# Birth control-normal side effect? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 18, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-normal-side-effect/219826 "2003-12-18T19:18:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sweetfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@sweetfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweetfreak)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-normal-side-effect/219826/1 "2003-12-18T19:18:59Z")
I started on birth control pills about 3 weeks ago. This last week I have had bouts of nausea that last for about 15 to 30 minutes. I usually have them in the morning. Is this a normal side effect of the pill? The reason I ask is because I have been on birth control pills in the past and have not had this reaction. I am taking triphasil but these pills seem to be made a little bit differently than the ones I have used in the past. Any advice would be appreciated. I hate feeling sick to my stomach more than anything in the world. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-normal-side-effect/219826/2 "2003-12-18T19:26:40Z")
> **[Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos](https://www.yahoo.com/)** > > Latest news coverage, email, free stock quotes, live scores and video are just the beginning. Discover more every day at Yahoo! > [@](#): > > Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome: > More common > > **Abdominal cramping or bloating,** acne (usually less common after first 3 months and may improve if acne already exists), breast pain, tenderness, or swelling, dizziness, **nausea,** swelling of ankles and feet, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-normal-side-effect/219826/3 "2003-12-18T19:29:46Z")
If it continues, switch brands. Really. There are so freakin’ many different brands out there, all with different levels of everything, that there’s almost certainly one that’s going to work better with your particular system. I tried four different ones before I settled on one. There’s no need to suffer, no matter how minor you feel it is. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-normal-side-effect/219826/4 "2003-12-18T19:47:35Z")
Give it another month and if you’re still queasy, switch. Sometimes it takes a while to find the pill that’s best for you. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-normal-side-effect/219826/5 "2003-12-18T21:46:43Z")
I’ve tried 11 types of birth control. NuvaRing is my resounding favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-normal-side-effect/219826/6 "2003-12-18T22:41:44Z")
Hmmm… nausea in the morning? Are you pregnant? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-normal-side-effect/219826/7 "2003-12-19T01:28:23Z")
Personal anecdote: The same thing happened to me when I was on Triphasil. After taking the pill I felt sick for about 30 minutes afterwards. I would complain about it to the doctors at the health clinic I went to but none of them would believe that it was the pills making me feel that way. I gave up trying to convince them to change my prescription (like it was a big hassle to do so?) and stopped taking them. When I started on the pill again, I tried Alesse and never had any nausea with it. YMMV. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-normal-side-effect/219826/8 "2003-12-19T01:40:36Z")
I had this problem back when I was on the pill - I solved it by switching the time I took it to about half an hour before I went to bed (or at 11PM, whichever was first). I don’t remember which brand I took, but taking it then apparently let me sleep through the nausea. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-normal-side-effect/219826/9 "2003-12-19T02:55:59Z")
I tried eating something (a few crackers perhaps) before taking my triphasil. Seemed to help. ---
**Author:** ![sweetfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@sweetfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweetfreak)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-normal-side-effect/219826/10 "2003-12-19T04:12:05Z")
Hmmm…thanks for some of your thoughts. I don’t seem to get the nausea right after taking the pill. And no, there is no possible way for me to be pregnant.😃