You have been using hormonal contraception for many years, perhaps even decades. It has worked. You’re now considering expanding or starting a family. You might be wondering if birth control affects your body’s ability shift into baby-making.
Can birth control make you infertile? The short answer to this question is no.
Miriam Cremer MD , a women’s healthcare specialist, says that hormonal birth control does not affect the ability to conceive a child in the future. Why is it that there’s a myth that birth control causes infertility. Dr. Cremer clears the air.
Can birth control affect your fertility?
What does it mean to have infertility? Infertility is when you have been trying for a year to get pregnant but still haven’t. It doesn’t necessarily mean you will not get pregnant.
Infertility can be caused by many factors, including:
- PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a hormonal imbalance that interferes with ovulation.
- Uterine Fibroids are benign (non-cancerous), tumors that develop in the lining your uterus.
- Endometriosis is a condition in which uterine tissue grows out of your uterus.
- Low Sperm Count is a condition in which sperm counts are lower than normal.
- Other health problems, including infections, tumors, and autoimmune disease.
- Unexplained Infertility is when healthcare providers cannot identify the cause of infertility.
What is not on the list of prohibited items? Hormonal contraception.
Dr. Cremer: “I speak to many people who are worried about this.” “But hormonal birth-control does not affect fertility.”
Birth control may mask other fertility-affecting health issues, such as irregular periods or symptoms of PCOS or endometriosis. Dr. Cremer says that birth control can be used to treat these health problems.
While you are on the pill, the patch, the shot or any other hormonal birth control method, it might seem like everything is working fine. You may not realize that your period is irregular or you are experiencing pain due to endometriosis unless you stop birth control and get pregnant.
What is the best method of birth control?
The hormone is a birth control that contains one or more hormonal substances. Some methods are progestin-only while others contain both estrogen and progestin. Some methods are short-acting such as birth control tablets. Some are long-acting such as implants, IUDs, and intrauterine devices.
The following are some of the options for hormonal birth control:
- Birth control pills (estrogen & progestin)
- Birth control shot (Depo Provera(r), only progestin).
- Implant (Nexplanon (r)) (progestin Only).
- Patch (Xulane (r) and Twirla (r)) is a combination of progestin and estrogen.
- Vaginal ring NuvaRing(r), Annovera(r), (estrogen, progestin).
- The only IUD that contains progestin is the Hormonal Implantable Device (Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta and Skyla).
These methods of birth control will not make you infertile, or affect your ability to conceive.
Dr. Cremer says that once the birth control has been removed, your fertility will return.
How long do birth control pills stay in the body?
It takes between one and two weeks for birth control hormones in your body to leave once you stop using the pill or remove the contraceptive. This is true for all hormonal birth controls except the shot (more about that later). This means that you may become pregnant within a few months of stopping the birth control method.
Depo-Provera Shot and Fertility
It can take a long time for your body (after your last injection) to start ovulating.
Dr. Cremer explains that the shots contain a high dose of progestin, which is intended to prevent pregnancy during 12 or 13-weeks. After stopping the shots it could take up to two years to get fertility and ovulation back to normal.
She adds that it doesn’t take as long for everyone but it is possible.
IUDs, fertility and IUDs
Intrauterine Device (IUD) is the small, T-shaped device that your healthcare provider inserts in your uterus. It’s an effective birth control method that can be left in place for many years.
Can an IUD cause fertility problems?
“This is what people worry most about,” says Dr. Cremer. If your IUD is placed correctly, you shouldn’t have any fertility issues later.
Very rarely, an IUD may become embedded in the uterine tissue or leave scarring. Even if the IUD is surgically removed in this situation, Dr. Cremer believes it is unlikely that this will cause infertility.
Choose the right birth control method
“The most important thing is to be aware that there are a variety of birth control methods,” says Dr. Cremer. In the last 20 years, hormonal birth control has made great strides. It doesn’t matter if you want hormonal or nonhormonal contraception, there is something for everyone.
Your healthcare provider can assist you if you have any questions or wish to switch birth control methods.
When to stop birth control if you are ready to become pregnant
You’ll need to stop using your birth control if you want a child.
There is no need to perform a birth-control cleanse. You don’t have to wait a long time before you try to get pregnant after stopping birth control. It’s important to prepare your body for a pregnancy .
This includes:
- Prenatal Vitamins .
- How to quit smoking.
- Reducing stress.
- Exercising.
- Eat well.
Visit your doctor when you are planning to get pregnant. You can discuss your medical history, your medications, and any other factors that may affect your ability and desire to become pregnant.
If you have been trying for a pregnany without success for more than a year (or six month if your age is 35 or higher), you should talk to your Ob/Gyn. You can discuss with them a variety of fertility options that will help you become pregnant.
