Guide to Birth Control and Pregnancy

Having control over your reproductive health and family planning is so important. But what happens when you’re ready to start trying for a baby? How likely is it for a pregnancy to occur when you’re still on birth control? Keep reading to hear our answers to these and other important questions about birth control and pregnancy.

Does taking birth control affect a pregnancy test?

Hormonal birth control won’t affect the results of a pregnancy test. The hormones only make changes to your hormone balance so pregnancy is less likely to occur. In other words, it’s a good idea to take a pregnancy test if you think you’re pregnant, even if you’ve been using contraception.

When to stop birth control when trying to get pregnant?

As soon as you’re ready to try to get pregnant, simply stop using your preferred birth control method (it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before making changes to your health and lifestyle). In most cases, a woman’s normal fertility will return within one month after stopping the pill or removing a patch, ring, IUD, or implant. Sometimes pregnancy can occur immediately, and sometimes it might take longer. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your family planning experience.

Can birth control cause infertility in the future?

Birth control methods like the pill, patch, ring, or IUD temporarily affect your fertility in order to prevent unexpected pregnancy, but they won’t increase the risk of infertility in the long-run.

Conclusion

Birth control allows you to be in control of your family planning. Taking it now won’t negatively affect your fertility in the future, so when you’re ready to have a baby, simply let your doctor know and make the switch!

Commonly Asked Questions

Can you get pregnant on birth control?

It’s unlikely but possible to get pregnant while on birth control. For the pill, the risk of pregnancy is about 9% a year. For hormonal or copper IUDs, the risk of pregnancy is less than 1% a year. Overall, the chance of getting pregnant on birth control pills is low, especially if you use it as prescribed by your doctor.

Can birth control cause miscarriage?

Taking birth control pills before or during pregnancy won’t cause miscarriage, but you should stop taking the pill if you find out you’re pregnant. Research suggests a slight increase risk of miscarriage and other complications if a pregnancy occurs while an IUD is still in, so this should be removed as soon as you find out you’re pregnant.

How soon after stopping birth control can you get pregnant?

You can get pregnant right away after stopping birth control, but it could take you one month or longer, depending on numerous factors unique to you including your hormones and more.

Guest Post By Mia Lang

Mia Liang is committed to spreading a positive message and information that helps everyone in all walks of life. She has extensive knowledge and is continuing to expand it in any way she can. She believes that through hard work and a strong drive you can accomplish anything, and is living life with that mindset.