Can having diarrhea make the pill less effective?

I had diarrhea after taking my pill.

Jul 05, 2016

Having “loose” poop every now and then probably won’t affect how well your pill works, but severe diarrhea (eg. if you have it several times in one day) might. If you rely on the pill for birth control and you have severe diarrhea, it’s a good idea to use a backup method like condoms if you have sex while you’re sick or in the 7 days after you recover.

Still not working?

Common things like forgetting to take a pill or throwing up right after taking one are part of why the pill has a 9% failure rate. If that sounds too risky to you, you can double up with condoms or switch to a lower maintenance method.

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Related methods

Dive in and learn all the details about these related birth control methods.

birth control
Birth control pill
Very effective if you use it correctly. Easy to use, but you have to remember to take it every day.
birth control
Implant (Nexplanon)
Super effective, lasts for years, low-maintenance, and private.
birth control
IUD
Super effective, lasts for years, low-maintenance, and private (though some partners can feel the strings). You can choose hormonal or non-hormonal.
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Birth control ring
Very effective if you use it correctly. Easy to use and works like the pill, but you don't have to worry about it every day.
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Condom
Very effective if you use them correctly, but not super effective the way most people use them. Hormone free, protect against STIs, and don't require a prescription, but they do require work.