The birth control pill is known to be very effective when taking according to directions. That said, there are a number of different factors which can negatively impact the overall effectiveness of the birth control pill. One such factor may be stomach viruses. Here’s how, and what to do if you experience a stomach virus while on birth control.
Why Do Stomach Viruses Lessen the Effectiveness of Birth Control?
Stomach viruses are known to cause the birth control pill to become less effective. The reason is because when a certain medication is not properly absorbed, it is generally not known to work. If you experience a stomach virus that causes you to vomit or have diarrhea, there is a strong chance that your birth control pill is not being properly absorbed. When a birth control pill is not being absorbed, it means that is not going to effectively prevent you from getting pregnant.
What Should You Do if You Have a Stomach Virus For Birth Control?
A lot of people think that they should double their dosage of the birth control pill if they have a stomach. It is important to keep in mind that this is a very, very bad idea. Although stomach viruses can lessen the effectiveness of birth control, it doesn’t necessarily make it totally ineffective. Also keep in mind that if you do take a double dosage, you’re not going to have anything to take the next day, and ultimately, cause your birth control to be ineffective in the future. So, the best thing that you can do is use a condom. If you have an accident, consider Plan B. In reality, how likely are you to even want to have sexual intercourse when you are hovering over the toilet for hours?
How Long Will Your Birth Control Be Affected by a Stomach Virus?
This will mainly depend on how long you have the stomach virus for. The longer that you have the virus, the longer your birth control pill is going to be less effective. Remember that it generally takes about three days for your body to respond to the hormones which are found in birth control pills. (This is why it takes about three skipped pills to induce a menstrual cycle). If you have a stomach virus for more than one day, you should continue to use condoms for about a week, just to be on the safe side.
Stomach viruses are just one of the many factors which can hinder the overall effectiveness of your birth control pill. It may not seem like a problem at the time, but it is important to remember that it can lead to one in the future. Also keep in mind that stomach viruses are known to lessen the effectiveness of other medications, so it is important to be very cautious about all necessary medications when you have stomach viruses.
