Pregnancy and the pill: does contraception affect fertility?

 

Marketed at the dawn of the 1960s, the pill continues to fuel doubts, even fantasies, on many subjects. The first, regarding the supposedly negative impact of contraception on fertility still stirs people's minds. How does the pill actually work on the female body? Its effects are reversible, but how soon can a woman expect to become pregnant after stopping the pill?

 

To go further, is it correct that the contraceptive pill can, in certain cases, play a protective role in the health and even in the fertility of women? Pregnancy and the pill: should we be afraid of contraception? We take stock of estrogen and progestogen, two of the most reliable and most used contraceptives for almost 60 years.

 

The contraceptive pill, what is it?

 

The contraceptive pill helps women manage their fertility by preventing unintended pregnancies. Far from harming fertility, it has reduced maternal and fetal mortality by promoting the regulation of pauses between pregnancies.

 

The pill is made from synthetic hormones. It is found as a combined pill (estrogen and progestin) or progestin pill (progestogen only).

The estrogen-progestogen and progestogen contraceptives have, depending on the case, an action on:

 

    ovulation by blocking the development of oocytes;

    the uterine lining which becomes thinner and makes implantation impossible;

     cervical mucus which thickens and blocks sperm as it passes through the cervix.

 

The issue here is the regularity of taking the contraceptive (ideally, it should be taken at the same time every day) to avoid what is commonly called a "pregnancy on the pill".

 

The special case of the morning after pill

 

In case of unprotected or poorly protected intercourse, the emergency pill, also called the “morning after pill” works by blocking or delaying ovulation, or even by modifying the endometrium, to prevent the implantation of the egg in the breast. uterus. There is therefore no termination of pregnancy here. Indeed, if the mechanism of pregnancy is already set in motion, the morning-after pill will not be effective, the pregnancy will continue its course.

 

The strengths of the pill and the disadvantages

 

Beyond its contraceptive function, the pill allows:

 

    Regularization of the menstrual cycle;

    A reduction in the side effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS);

    Relief of dermatological and endocrine symptoms;

    Reduced overall risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.

 

The estrogen-progestogens would even have a beneficial effect on:

 

    Symptoms of endometriosis;

    Ovarian cysts;

    Reducing the risk of serious infection of the ovaries, tubes and uterus.

 

Conversely, the pill can have certain drawbacks that must be weighed against the risk. These include the potential side effects associated with:

 

    Increased appetite;

    The onset of mastodynia (breast pain);

    The presence of spotting (vaginal bleeding outside of your period);

    Weight gain ;

    Decreased libido.

 

 

How long does it take to become pregnant after stopping the pill?

 

You think that pregnancy and the pill don't mix. However, the possibility of becoming pregnant remains more than ever possible when contraceptive treatment is interrupted. For some, it will only be a matter of weeks. For the others, it will take patience and wait several months. This is shown by the study carried out by specialists from the Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecological Endocrinology in Düsseldorf.

 

Of 175 women observed for 3,048 cycles immediately after stopping the contraceptive pill, 57.9% had their first cycles with ovulatory and luteal phases. However, during the first seven cycles, it appeared that the cycle was longer (35 days and more) and the luteal phase shorter (less than 10 days) than average. Which translates in practice to:

 

    A small number of cycles limiting the chances of fertilization;

    A failing or short-lived luteal phase preventing implantation.

 

We had to wait until the ninth cycle to return to normal cycle times with sufficient luteal phase. It therefore emerges from this work that the effects of contraception are reversible. The regeneration time can take up to 9 months or more.

According to figures from INED (national institute for demographic studies): after one year, 97% of couples become pregnant. These results hide various situations. In fact, of this total, only 25% of them see their process completed within the first month after stopping the pill. Over time, the chances of getting pregnant decrease from 25% per cycle in the first year to 12% and then 7% after the second year.

 

If, despite a prolonged interruption of the pill, no pregnancy is present: then it is time to check in with a specialist in ART (medically assisted procreation). With it, you can consider several ways to make your desire for a child come true. Starting with a fertility check-up that will enlighten you on the avenues to follow. Buy Abortion pills in UAE

 

Would you like to know more about the protocols implemented in IVI centers in the event of suspected infertility or the desire for late motherhood? Do not hesitate to contact us on 08 00 941 042 (free number from France) or +34 960 451 185. To get in touch with our employees, you can also complete our online form. Anxious to receive you in the best possible conditions, our teams talk to you in French in our clinics in Alicante, Barcelona, ​​Bilbao, Ibiza, Madrid, Málaga, Mallorca, San Sebastian, Seville and Valencia.