OpenHealth Q&A

Get answered by medical professionals

Concerns After Throwing Up Shortly After Taking Birth Control Pill

3/27/2025, 3:50:18 PMMale25-34

Hi everyone, I’m a 27-year-old female and I took my combined birth control pill at approximately 1:10 PM. An hour later, I experienced intense anxiety and unfortunately, I ended up throwing up in my mouth. I hadn’t eaten prior to taking the pill, so I was aware my stomach was essentially empty. The contents were mostly water and saliva, and since it didn’t cause any burning sensation, I decided to swallow it back down. Could this be considered as having missed a dose? Am I still safe? I've struggled to find relevant information regarding this kind of scenario online!

Morning SicknessPostpartumGynecology

Answers (1)

Cony

3/27/2025, 3:50:41 PM

OpenHealth AI

It's understandable to be concerned about what vomiting shortly after taking your birth control pill means for your health and safety. Since you vomited about an hour after taking the pill, it’s important to clarify how this affects its effectiveness.

Key Points:

  1. Timing Matters: If you vomit within two hours of taking a combined birth control pill, it can affect the absorption of the hormone in the pill, potentially leading to a missed dose scenario.
  2. Your Current Situation: Since you vomited about an hour after taking the pill and hadn't eaten, the pill may not have been fully absorbed into your system. Therefore, you might not be fully protected from pregnancy.

Next Steps:

  1. Take Another Pill: Since you’re concerned about the effectiveness, taking another pill as soon as possible is recommended if you are within the 24-hour window of your regular schedule. Follow this with your usual dose the next day.
  2. Use Backup Contraception: To ensure you’re protected, consider using a backup contraceptive method (like condoms) for the next 7 days.
  3. Monitor Your Symptoms: Continue to keep track of any ongoing symptoms, including anxiety or any other side effects, and adjust your routine if necessary.
  4. Stay Hydrated and Eat Regularly: To help alleviate nausea and prevent future vomiting, try to maintain a routine of eating regular, small meals throughout the day.

If you continue to experience significant vomiting or anxiety, it's worthwhile to discuss this with a healthcare professional, even if it's just to re-evaluate your birth control method or discuss managing anxiety. Let me know if you need more information or assistance!

Related Questions

Examining the Safe Use of Narcan in Healthy Individuals

As someone with red hair, I’ve come across studies suggesting that individuals with this hair color may have a higher tolerance for pain. I recently stumbled upon research discussing how an eccentric scientist administered naltrexone to some red mice, resulting in a reduction of their pain threshold to what is considered typical. This seemed to correlate with a gene that influences the body's opioid receptors. I'm curious about trying Narcan to determine if it has any noticeable effects—I'm not concerned about the placebo effect—but I'm uncertain if it would have adverse effects on me since I don’t have any opioid dependency. To give you an overview of my health profile: I’m a 27-year-old male, weigh 160 pounds, stand 6 feet tall, and I’m currently not on any medication nor do I have any history of medical issues. I appreciate any insights!

InfertilityGynecologyReproductive Medicine
Male25-34
4 hours ago

Hydroxychloroquine Prescription Following Low C4 Levels: Should I Continue?

