Key takeaways:
Birth control pills contain hormones that work in your body to prevent pregnancy. Most foods and supplements are safe to combine with the pill. But a few may affect how well birth control pills work.
Eating large amounts of grapefruit products can raise your risk of birth control pill side effects. Some research suggests that soy products may change hormone levels in the body. But experts aren’t sure whether they interact with birth control pills.
You can take birth control pills with or without food. But if it causes nausea as a side effect, try eating before your dose. Nausea from birth control pills is typically temporary and most noticeable when you start taking it.
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Over half of U.S. women from ages 15 to 49 use some form of birth control (contraception). Oral birth control pills are a popular choice for pregnancy prevention.
Taking birth control pills as directed and avoiding things that interact with them helps limit side effects and prevent unintended pregnancies. Many people think of other medications when they hear the words “drug interaction.” But sometimes, foods you eat and dietary supplements you take can also affect a medication’s effectiveness.
What supplements and foods affect birth control pills? Below, we’ll answer five commonly asked questions about birth control pill interactions.
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1. Do any foods affect birth control pills?
Most foods don’t affect birth control pills. But there are concerns that soy products could affect certain hormone levels. Soy is one of many foods that contains phytoestrogens — plant compounds that may act like the sex hormone estrogen in your body.
Experts have questioned whether these compounds can affect estrogen-based medications, including birth control pills. The concern is whether eating high amounts of phytoestrogens while taking estrogen-based birth control pills could raise the risk of side effects. But there’s not enough research available to draw any firm conclusions.
Foods that have high amounts of phytoestrogens include:
Broccoli
Edamame
Lentils
Miso
Peaches
Raspberries
Sesame seeds
Soybeans
Soy milk
Strawberries
Tempeh
Tofu
Winter squash
Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean you have to stop eating these foods if you take the pill. You’d likely have to consume an excessively large amount of phytoestrogens every day to affect your natural hormone levels. And even then, experts aren’t sure what impact these foods would have on birth control pills.
If you tend to eat large amounts of foods that contain phytoestrogens, it’s a good idea to discuss it with your prescriber. But they’ll likely tell you that soy is safe with birth control pills.
2. Does grapefruit interact with birth control?
Grapefruit is notorious for its ability to cause drug interactions, including with estrogen-containing birth control pills. Grapefruit slows down a group of liver enzymes (proteins) that break down estrogen in your body.
Birth control and supplements: Pharmacists review which dietary supplements interact with birth control, including St. John’s wort, activated charcoal, and more.
Avoiding grapefruit: Experts list some of the most common medications that interact with grapefruit products — plus what drives these citrus fruit interactions.
Side effects of the pill: Read about potential birth control side effects — from headaches to tender breasts — and how to manage them.
If you’re taking a birth control pill that contains estrogen, eating grapefruit may raise estrogen levels in your body. This can raise your risk of side effects, such as nausea, headaches, and breast tenderness.
As with the food interactions discussed above, this doesn’t mean you need to stop eating grapefruit. But you may want to avoid consuming large amounts if you take estrogen-containing birth control pills.
3. What supplements should you avoid with birth control pills?
Many people think dietary supplements and herbal remedies are safer than prescription medications because they’re derived from natural sources. But they have their own risks, side effects, and interactions to be aware of.
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A number of supplements affect birth control pills. In some cases, they may make birth control less effective. In other cases, you may have a greater risk of side effects. Some supplements that interact with the pill include:
Fenugreek supplements (consuming fenugreek in foods is safe)
Maca root
This isn’t a complete list of all supplements that may affect birth control pills. It’s a good idea to share a medication list that includes any supplements you’re taking with your prescriber and pharmacist. They can check for potential interactions.
4. Can you take birth control with food?
It doesn’t matter if you take birth control pills with or without food. Eating doesn’t affect how your body absorbs the pill.
But taking your dose with food can help combat nausea, a common birth control side effect. Nausea is more likely to happen during the first couple of months you start the pill. Taking your birth control with food can lessen feelings of nausea until your body adjusts to the medication.
