Upset Stomach and Birth Control?

Question

I'm a bit confused as to why diarrhea is such a cause for concern while you're on the pill. Suppose you take your pill and an hour later you have an upset stomach. Food remains in the stomach for several hours after consumption, and thus would not pass directly through the gastrointestinal track. Anything leaving your body, I would assume, would be the remnants of what already exists in the small and large intestines. Additionally, the pill is absorbed directly into the blood stream through the lining of the stomach. So how would diarrhea affect pill effectiveness?

Answer 1

I'm not entirely sure, because I've never had my doctor tell me to watch for diarrhea while on the pill. However, I would guess that diarrhea, and even an upset stomach, are signs that your body is having issues with that particular pill. It may be a sign that you need to take a different birth control pill.

Answer 2

I have been on the pill for five years and have gone through this problem.  You don't need extra precaution, enough of the pill is absorbed into your body for it to be effective.  Did you just begin taking them?  If you did, that side effect should go away.  If you have been taking them, and this began suddenly you should speak to your doctor.  I get upset stomach every single month and it is just something that I have to deal with, but trust me it does not compromise the effectiveness of the pill.

Answer 3

It's an extra precaution. The pill is a precaution for not becoming pregnant and so this is extra "insurance" if you like just incase the pill happens to pass through (there is no way of knowing for sure if it has). If the pill did pass through,then the absorbtion would not effectively take place and there would be cause to take extra precautions, i.e condoms for 7 days if the bout of illness was lengthy or another pill from a seperate pack and continue with other pills as normal if the illness lasted less than 12 hours (this is what my pill pack advises,i would suggest you check the instructions for your type of pill though)