fertility news

Contraception or birth control is used to prevent pregnancy. There are various methods of temporary birth control available and they work in different ways. Some block the sperm from reaching the egg-this is known as the barrier method. Condoms, cervical caps, and diaphragms are common barrier methods that prevent sperm from entering the uterus and are typically used with spermacides (creams, jellies or foams for example that kill or inactivate sperm). Other methods interfere with ovulation-the release of the egg from the ovary- by changing the hormonal balance. The birth control pill (oral contraceptive pill), patch, injection/implant, etc, put hormones into a woman’s body that prevent ovulation. Another method is designed to prevent pregnancy by changing the lining of the uterus so the fertilized egg cannot implant. Intrauterine devices are examples of this method.

How long it takes to get pregnant after discontinuing the use of birth control depends on a woman’s age and the method of birth control used. Discontinuing the use of barrier methods along with spermacides should restore the chance for pregnancy the next time you have intercourse. However, it may take anywhere from three to eighteen months to get pregnant after a contraceptive progestin-only injection.

Some women discontinuing the Pill seem to have misconceptions about how long it should take to conceive. A presentation given at a 2007 meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) had good news for these Pill users. The paper reported the results of a European study on oral contraceptives that followed more than 2,000 women on the Pill who discontinued use to attempt pregnancy. The women were followed for at least two years after stopping oral contraceptives. The study found that within just one cycle of stopping the Pill over 21 percent of the women had become pregnant. This was almost the same as the natural pregnancy rates of 20 to 25 percent per cycle in women who are not using any form of birth control. One year after they discontinued oral contraceptives 79.4 percent of the women was pregnant. The median time to conception was three months. These numbers too are the same as for non-birth-control-pill users.

A common misconception about the Pill is that long term use (more than two years) might affect fertility. This study found long term use had no effect on pregnancy rates. Eighty-one percent of women who used the Pill for two years or more conceived after one year. Finally, if a woman does get pregnant quickly after stopping the Pill there appears to be no increased risk of miscarriage or fetal problems.

Another method of birth control associated with many misconceptions is the intrauterine device (IUD). There are two types: one contains copper and the other a hormone. According to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) both products prevent pregnancy by preventing the egg and sperm from meeting. Copper disrupts sperm movement while the hormone helps block sperm from getting into the uterus. Both products also may make it harder for an egg to reach or attach to the uterus. The device must be inserted by a medical professional but once in place can be left in for five to twelve years.

The IUD is also the effective at preventing pregnancy compared to other methods of birth control. The IUD despite misconceptions is very safe and will not cause abortions or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Moreover, it will not cause infertility or decrease a woman’s chances of getting pregnant when she is ready to conceive.

There are other factors that create misconceptions about contraception. The media is just one example. The media including television, radio, and the Internet among others, is often responsible for altering the public’s perception especially in health matters. Information is given out in small digestible tidbits that may omit pertinent facts. Treatment risks in particular may be overblown or taken out of context. And as ARHP noted, ” Specifically pertinent for hormonal contraceptives, television ads for prescription products are required to include an overwhelming list of the adverse events reported in clinical trials.” Moreover, understanding the statistics associated with studies can be confusing. Finally, psychological factors can create misconceptions and bias a woman’s choice of birth control.

A woman should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of birth control available with her health care provider before deciding. This is particularly important if she wants to get pregnant in the not so distant future.

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