Taking your birth control pills at the same time every day is crucial for them to be as effective as possible. Taking pills with the same meal each day is a good tactic to help you remember your doses. As long as you’re consistent with mealtimes, this can help you take your pills consistently and prevent nausea at the same time.
Good to know: Birth control pills can make caffeine’s effects last longer in your body. Both estrogens and progestins slow down how quickly your body breaks down caffeine. So if you’re just getting started with birth control pills, consider lowering your caffeine intake until you know how this interaction affects you.
5. Are there foods that work as natural birth control?
No. There are no foods that work as natural birth control. There is no evidence supporting claims that certain foods can help prevent pregnancy. You shouldn’t replace effective contraception with food items or follow “birth control diets” that you may find online.
Below is a list of some foods and herbal products that people have tried to use as natural birth control:
Wild carrot seed, also called Queen Anne’s lace
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, also called Chinese hibiscus
These herbal remedies have no evidence that they work to prevent pregnancy. In many cases, research has been conducted only in lab animals. This means we don’t know if they would have the same results in humans.
Alternatives to the pill
If you’re looking for an alternative to birth control pills, there are several effective options to choose from:
Birth control method | Does it contain hormones? | How it’s used | Effectiveness |
Yes, an estrogen and a progestin (lab-made progesterone) | Applied to the skin Changed once a week | About 91% | |
Yes, an estrogen and a progestin | Inserted into the vagina for 3 weeks Removed for 1 week to allow for menstruation | About 91% | |
Medroxyprogesterone (the “Depo shot”) | Yes, a progestin | Injected by a healthcare professional Works for 3 months | About 94% |
Nexplanon (the arm implant) | Yes, a progestin | Inserted in the upper arm by a healthcare professional Lasts for up to 3 years | Over 99% |
Hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) | Yes, a progestin | Inserted in the uterus by a healthcare professional Lasts 3 to 8 years, depending on the IUD | Over 99% |
Paragard (the copper IUD) | No | Inserted in the upper arm by a healthcare professional Lasts for up to 10 years | Over 99% |
Barrier methods, such as condoms | No | Used on demand when you’ll be having sex Must be used every time to work | Ranges from 72% to 88% |
Every method of birth control will have its own list of pros and cons to consider. Your reproductive healthcare team can help you decide which may work best for you.
The bottom line
Most foods don’t affect birth control pills. In fact, if the pill causes nausea as a side effect, taking it with food can help relieve it. But there are a few foods that might interact with birth control pills.
Large amounts of grapefruit products may raise your risk of side effects from the pill. There’s also some concern that soy products may change hormone levels in the body. But research isn’t clear on whether this could affect birth control pills.
Why trust our experts?
References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2023). Barrier methods of birth control: Spermicide, condom, sponge, diaphragm, and cervical cap.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2023). Effectiveness of birth control methods.
Daniels, K., et al. (2020). Current contraceptive status among women aged 15–49: United States, 2017–2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Delgado, B. J., et al. (2023). Estrogen. StatPearls.
Ismail, J., et al. (2024). The wild carrot (Daucus carota): A phytochemical and pharmacological review. Plants.
Ismail, N. H., et al. (2021). Augmentation of the female reproductive system using honey: A mini systematic review. Molecules.
Jefferson, W. N. (2010). Adult ovarian function can be affected by high levels of soy. The Journal of Nutrition.
Jia, S., et al. (2017). Recent advances in Momordica charantia: Functional components and biological activities. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Kayode, O. T., et al. (2021). Contraceptive and biochemical effect of juice extract of Allium cepa, Allium sativum, and their combination in Canton S fruit flies. Journal of Food Biochemistry.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (n.d.). Natural doesn’t necessarily mean safer, or better.
National Research Council Panel on Neem. (1992). Medicinals. Neem: A Tree for Solving Global Problems.
Patisaul, H. B., et al. (2010). The pros and cons of phytoestrogens. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology.
Vasudeva, N., et al. (2008). Post-coital antifertility activity of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. roots. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Veterans Affairs Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural transformation. (n.d.). Phytoestrogens.
