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Can the contraceptive pill cause an upset stomach?

Tagged as: Health, Sex<< Previous question   Next question >>
Question - (16 November 2011) 4 Answers - (Newest, 16 November 2011)
A female Australia age 30-35, anonymous writes:

I've been on the birth control pill for two and a half months, the first month I was completely fine but after my first period I generally had an upset stomach on-going for a month. I'm curious to whether this could be due to the pill before I go and see my doctor, I have been under a lot of emotional stress in the past month and my stomach has always played up when I've been especially nervous or upset so I think it's possible it may just be emotional stress and possibly even just a mind trick.

I disregarded that it could have been the pill as I was fine for the first month but now I'm not sure. It's been getting better, it's just that my bowel movements have definitely undergone a change to how they were prior to before.

If this makes any difference: I suffered from Anorexia in my midteens, still to this day I have a very irregular diet and when I do eat, it's generally not healthy - due to lack of food over the years my stomach hasn't adapted to food so well, but I've never had such loose bowel movements.

So I'm curious if this could be caused by the pill?

I also am only recently sexually active as of a month ago and I know an upset stomach can reduce the effectiveness of the pill.

My partner and I are using condoms as well but I'm not sure how well my body would be absorbing the pill when my stomach is often upset.

My stomach also seems to play up around the same time each day - in the afternoon an hour or two before I take my pill

View related questions: anorexic, condom, period, the pill

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A reader, anonymous, writes (16 November 2011):

This is verified as being by the original poster of the question

Candid Cally, LustyLisa and Honeypie - thankyou all for your answers, they were extremely helpful and information which has made me stress less over this situation. The problems which have caused so much emotional stress to me end as of this Friday and then I'm going on a holiday - so perhaps will see how my stomach goes after that - if it's still playing up, I will definitely go see my doctor. I need to get a prescription repeat anyways in the next month so I'll be sure to talk about it then.

Marti however I'm not sure what you're trying to suggest but I feel quite offended by your response - my issue here is my stomach ache and the fact that my stomach has been playing up and I'm putting all possibilites into what it could be and are asking for advice if it could be my pill, also if it could be related to my eating disorder/emotional stress, all which could be the answers. If you're suggesting that perhaps I am pregnant or something this is definitely not the case, at least very highly unlikely, when my stomach aches first started I had just lost my virginity so I worried I was pregnant, but I am on the pill, we used condoms, and he didn't even ejaculate, so I understand there is bound to be one very small chance I could be, but odds are, I definitely should be safe enough to say I'm not pregnant, plus I have gotten my period since then. I'm a medical student so I'm not stupid - but I don't know each and every problem with my body and that's why I'm going out of my way to learn, although it improves my health, this is the proffession I wish to be in and it interests me. But nevertheless, I'm not sure why you are targetting me or what you are potentially targetting me about.

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A female reader, Honeypie United States + , writes (16 November 2011):

Honeypie agony auntIf you think it's the pill call your doctor, could be the brand you are on that upsets it. There are many things that can cause upset stomach, such as Crohn's, stress, IBS. So seeing your doctor might be a good start.

It can be that your "bacterial" balance is off in your stomach, so add fibers to your breakfast - an apple for instance, easy up on coffee and milk, exercise, snack on some crackers, bananas, cut down on sugar, yogurt, Probiotics can help balance you out as well.

If you eat a lot of sugars you increase the production of yeast in the intestines which in turn can give you the runs.

If you have gotten antibiotics recently, most of the "good" bacteria in your intestines are shot and need help. Fibers and Probiotics can help you with that.

Still, see your doctor first.

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A female reader, LustyLisa United States +, writes (16 November 2011):

The oral contraceptive manipulates your body's hormonal system into believing it's pregnant in order to prevent ovalation and many women experience GI upset during the early months of pregnancy. Whether or not your body is responding normally to this particular dosage and type of pill is something your Dr needs to address. There are several differant types and dosages availible to help reduce negative side effects but again, it's your Dr that can assist in finding the right pill for you. Is your Dr aware of your struggle with anorexia because the pill often causes weight gain which is a potential source of anxiety for those with eating disorders. If you haven't mentioned that you really need to so he/she can offer you the best possible options for you. Good luck and I hope you get to feeling better.

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A female reader, Candid Cally United States +, writes (16 November 2011):

You need to bring this up with your doctor. There is a possibility that it has nothing to do with your birth control.

You may have developed a food intolerance, or there may be a physical change in your body that is causing your problem. Only a medical professional can examine you, and determine whether your medication or another factor is to blame.

I am giving you advice because i have lived through the eating disorder, still live with the disordered eating, and just assumed the problems with nausea, bowel movements, and many other health issues were caused by these things or medications I was prescribed at the time. As it turns out, my symptoms were from celiac disease. I'm certain I could have found this out much sooner if I had talked to my doctor instead of looking to the Internet for answers.

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