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You might be worried if your body can adapt from the birth-control phase to the pregnancy phase. However, remember that once you stop using these pills, your body’s natural fertility will resume. There’s no evidence that birth control pills cause long-term effects on fertility. Having a better understanding of the myths that surround contraceptives can help in planning your pregnancy.
Infertility Due to Birth Control Pills
To put it in simple words, infertility due to birth control pill consumption is a myth. No scientific records say that if you are on birth control pills for a long period, you won’t be able to get pregnant once you stop consuming them.How do Birth Control Pills Work?
Birth control pills consist of hormones that ensure your eggs do not ovulate in the first place. These hormones play a major role in thickening your cervical mucus, which further helps prevent the sperm from reaching the egg.Once you stop consuming contraceptive pills, the hormone supplements stop influencing your cycle in a couple of weeks, or even in days. Once these hormones are out, your menstrual cycle returns to its original schedule, further letting your fertility levels return to their usual state. In certain rare cases, ovulation can start even before the hormones leave your system.If you are unable to conceive even after discontinuing the birth control pills, it does not mean that the pills have caused it. You must schedule a visit with your doctor to determine the exact cause of your inability to conceive.Conceiving Time Window Post Stopping Birth Control Pills
You don’t need to wait long after stopping the birth control to try for a baby. Your body can adapt to it, and you have higher chances of conceiving within a window of three months after stopping the pills.- Don’t let yourself be bothered by the wrong fear or a misconception of infertility after consuming birth control pills.
- Underlying health conditions and your age are some of the critical factors that can affect your fertility more than the use of contraceptives as prescribed by your doctor.
Myths Surrounding Birth Control Pills
Myth#1 : Birth control pill consumption can extend your fertility chances
This is certainly not true. The pills are provided to repress fertility, and effectively, they pause your chances of getting pregnant in the present. After eliminating the pill consumption, your body gets back to its regular cycle, which can increase the chances of getting pregnant. Your fertility largely depends on your health, and while birth control pills don't harm your chances of getting pregnant, your ability to conceive will also depend on your age and overall health condition. Orally consumed birth control pills do not decrease ovarian reserve, and there is no evidence backing up the fact that they can extend your fertility lifespan.Myth#2: Birth defects can be caused by using contraceptives
If you've come across misleading information about family planning, you might believe that using COCs (Combined Oral Contraceptives) can cause birth defects. However, contraceptives do not cause any birth-related issues and are not harmful to your baby.Myth#3: Hormonal birth control pills can harm your overall health
The positive benefits of hormonal birth control pills can outweigh the potential negative effects, especially if you are a healthy woman. Birth control pills are known for lowering the rates of ovarian cancer. Long-term use of birth control pills, especially progesterone-only pills, can reduce the risk of cancer. If you have been facing irregular period cycles, then these pills can act as a protective measure against uterine cancer.Myth#4: Hormonal contraceptives can cause abortions and miscarriages
If you're worried that contraceptives cause abortions or miscarriages, it's important to know that this is a myth, not a medical fact. Healthcare professionals prescribe oestrogen or progesterone-type hormonal birth control pills to prevent ovulation in your body. Without ovulation, embryo formation is not possible. Therefore, there is no need to worry about conceiving. No studies prove a valid connection between the use of birth control pills and abortions and miscarriages.Myth#5: Contraceptive pills affect the wrong parts of your body.
Once you swallow the contraceptive pills as prescribed by your doctor, they get dissolved in your digestive system. The hormones in the pills are absorbed into your bloodstream. Afterwards, the hormones in your body are metabolised in the gut and liver and later eliminated from your body. The pills do not stay in your body or accumulate in part of your internal organs.Role Of Birth Control Pills In Infertility Patients
Healthcare professionals do prescribe oral birth control pills for infertility. Birth control pills are prescribed for infertility for different reasons, and some of them are mentioned below.Birth control pills:- Cycle scheduling: Oral contraceptive pills can help delay your cycle incase you are not available on certain dates or if your doctor isn’t available for consultation
- Suppression of ovarian cysts: These pills can be useful in the prevention of functional cysts and also help in the treatment of these cysts.
- Donor egg cycles: Oral contraceptive pills can be used to synchronise donor egg cycles as well as the recipients.
FAQs on Can birth control pills cause infertility?
- Does the contraceptive pill cause infertility?Confusion usually happens between birth control pill consumption and infertility. The contraceptive pills do not cause infertility. It is used only to delay your pregnancy chances temporarily, and has no effect or causes infertility once you stop consuming it.
- Can you lose fertility after birth control?Contraceptives do not harm your ability to conceive, regardless of consuming them for longer periods and in different types. Once you stop taking it, no kind of delay in your fertility can be experienced, given your health conditions. Appropriate counselling is important to make sure that you can see the benefits of contraceptive pills.
- Can birth control pills affect egg quality?Birth control pill consumption does not relate to causing any kind of long-term impact, especially on your egg quality. Once you stop using them, your natural menstrual cycle is set to return, and ovulation resumes in a time period of a few months.