Genes May Explain Why Some Women On The Pill Still Get Pregnant
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– Its long been assumed that women who get pregnant on birth control pills somehow erred, possibly by forgetting a dose. But a new study suggests some women may inherit genes that break down contraceptive hormones more rapidly, leaving them with hormone levels that are too low to prevent pregnancy, according to a report published in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Researchers found that women with a certain genetic variant metabolized estrogen and progesterone so quickly that it could put them at risk for pregnancy if they were taking low-dose birth control pills.
If a woman came in and said she was taking birth control and got pregnant we assumed she did something wrong, missed a pill or wasnt using the method like she was supposed to, said the studys lead author, Dr. Aaron Lazorwitz of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. We need to believe the patient and to understand that there are other things outside of her control, like genetics, that could cause birth control to fail.
The new research ought to start a trend, Lazorwitz said. Womens health hasnt had a lot of this kind of research done yet, he added. Its time we catch up with research in other medications that have shown that genetics can affect how the body breaks them down.
SOURCE: bit.ly/2CbAstN Obstetrics & Gynecology, online March 12, 2019.
How Do You Choose The Best Method
The best method of birth control is one that protects you every time you have sex. And with many types of birth control, that depends on how well you use it. To find a method that will work for you every time, some things to think about include:
If you are using a method now that you are not happy with, talk to your doctor about other choices.
What Causes The Pill To Fail
A variety of things can cause the pill not to work properly . Common issues include:
- a late or missed pill
- vomiting or diarrhoea
- some prescription drugs including HIV medications and Epilepsy medications may interfere with the pill .
- most antibiotics are OK to use with the pill, but a rarely used antibiotic called Rifampin/Rifampicin is not.
- some over the counter medicines or supplements
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How Can I Get Pregnant
First off, lets start with the basics. The facts about how pregnancy happens and what can and cannot present real risks of pregnancy or STI transmission can be a little confusing. Check out this great resource from Scarleteen about what does and what doesnt present a real risk of pregnancy or infections with a handy risk thermometer from no/low-risk fun to high-risk activities .
Missing A Period On The Pill Doesn’t Mean Something’s Wrong
Missing a period while on the pill doesn’t indicate anything abnormal, Cullins said, as long as you have been taking the pill consistently and correctly each day.
“It’s not dangerous not to have your period while on the pill,” she says. “What happens is, over time, the uterine lining can become very thin if you take the pill regularly. All that means is if you stop bleeding on the pill, the lining has become so thin that you don’t have anything to bleed from.”
This is not permanent: When a woman stops taking birth control pills, the ovaries start making more estrogen, the uterine lining gets thicker, and women start to bleed again.
Missed periods after taking your pills incorrectly, however, could indicate a pregnancy. In that situation, it’s worth taking a pregnancy test.
Read Also: When Can I Find Out If I Am Pregnant
Tips To Prevent Pill Failure
If a person takes the pill correctly and does not skip any pill days, it is highly successful. While using birth control tablets, the following techniques can help you avoid an unexpected pregnancy:
Read the package and carefully follow the directions.
Every day, take the tablet at the same time.
Always obtain a fresh pill pack at least one week before the previous pill pack expires.
Take any missing pills as soon as possible.
If a person misses two or more tablets in a row, use a backup form of contraception, such as a condom.
If a woman is concerned about her ability to take her tablets on a continuous basis, she should consult her doctor or gynecologist about other birth control options. There are several solutions available that do not necessitate the use of a daily tablet, such as the IUD.
Can I Take The Pill While Breastfeeding
The combination birth control pill contains estrogen, which can decrease milk production. If you are breastfeeding, your healthcare provider may recommend taking the progestin-only pill instead. However, some women may use estrogen-containing pills once milk supply is fully established, and a womans risk of blood clots is minimized.
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Are You On Medications That Might Interfere With Your Birth Control
Did you know certain medications that can make your birth control less effective? There are few specific antibiotics and antifungal drugs as well as herbs like St. Johns Wort that have been shown to interfere with the effectiveness of oral contraception.
Before taking any new medication, you may want to ask your provider if itll affect your birth control and when in doubt, use a backup method like condoms. Its always better to be safe.
Does The Pill Protect Against Stds
Nope. The pill is really good at preventing pregnancy, but it wont protect you from sexually transmitted infections.