Demographic Information: 19 years old, Assigned Female at Birth. Medical History: Diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), reactive gastropathy of unknown origin, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). Some of my healthcare professionals suspect mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), though I have not been formally diagnosed. Current Medications: I am currently taking 250 mg of clomipramine, 15 mg of memantine, 1 mg of clonazepam, 30 mg of loratadine, 40 mg of famotidine, 30 mg of propranolol, 15 mg of midodrine, 6 mg of naltrexone, and 200 mg of hydroxychloroquine. Additionally, I use iron and vitamin C supplements to address low ferritin levels and take 3 mg of melatonin as needed for sleep. Several months back, I consulted a rheumatologist upon recommendation due to unexplained rashes, joint swelling, and discomfort that couldn't be attributed to my current conditions (I initially believed they were linked to ME/CFS, but my ME specialist had doubts). Despite blood work showing no indicators of autoimmune disorders—such as normal levels for ESR, CRP, ANA, and RF—I was still referred to rheumatology. The rheumatologist conducted further extensive blood testing and subsequently prescribed hydroxychloroquine. He suggested I may have undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) but did not formally diagnose me. While I value his expertise, I want to ensure that I am only taking necessary medications. My apprehension stems from the fact that, among 18 blood tests performed, complement C4 was the only abnormality, which was recorded as slightly low. The battery of tests included assessments such as creatine kinase, a myomarker panel, HLA association panel (including celiac screening), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), complete blood count (CBC), ESR, CRP, anti-CCP, ANA, anti-dsDNA antibodies, anti-RNP antibodies, anti-Scl70 antibodies, anti-centromere antibodies, anti-Sm antibodies, anti-Ro antibodies, anti-La antibodies, and complement C3, alongside C4. I have been on hydroxychloroquine for three months and have noticed some improvements: although my fatigue persists, the rashes on my hands and wrists appear less severe, my fingers look slimmer, and joint pain has diminished. This does lend some reassurance about continuing the medication; however, I am concerned that these benefits could be attributed to either a placebo effect or the low-dose naltrexone rather than the hydroxychloroquine itself. My primary worry is the potential adverse effects of using hydroxychloroquine if it is not warranted for my condition. Are there specific signs I should monitor or indications suggesting that this medication might not be necessary? Should I alleviate my concerns, or is there reason to be cautious? Any insights would be immensely helpful, thank you!

InfertilityGynecologyReproductive Medicine
Male25-34
8 hours ago

Seeking Guidance on Hormonal Treatment as a Trans Man

I am a 21-year-old transgender man (FTM). About a year ago, I began receiving testosterone injections using a product called Testoviron, administered at a dosage of 125mg biweekly. During my most recent appointment with my endocrinologist, we chose to switch to an alternative injection called Nebido, which is a 250mg dose given every 12 weeks. My concern is whether extending the interval between these injections will slow my overall progress. Additionally, I've heard it may be necessary to have a second shot six weeks after the initial one to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. After reading some online, I noticed that this advice is common; however, I feel uncertain as my endocrinologist appears to have limited experience working with transgender patients. This has left me anxious about the potential effects of the hormonal therapy. I would greatly appreciate any insights or advice on this matter.

InfertilityGynecologyReproductive Medicine
Male25-34
9 hours ago

Chest Discomfort with Red Marks

Over the past year, I have developed red patches predominantly on my upper chest and occasionally on my neck. My physician suspects that this could be linked to anxiety. These marks often become painful upon contact and sometimes provoke an itch. Although I’m uncertain if it’s connected, I also experience occasional discomfort in my chest, particularly around the sternum and collarbone areas. I’m concerned that there might be a misdiagnosis and that an underlying issue could be present. Has anyone else faced a similar situation or discovered the underlying cause of their symptoms? I’m a 24-year-old male who does not smoke, consume alcohol, or use drugs.

InfertilityMiscarriageGynecology
Male25-34
14 hours ago

Is it Safe to Reintroduce Birth Control After a Smoking Break?

A 45-year-old woman has recently quit smoking after a 7-month period during which she also took Effexor. Due to the combination of medication and smoking, she decided to halt her hormonal birth control along with Effexor. Now, with a month of being smoke-free and currently taking Wellbutrin and Vyvanse, she feels confident about her progress and is contemplating resuming her birth control pills, specifically Seasonale. Her medical history reveals no complications such as blood clots, and her doctor initially approved her to restart the medication. However, after further consideration, the physician sought the opinion of an ObGyn for confirmation. The woman is eagerly awaiting feedback from the specialist, ideally before she intends to begin her birth control again this coming Sunday, which coincides with the start of her menstrual cycle. Since Seasonale is designed for extended use, this will already lead to postponing her period by three months, and any delay in resuming the pill could extend that timeline further by another 3.5 months. She notes that the mini-pill may not effectively assist with managing her PMS cravings, making it an unfavorable choice. The woman is reaching out for guidance on the appropriate course of action. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

ObstetricsGynecologyReproductive Medicine
Male25-34
15 hours ago