Birth control pills are one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent pregnancy. They are simple to take, affordable, and often make periods lighter and improve acne. They may help prevent certain types of breast disease, anemia, ovarian cysts, and ovarian and endometrial cancers. But like other medications, birth control pills may cause side effects. Nausea can be one of them.
Talk to your doctor about how to treat nausea caused by the pill. You may be able to prevent it with a few lifestyle and diet changes. Antacids or anti-nausea drugs can also help.
Nausea and the Birth Control Pill
Most birth control pills are combination pills made up of two hormones: estrogen and progestin (a lab-made form of progesterone). Both are effective at preventing pregnancy. The hormones work together to stop the release of an egg during your monthly cycle. The pill also helps thicken cervical mucus, which makes it hard for sperm to reach the egg. That’s what prevents pregnancy.
If you take a combination pill, the hormones work together to stop the release of an egg (ovulation) during your monthly cycle. Progestin also thickens cervical mucus and thins the uterine lining, which makes it hard for sperm to reach the egg or for a fertilized egg to implant. This prevents pregnancy even if you do ovulate.
But hormones in birth control pills can cause some people to feel nauseated and dizzy, especially during the first 3 months of taking the pill.
Your odds of getting nausea, in general, may be higher if you:
- Have a personal history of nausea
- Get motion sickness or sea sickness
- Have a history of migraine or other headaches
- Vomit often or easily
- Had morning sickness during pregnancy
Why Do Birth Control Pills Cause Nausea?
There’s an area in your brain that controls nausea and throwing up. Certain things can trigger this so-called vomiting center. Some people are more sensitive to stimuli that causes nausea than others, including birth control pills.
Hormones, particularly estrogen, can irritate the lining in your stomach and boost stomach acid production. Progesterone can also slow digestion. When that happens, you might have symptoms like:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Loss of appetite
- Acid reflux
- Constipation
Birth control pills that are progestin-only or have a low dose of estrogen are less likely to cause nausea but may lead to more breakthrough bleeding or spotting when compared to pills with more estrogen.
Estrogen helps stabilize the uterine lining while on birth control, which is why combination and not progestin-only pills are used to treat reproductive conditions that cause abnormal or heavy bleeding.
What should you do if you throw up after taking a birth control pill?
The hormones in birth control pills get into the bloodstream through your liver. But first, they have to go through your stomach. In medical terms, this process is called first-pass metabolism.
If you throw up within 2-3 hours of taking a birth control pill, your body may not have had enough time to absorb the contraceptive and prevent pregnancy. So, you’ll need to take another pill right away. Take your next day’s pill at your usual time.
Be sure to rest, drink clear liquids, and avoid solid foods until the vomiting has passed. If you throw up repeatedly for 48 hours or longer, use backup contraception like condoms until you can keep your pills down for 7 days. Ask your doctor if you’re not sure what steps to take next.
Consider taking a pregnancy test if you continue to feel sick to your stomach and you started taking your contraception only recently. Birth control pills work well, but they’re not 100% effective. And nausea can be a symptom of pregnancy.
How to Prevent Nausea From the Pill
Side effects like nausea tend to get better over time, but your body may need 2-3 months to get used to the hormones. There are several things you can do to feel better now.
Take the pill at bedtime or with food.
- Use antacids ahead of time to lower stomach acid.
- Try a dose of bismuth subsalicylate 30 minutes before you take your pill.
- Take over-the-counter anti-nausea medications.
Discuss with your doctor which medications are safe to take with birth control pills. If over-the counter meds don’t help enough to ease your nausea, ask about prescription drugs, especially if you need to take combined birth control pills for emergency contraception.
Other anti-nausea tips include:
- Eat bland foods like saltine crackers or plain bread.
- Drink something clear and cold.
- Eat smaller meals throughout the day instead of a few big ones.
- Remember to eat slowly.
- Don’t exercise right after you eat.
- Avoid spicy foods and skip caffeine.
- Limit fried or fatty foods.
- Eat something with protein in it before you go to bed.
Home remedies to reduce nausea include:
Add some herbs. Ginger and peppermint products may settle your stomach.
Drink more water. Dehydration can make you feel sicker.
Consider acupressure. This is a type of massage. Ask your doctor to learn more about it and other complementary therapies that may ease nausea and vomiting.
Try the BRAT diet. This stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Bland foods like these may not get rid of nausea but are generally gentler on your stomach.
Stay away from strong odors. This may include smells such as warm, cooked food. Use a fan to blow the smells away from you if you can’t get to another room.
Sniff essential oils or rubbing alcohol. Aromatherapy with essential oils like lemon or peppermint have been shown to ease nausea and vomiting in some people. A small study found a whiff of isopropyl alcohol may temporarily reduce nausea in some people.
Breathe from your belly. Deep breathing, also called diaphragmatic breathing, can turn on the “rest and digest” part of your nervous system. Studies show this can ease nausea (like the kind from motion sickness) in some people.
If you can’t prevent nausea, talk to your doctor about switching birth control pills or exploring other types of contraception. You might experience fewer side effects with non-oral options (like the vaginal ring) or those with less estrogen or no hormones.
