I use Ortho-Cyclen birth control pills, which I take faithfully at the same time every morning. Recently I've been throwing up in the afternoon. Could this affect the effectiveness of the pill? How long does it take for my body to absorb the pill?

Carrie

Throwing up several hours after you take your birth control pill will not affect its effectiveness -- it is out of your stomach within a couple of hours. Daily vomiting, however, is cause for concern and should be investigated. If it is self-inflicted vomiting (bulimia) then you MUST get counseling. Pregnancy is another possibility for your afternoon heaves -- "morning sickness" can happen at any time of the day. Gastrointestinal troubles, such as gallbladder disease or a partial bowel obstruction, may produce vomiting. The pill itself could be the culprit; nausea is a common side effect, and if this vomiting started soon after you began taking the pill, the pill itself is the likely cause.
Make an appointment with your doctor. If it turns out the pill is the reason for your throwing up, then taking it at bedtime or switching to a different pill may keep you out of the bathroom.