission are quite high. If you have sex during this time, there are chances of bacterial regrowth in your vaginal tract. Therefore, it can prolong the infections or you might get it again even after treatment plan gets is over.
In addition, your sexual activity during the medication period might also reduce the effectiveness of the drug i.e. oral metronidazole or metronidazole gel. This may undermine the medication plan.
Mostly, antibiotics are strong. At times, you may have the desire to have sex while you are on antibiotics. Such urges need to be controlled. If you are suffering from chronic bacterial prostatitis and premature ejaculation, use of antibiotics may have an impact of these conditions.
If your healthcare provider prescribes metronidazole suspension or tablets, you can take it as a one-time dose or you can divide it into two doses per day. You can consume the capsules for two to four times per day. You can take metronidazole for a period of 10 consecutive days, or maybe even longer.
Some common side effects of metronidazole include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fever, anorexia, malaise, dark urine, mastic colored or putty stools, fatigue, jaundice, or itching.
Some serious skin reactions include sores or ulcers on the skin, severe acne or a skin rash, red skin lesions when taking metronidazole. Other side effects include fever / chills, loosening, blistering, or peeling of the skin.
If these side effects arise or persist, you must immediately consult with your dermatologist or any healthcare provider. They will immediately examine your current health condition and prescribe a lesser dose or an alternate medicine that has minimal side effects.
You need to inform your healthcare professional if you are already on medication for any other health issue. Your healthcare professional will find if metronidazole will interact with the already prescribed drug. If so, your caregiver will change the medication to prevent other potential side effects.
It is also important for you to visit your caregiving team frequently while you are on metronidazole medication. By regular health check-ups and visits to your doctor, you can know if your system is responding well to this drug.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Global Discount Drugs follows sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies and information from top institutions.
URLs Reffered
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/metronidazole-oral-route/description/drg-20064745
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20304-metronidazole-vaginal-gel
- https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a617051.html
Mike is a licensed pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in community pharmacy management. He is dedicated to helping people understand their medications and improve their overall health. Mike enjoys reading medical journals and sharing practical health tips. Connect with him on LinkedIn for the latest in pharmacy practices."
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