Birth control pills, or oral contraceptives, are a convenient and effective method of preventing pregnancy. The pills are to be taken on a schedule to maximize effectiveness. The pill should be taken at the same time every day. The pill takes about 30 minutes to be absorbed into the bloodstream. If a woman vomits before this time has passed, she may need to take precautions to prevent pregnancy and also to ensure the pill is not causing the vomiting.
Step 1
Consult a physician after vomiting a birth control pill. There is a chance that the pill's ingredients are too harsh on the stomach or that the level of hormones is too irritating. If the vomiting is due to something else, such as food poisoning or a bacterial infection, the pill may be continued.
Step 2
Take another active pill once the vomiting has subsided or skip that day's pill. A medical care provider can offer advice as to whether it is suitable to skip one pill and maintain the regular pill routine. If vomiting occurs again, contact a medical professional and discontinue the pill.
Step 3
Use a back-up birth control method, such as a condom or spermicide. The missed pill will disrupt the hormone levels that protect against pregnancy, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This back-up method should be continued for the rest of the month.
Step 4
Take two pills the next day if a medical care professional has advised to treat the vomited pill as a missed pill. Don't take this second pill if a make-up pill was taken on the day of vomiting. In a situation where a woman missed the pill, she would take one pill as soon as she remembered and then take the regularly scheduled pill at the normal time. It is safe to take two pills in one day to make up for the expelled pill.
Women using progestin-only, or mini-pill, birth control should not take two pills in one day, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Instead, the woman should use a back-up method until the next menstrual period ends.
Tips and Warnings
- Some mild spotting can occur due to a missed pill.
