When scrolling through your Instagram feed, you’ve probably seen a celebrity or two post a picture with a detox tea. It’s a popular sponsored post that you can see in the feeds of influencers and Kardashians.
However, Dr. Virgina Beckett, a spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, recently told the Sun that these detox teas have some pretty serious side effects, specifically unexpected pregnancy.
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Now let’s back up for a second. No they cannot directly impregnate people who drink them. Instead, it’s more of an indirect, secondary side effect.
Dr. Beckett explains that these teas contain the senna leaf, which can cause people to have diarrhea or vomit. If you happen to be on the contraceptive pill, these can reduce the pill’s effectiveness.
“If a woman vomits within two hours of taking the contraceptive pill, it may not have been fully absorbed into her bloodstream,” Dr. Beckett tells the Sun. She further explains that it’s not just the vomiting that hurt the pill’s chances, but severe diarrhea (meaning six to eight water stools in 24 hours) also can reduce them.
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One of the most popular teas, Bootea, does post on its site’s FAQ page: “Our teas may affect the accuracy of the pill. We cannot comment on other forms of contraception and would ask you to consult your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking the tea.”
The other popular company, Flat Tummy Tea, is also aware of its affect on birth control pills, telling Now magazine, “Our tea is all natural and super gentle, though as it works as a cleanse it can reduce the effectiveness of some medications.”
