Many women question if using birth control for many years would affect their fertility in the future. The great news is that taking birth control tablets for a long time shouldn’t have an adverse effect on your capacity to conceive.
The hormone in the pill only remains in your body for a little time, which is why you must take one daily for the medicine to work. Therefore, within a few months of stopping, you should resume your regular cycle and be able to conceive. The morning-after pill is used to prevent pregnancy by women whose method of birth control has failed or who have participated in an unprotected sexual role.
It’s a common misconception that birth control can affect fertility in the long run. That is untrue. Females who had previously used birth control for seven years were assessed in one sizable study. 21% of these women were able to conceive within the first month of ceasing birth control, and nearly 80% were successful within a year. So why is it still believed that birth control interferes with fertility?
How is birth control effective?
Each method of birth control functions a little bit differently. It operates in a variety of ways, such as:
- Stopping sperm from getting to an egg.
- Preventing the release of an egg from your ovary.
- Sperm is damaged such that it cannot travel to an egg.
- Causing your cervical mucus to thicken so that sperm cannot pass through it.
- Altering the uterine lining’s thickness to prevent egg implantation
Types of Birth Control
Discuss birth prevention with your spouse and healthcare practitioner before deciding on a technique. Birth control methods only work when used correctly. Make sure you are familiar with how to apply the method you select.
Among the birth control options are:
Barrier techniques: Sperm cannot enter your uterus using barrier techniques. So every time you have sex, a barrier mechanism is used.
Hormonal medication and devices: Drugs and gadgets that employ hormones to suppress ovulation or alter the environment in your uterus and cervix are known as hormonal techniques. Some hormone treatments are daily (short-acting), while your doctor inserts others into your arm or uterus.
Sterilisation: Sterilisation is the surgical process of permanently ending the pregnancy. There are sterilisation techniques for both men and women.
Fertility awareness: Natural birth control strategies are used in fertility awareness. Another name for this is natural family planning.
Emergency contraception: If your birth control stops working, emergency contraception protects you from becoming pregnant. This can be viewed as your final “safety net” against pregnancy.
Abstinence: Avoiding sexual activity to avoid getting pregnant.
Awareness of Fertility
Some techniques rely just on your body; no gadgets or medications are used. They are free, inexpensive, safe, and efficient when used correctly. But it’s challenging to accomplish that. Predicting which days of the month you’d most likely become pregnant is the core notion. On those days, you’ll skip having sex.
Finding your fertile days is not always straightforward, despite how simple it may seem. Additionally, you could be better off using a different tactic if your cycle is irregular. Until you practice your fertility awareness technique properly each time, your chances of getting pregnant could be as high as 24%. Comparatively speaking, those same odds are:
- 18% if you exclusively use male condoms
- Having a diaphragm, 12%
- 9% if you use a vaginal ring, a contraceptive patch, or birth control tablets
- Less than 1% if you use an IUD or receive an implant
Disproving Myths About Birth Control
Although using birth contraception does not cause infertility, the subject has considerable ambiguity. Here are 4 fertility-related details to be aware of when discontinuing birth control.
A normal period may take time to resume
Some women who quit using birth control may take longer to resume regular menstruation and ovulation. However, within a month of ceasing birth control, the majority of women return to having regular menstrual cycles. In order to rule out any underlying medical concerns or issues, women who require longer than this may wish to speak with an OB-GYN or fertility specialist.
Irregularities in the menstrual cycle
A predictable, regular menstrual cycle can be one of the advantages of using birth control. But occasionally, this can conceal menstrual irregularities. Amenorrhea, irregular bleeding, and heavy periods can all be factors in infertility in women. So when a woman quits using birth control, these anomalies could be noticeable, which makes it harder to get pregnant.
STIs may result in infertility
It’s possible that some women who utilise birth control will use fewer condoms. While the pill, IUDs, and condoms all work to prevent conception, only condoms offer protection from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Many STIs, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea, can affect fertility if not treated. In situations where infection can be dangerous, women using birth control must also use condoms to safeguard against STIs. Women should also undergo routine STI testing and seek treatment right away if an STI is discovered.
It Matters What Kind Of Birth Control Is Used
There are some forms of birth prevention that can actually increase fertility, despite the fact that research has proved that no kind of birth control has adverse effects on fertility. According to one study, women who used oral contraceptives for five years before attempting to conceive were more likely to become pregnant within six months of stopping the pill. According to researchers, the consequences of endometriosis may have diminished and women’s iron storage may have improved. However, other elements including age, way of life, and general health, also significantly impact fertility.
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