Luckily, using condoms every time you have sex really lowers your chances of getting or spreading STDs. Condoms also protect against pregnancy so using condoms + birth control pills together gives protection from STDs AND awesome pregnancy-preventing power.
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Can Birth Control Harm Your Baby
You may also worry that taking birth control pills could have harmed your developing baby. According to the Mayo Clinic, this doesnt appear to the case. Some research showed a link between birth control during early pregnancy with issues low birth weight, abnormalities to the urinary tract, and preterm delivery, but little has been observed clinically. Its important to stop taking the pill as soon as you suspect pregnancy, but your baby shouldnt be at a greater risk of defects.
What Are The Types Of Birth Control
There are many different kinds of birth control. Each has pros and cons. Learning about all the methods will help you find one that is right for you.
For hormonal or barrier methods to work best, you have to use them exactly the way your doctor or the package instructions say. Even then, accidents can happen. So it is a good idea to keep emergency birth control on hand as backup protection. You can buy “morning-after pills,” such as Plan B, in most drugstores without a prescription.
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How Can You Tell If Youre Ovulating
The surest way to know is to take an ovulation test. They test your pee for levels of luteinizing hormone , which rise 24 to 36 hours before you ovulate.
Your body may also show signs that youre ovulating or that you will soon. For example, your body temperature rises slightly around the time of ovulation. And mucus that comes from your cervix may become stickier or feel more like raw egg whites.
What Are Birth Control Placebo Pills
The placebo pills in your birth control pack do not contain any hormones. In many packages, these are simply sugar pills. Some brands include vitamins and minerals in their placebo pills. The placebo pills are designed to keep you in the habit of taking your daily birth control. They do not provide any kind of pregnancy prevention.
When you stop taking your active pills, your body will respond to the drop in hormones by shedding the uterine lining. This mimics your period, though it is not a true period as your body typically doesnt ovulate when youre taking birth control pills.
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A Few Reasons To Visit The Doctor
When youre choosing a form of birth control, a visit to the doctor for a checkup and evaluation can be very helpful for determining which birth control is right for you.
If you experience any unusual feelings or symptoms after you stop birth control, you may need to go back to the doctor for professional help. Signs to watch out for include dizziness, headaches, or nausea. Some people can stop taking contraceptives with no problems, but its also normal to experience some symptoms or effects when you stop.
A womans ovulation cycle after birth control should return to normal immediately after stopping birth control unless it was a shot. You can also ask your obstetrician about how to get pregnant after birth control, and they can provide you with information on expectations, useful tips, and even an evaluation.
Although its possible to immediately get pregnant after birth control, most couples dont conceive right away. However, 85% of couples conceive after a year of trying. After the year, you may want to visit your obstetrician, who can give you guidance or possibly refer you to a fertility specialist.
So How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After Stopping Birth Control
Some women conceive within the first one to three months of being birth control-free. For others, it may take several months. Why the difference?
Your overall health and age and your partners fertility are important factors for getting pregnant. But timing is big, too.
To increase your chances of pregnancy, youll want to become intimately familiar with your menstrual cycle. Understanding your cycle is the best way to identify your fertile window. So, if youre ready or getting ready to try for a baby, its a good idea to start tracking your menstrual cycle now.
The good news is there are apps for that. A fertility tracker app can make it easier to understand your patterns, so you can plan your baby-making sessions with confidence. There are dozens of apps to choose from, so you should be able to find one you like. Popular fertility apps include Clue, Flo, Fertility Friend and Premom. Some apps even pair with ovulation test kits for extra-easy tracking.
Also, getting pregnant isnt easy for everyone, and its important to prepare your body for it. Taking care of your physical, mental and emotional health can increase your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy. To help you get ready, weve also put together a preparing-for-pregnancy checklist.
Read Also: Can You Get Pregnant 8 Days After Your Period
What Are The Risks Of Continuing
Any hormonal drug that you take makes its way to the baby youre carrying. This includes the contraceptive pill. So while there dont seem to be any risks, its best to stop taking the pill once you learn of your pregnancy.
women with an IUD get pregnant each year, and the risk is highest within the first year after insertion. If youre the 1 in 100 women, youre probably wondering what happens if you keep your IUD.
The truth is that you may be facing . Theres no known increased risk of congenital abnormalities, but your risk of miscarriage and premature birth both go up.
