Can you take laxatives while on birth control

Some people use fertility awareness as a method of contraception. This is considered one of the least effective methods of contraception , but it works for some people. Vasectomy is one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy. But for the first 3 months after the procedure, couples should use an additional method of birth control.

Lactational amenorrhoea method LAM is a temporary birth control method used by those who have just had a baby. A review of studies reported that the follow birth control options may be less effective for women with overweight or obesity:.

Some evidence suggests continuous use or a higher dose of oral contraceptives to increase efficacy in people with overweight or obesity.

Many birth control methods come with physical and emotional changes. If this happens to you, you can work with your doctor to find another solution that balances your birth control needs with the side effects. You may also want to see a doctor to change your birth control method because your personal preferences have changed. Individuals and couples have a number of options to help with family planning and reduce the chance of unwanted pregnancy.

Many of these methods are highly effective, but imperfect use of birth control can make them less so. A number of medications, some lifestyle factors, and some medical conditions can also cause birth control to work less effectively.

Here are four things she learned along the way. There are many different birth control methods, and all have pros and cons. Take this assessment to help you decide which method is right for you. Your lifestyle, choices, and goals can vary with your age.

Your birth control preferences may vary, too. It discusses when you should use backup contraception. It also talks about other birth control options. Oral contraceptives work by changing your hormone levels. This stops you from ovulating releasing eggs from your ovaries. This, in turn, prevents you from getting pregnant. The active ingredients in the pill work over the course of your menstrual cycle. Their effectiveness depends on taking them on a regular basis.

When you miss a dose or two, you may ovulate and become pregnant. Diarrhea affects how well your body absorbs foods, liquids, and medications. Instead of being taken up into the bloodstream, they are lost in the stool. If the active ingredients in your birth control pills aren't absorbed through your intestines, they won't do the job they were designed to do. Diarrhea can happen suddenly due to an infection , food poisoning , a food allergy , or food sensitivity , like lactose intolerance.

The pill may no longer protect against pregnancy if you have severe diarrhea for more than 24 hours. Severe diarrhea means you pass six to eight watery stools in a hour period.

The pill also may not work if your diarrhea is not severe but lasts over 48 hours. If you rely on oral contraception for birth control, call your doctor. The doctor's advice will be based on:. Your doctor will probably tell you to finish your current pill pack to keep your menstrual cycle on schedule. You may also need to use a different method of birth control until you finish a week of hormone pills or have your period. Illnesses that cause chronic, repeated bouts of diarrhea can make oral birth control a problem.

The most common conditions that cause chronic diarrhea include:. These conditions may begin before you started taking birth control or after you have been taking the pill for a while. Chronic diarrhea is also common after gastric bypass surgery and some other procedures involving the intestines.

In addition, chronic diarrhea can come and go. It can recur for months, resolve for a period of time, then return. If you develop chronic diarrhea after reliably using birth control pills for a while, talk to your doctor. It is commonly recommended that women who live with chronic diarrhea use birth control methods other than the pill. The pill is just one form of birth control. Other types of contraception that aren't taken orally and aren't affected by diarrhea include:.

The vaginal ring, for example, provides the same hormones as the pill. The difference is that the hormones are absorbed through the vaginal wall. If you need to use backup birth control while on the pill, choose a barrier method such as a condom or diaphragm.

If you take oral contraceptives, be aware that having diarrhea can change their effectiveness. Your doctor or midwife will usually only recommend senna if other laxatives have not worked.

Lactulose and Fybogel are safer laxatives to take during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. For more information about how senna can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, read this leaflet on treating constipation on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy BUMPs website.

There are some medicines that do not mix well with senna and can change the way it works. Apart from liquorice root preparations, there are no known problems with taking other herbal remedies and supplements with senna.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. Senna is known as a stimulant laxative — it stimulates the muscles that line your gut, helping them to move poo along your bowel. Take senna for a few days only and certainly no longer than a week. If you take senna for longer, your body can start to rely on it, rather than your bowels doing the work on their own.

If you are still constipated after taking senna for 3 days, talk to your doctor. Ideally, you should only use senna occasionally and for a few days at a time. Using senna for longer can lead to diarrhoea. Stop taking it if you get diarrhoea. It can also cause an electrolyte imbalance, where levels of substances like sodium, potassium and magnesium in your body get too high or too low.

A severe electrolyte imbalance can cause serious health problems such as muscle spasm and twitching, and even convulsions. Using senna for many weeks, even months, could also stop your bowel working properly on its own. Occasionally, you may need to take 2 different types of laxatives at the same time to get your bowels moving again.

Only take 2 laxatives together on the advice of your doctor or pharmacist as there is an increased risk of side effects. There are other types of laxatives. They work in a different way to senna but are equally good at treating constipation. Some take longer to work than senna. There's no clear evidence to suggest that taking senna will reduce fertility in either men or women. However, speak to a pharmacist or your doctor before taking it if you're trying to get pregnant.

Senna does not affect any type of contraception including the combined pill and emergency contraception unless you have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours. If you have severe diarrhoea your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Look on the pill packet to find out what to do. Read more about what to do if you're on the pill and you're vomiting or have diarrhoea.

It might be a good idea to stop eating pastries, puddings, sweets, cheese and cake for a while as these foods can make constipation worse.

It's quite common to have constipation after surgery. Using a laxative may help relieve the discomfort. If you have constipation after an operation, it's better to use lactulose because it's gentler on your stomach muscles than senna.

It's often possible to relieve constipation without having to use laxatives. Before trying senna — or to stop constipation coming back — it may help to:. Page last reviewed: 24 January Next review due: 24 January Senna - Brand name: Senokot On this page About senna Key facts Who can and cannot take senna How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects of senna Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about senna.

About senna Senna is a natural laxative made from the leaves and fruit of the senna plant. Senna comes as tablets and as a liquid that you swallow syrup. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? It's best to take senna at bedtime so it works overnight. The most common side effects are stomach cramps and diarrhoea. These are usually mild and short-lived.

Do not take senna for more than 1 week. Long-term use of senna can stop your bowel working properly on its own. Pee may turn a red-brown colour while you take senna. This is harmless and returns to normal after treatment has finished. Senna is safe to take for most adults aged 18 years and over.