Does Birth Control Affect Fertility?

Over the years there have been many speculations about birth control methods affecting fertility. It’s important to get solid scientific proof on the topic and not consider old granny’s tales or the nosy-neighbour’s opinion on whether birth control pills cause fertility problems and are going to be the reason you can never get pregnant.

Overall, research concludes that birth control pills do not affect fertility. However, they may cause delayed fertility on termination of the birth control pills. So, for those who wondered can birth control cause infertility? you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Let’s take a more detailed look at the different birth control methods and how they affect fertility in women:

• Oral Contraceptives (OCs):

Also known as birth control pills, oral contraceptives are hormonal preparations used for reversible suppression of fertility. Some pills contain both estrogen as well as progestin (combined pills) while some pills contain only progestin (mini pills) and work by altering hormonal levels to inhibit pregnancy.

Birth control pills only thwart pregnancy while they are being ingested. Some women may experience delayed return of fertility once they stop talking the pills.

However, researchers believe that long term use of oral contraceptives may actually improve the prospects of pregnancy. According to studies, women on OCs for five years or longer were found to be more fertile than those who had been taking OCs for only two years. Most women can conceive in about a year post cessation. In this case, for whom do contraceptive pills cause infertility was a question that tormented them, they have a more than satisfactory answer!

It is natural to worry about the effect of contraceptive pills on pregnancy seeing how the pills are all about changing the body’s natural hormonal secretion and normal hormone secretion is crucial to being able to conceive.

• Shot or Injection

Birth control shots are hormonal injections containing progestin and prevent an unplanned pregnancy for three months at a time. A study suggests, that fertility resumes on average on 10 months following the last injection however, suppression of ovulation can persist for as long as 22 months. Therefore, it may not be the best choice for women looking to conceive within two years of discontinuation.

It is essential that you have a honest and open conversation about your sex life with your gynecologist so that they can guide you better on which is the best birth control method for you and to debunk any myths that you may have regarding being able to get pregnant at a later date. A similar and more personal conversation about the same needs to happen with your partner, especially if you intend to have a baby with them at a point in the future. Apart from you, even your partner needs to be assured that there are no definitive negative effects of pregnancy pills on your ability to conceive.