Can You Get Pregnant On The Birth Control Pill Find Out How It Can Happen
Ok, imagine youre on the pill, but youre at the end of the pack and your period hasnt started yetdoes that mean you might be pregnant? If youre anything like most people, you might run to the internet and start frantically searching AM I PREGNANT??? How is this possible, how did this even happen, what am I going to do?
Before you read the worst-case scenarios online, take three to four deep breaths, and hold them for four seconds each. After you exhale your fourth breath, you should start to feel a little calmer. We know how much anxiety people can feel when pregnancy is a possibility, so know were here to help you figure it out.
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What To Do If Youre Pregnant
If you discover that youre pregnant, you should speak with your doctor as soon as possible. If you plan to keep the pregnancy, youll need to start caring for your growing baby. This means going off of the birth control pill and beginning to take a daily prenatal vitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. Youll also have to begin preparing for an upcoming delivery.
If you decide youd like to terminate the pregnancy, you should begin this process as quickly as you can. Depending on where you live, legal restrictions could prevent you from having the procedure after youve reached a certain point in the pregnancy.
Not Starting A New Pack Right Away
It is essential to start a new pack of pills the day after finishing the previous one. However, sometimes a person may not have their new package yet. Missing a few days between packs can make the pill less effective at preventing pregnancy.
According to the , anyone who misses two or more pills in a row should use a backup contraceptive method or avoid sexual intercourse until they have taken the birth control pill for 7 consecutive days.
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How Is The Pill Taken
Most combination pills come in either a 21-day pack or a 28-day pack. One hormone pill is taken each day at about the same time for 21 days. Depending on your pack, you will either stop taking birth control pills for 7 days or you will take a pill that contains no hormones for 7 days . A woman has her period when she stops taking the pills that contain hormones. Some women prefer the 28-day pack because it helps them stay in the habit of taking a pill every day.
There is also a type of combination pill that decreases the frequency of a woman’s period by supplying a hormone pill for 12 weeks and then inactive pills for 7 days. This decreases the number of periods to one every 3 months instead of one every month.
Another kind of pill that may change the number of monthly periods is the low-dose progesterone pill, sometimes called the mini-pill. This type of birth control pill differs from the other pills in that it only contains one type of hormone progesterone rather than a combination of estrogen and progesterone. It works by changing the cervical mucus and the lining of the uterus, and sometimes by affecting ovulation as well. The mini-pill may be slightly less effective at preventing pregnancy than combination pills.
The mini-pill is taken every day without a break. A girl who is taking it might have no period at all or she may have irregular periods. For the minipill to work, it must be taken at the same time every day, without missing any doses.
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Other Fertility Factors To Consider
As a rule of thumb, your fertility should go back to the way it was before you started birth control. If you had regular cycles before, you should have regular cycles again.
Your age may also play a part. That is because fertility drops as you get older. This is especially true once you turn 35.
There has been a lot of research on the return of fertility after stopping birth control. A review of studies showed that birth control use does not harm fertility. Pregnancy rates within one year of stopping birth control look like this:
- Birth control pill: 72% to 94%
- Condom/barrier method: 94%
- Progestin-only birth control: 70% to 95%
- Natural family planning: 92%
- IUD: 71% to 96%
Read Also: Does Birth Control 100 Prevent Pregnancy
Not Making Love All The Time
The producers aim for individuals to take the tablet on a regular basis in order for it to be most effective. If a person skips a day, their hormone levels may not remain high enough to prevent conception.
Other birth control techniques may be more suitable if a person finds it difficult to take a daily pill. A doctor or gynecologist can advise on the best mix of alternative contraceptives for you.
After Or Before The Period
Vaginal bleeding can be a sign of a serious could be an indicator of a serious problem with your health or pregnancy if you are pregnant.
In some situations, it may be a sign of a minor problem you may be undergoing such as having much stress or changing your contraceptive pills.
Due to the fact that both serious and less serious reasons could cause this problem, it is always a good idea to see your doctor. Dont stay worried or guessing why you could be spotting.
The following reasons are most often reasons why you may have random or unexpected menstrual flow in your life.
- You may have forgotten your period schedule.
- When you have just finished your period since your uterus didnt manage to slough off all of your linings during your actual period.
- It is very common for those who have inserted IUD, especially during the first three to six months.
- It can be due to switching or stopping the use of birth control pills.
- In case you took emergency pills
- Due to stress
- In case you have Uterine Fibroids
- Those who have slow thyroid may experience vaginal bleeding.
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