If I Had My Tubes Tied Can I Still Get Pregnant If I Want To
Getting your tubes tied is designed to be permanent. If you want to try and get pregnant, it is possible to have the procedure reversed. In general, research suggests 31% to 90% of those who have the procedure reversed will be able to become pregnant and depending on how the tubes were tied in the first place, how long it has been since they were tied, and how damaged the tubes are . Another option for pregnancy after getting your tubes tied is in vitro fertilization .
What Causes The Failure Of Birth Control Pills
Several factors that may be directly or indirectly related to the failure of birth control pills, causing pregnancy, are:
- Taking the pills irregularly or at a different time each day
- Vomiting and diarrhea for more than 48 hours
- Some antibiotics, antifungals and anti-seizure medicines
- The herb St. Johns Wort
- The pill may not work for people who are overweight
Reproductive Health Care Information You Can Trust
carafem medical standards and guidelines have been composed and approved by Board-certified Ob/Gyn Physicians as part of the carafem medical committee. carafem is a member in good standing of the National Abortion Federation. Still have questions? Check out our FAQ page, or call us at SAY-CARA, or find a location near you.
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Does The Depo Shot Cause Temporary Infertility
The Depo shot suppresses ovulation by increasing the level of progesterone in the body. As a result, it can cause temporary infertility for up to 2 years. Once all the progesterone in the body is eliminated, your fertility will return, and your body will resume ovulating and menstruating. Many women tend to resume their regular monthly cycle 5 months after their last Depo injections. However, it may take up to 22 months for some women to regain their fertility post the last injection.
Another aspect that comes into play with regards to fertility is the weight of the woman. It appears that fertility returns more quickly in women of healthy weight than those who are overweight. Also, it doesnt matter whether youve used the Depo-Provera shot for about 6 months or even for a couple of years your fertility will most likely return in the same time period, in both cases.
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Does Birth Control Stop Ovulation Completely
A fertilized egg is formed when sperm and egg are combined. In the pill, the hormones are safe to use to stop ovulation. In the absence of ovulation, sperm cannot fertilise, so pregnancy cannot be achieved. In addition to thicken the mucus on the cervix, the pills hormones also thicken the mucus on the stomach.
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How Long Does It Take For Birth Control Pills To Work
The time it takes birth control pills to work depends on when you start taking them and what type of pills you use. You may begin taking the birth control pill any day of the month. It is however, advisable to use a backup birth control method, such as condoms, for about a week once you start taking the pills.
Combination oral contraceptive pills
- When started within five days after the first day of your period, the combined pill will protect you from pregnancy right away.
- If you get your periods on a Monday morning and you start taking the combined pills any time before Saturday morning, you will be instantly protected from a possible pregnancy.
- If the pills are started at any other time, it is best to use an additional method of birth control, like a condom, for the first week after you start taking the combined pills.
Progestin-only pills
- Progestin-only pills, POPs or mini pills can be started any day of the month. They will protect you from pregnancy after 48 hours of taking the first pill.
- In this case, you must use another method of birth control to prevent pregnancy during the first two days.
You must always discuss with your nurse or doctor about which birth control pill option would be best for you.
Birth Control Pills Prevent Pregnancy Through Two Different Mechanisms
All birth control pills use hormones to prevent pregnancy. Some contain a hormone called progestin. Others contain two hormones, progestin and estrogen. All of them work by doing two things: They prevent women from ovulating, and they cause the cervical mucus to thicken, which makes it more difficult for a sperm to penetrate and make contact with an egg if the woman is ovulating.
In a way, birth control mimics the bodys response to pregnancy. There is some truth to the idea that birth control pills trick your body into thinking youre pregnant, said Dr. Vanessa Cullins, Planned Parenthoods vice president of external medical affairs. When youre pregnant, you dont ovulate, and the cervical mucus is thickening to prevent anything from easily getting into your uterus.
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Getting Pregnant On Birth Control
There are many reasons that getting pregnant on birth control is possible. The main reason is user error. Examples of this include not properly using your birth control and/or not always using your birth control.
The condom you used may have broken, or maybe you missed too many birth control pills. Other reasons that you may get pregnant while on birth control include:
- If you use certain medications that interfere with the effectiveness of your birth control
- If you don’t properly store your birth control or use it past its expiration date.
So, you see, it is possible to get pregnant while on birth control. But keep in mind that these typical user errors are factored into the failure rate of each birth control method. When you look at these rates, you typically see two numbers.
The higher number is the effectiveness with perfect use and the lower number is the effectiveness with normal use . So, even though getting pregnant on birth control can happen, the chances that it does are still fairly low. And don’t worry, if you do get pregnant while on the pill , taking the pill while pregnant will not harm your baby.
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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Those Sugar Pills At The End Of A Birth Control Pack They Have Active Ingredients
Lots of birth control packs have four weeks of pills: three weeks of pills that prevent pregnancy and one week of pills that are inactive.
Women can safely skip that last week of pills and still prevent pregnancy, Cullins said. But that doesn’t mean the last week’s pills are just sugar pills. As it turns out, some of them actually have active ingredients to make the pills work better or aid in women’s health.
“Some of the pills might have low-dose estrogen for three to four days, to help prevent breakthrough bleeding ,” she said. “Others sometimes contain iron or folic acid or other vitamins. And the hard part about skipping the pills is that you have to remember exactly when to start back up.”
Can Taking Birth Control Pills Harm Your Baby
While its important to stop taking the pill as soon as you suspect you might be pregnant, taking the pill during early pregnancy shouldnt harm the developing fetus.
Some scientific studies have shown a possible link between use of birth control pills at the time of conception and an increased risk of low birth weight or preterm birth or urinary tract abnormalities, but these issues havent been observed in clinical experience, according to Mayo Clinic.
The risk to the developing baby is generally very low, but talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
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Birth Control : : Nexplanon And Weight Gain
Ive had Nexplanon for a year now and within a month of getting it put in, Ive gained almost 30 pounds with no change to my diet, exercise or daily routines. Ive tried dieting and exercising and cant seem to lose more than ten pounds. Im finally getting it removed but Im having a hard time deciding what BC to use next because I really want to lose this weight and Im scared the next BC I use is going to give me the same issue. Has anyone else had this issue and found a BC that was better without the weight gain?
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You Took Your Pill At The Wrong Time
Birth control pills come in two different types. Theres the combination pill, which contains a mix of ethinyl estradiol and a progestin hormone. Then theres the progestin-only pill, or mini-pill a lower-dose birth control pill that only contains a progestin hormone.
Some women prefer the progestin-only pill to the combination pill due to its reduced risk of side effects. Weve looked at the advantages and disadvantages of each type of pill in our combined vs. progestin-only birth control pill guide.
If you use the progestin-only birth control pill, taking it at the wrong time of day could cause your hormone levels to drop, increasing your risk of becoming pregnant.
If you use a different form of hormonal birth control, such as the patch, ring or injection, its also possible to increase your risk of becoming pregnant by mistiming use of your birth control.
For example, if you use the birth control patch, youll need to replace it after seven days to keep your hormone levels consistent. If you keep your patch on for too long, or take it off and forget to replace it, you may have a higher risk of becoming pregnant.
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Falling Pregnant After Birth Control
Many women spend years using some form of birth control trying to avoid pregnancy, but when the time comes and they are ready to fall pregnant, it doesnt happen as easily as expected. There is no way of predicting how long it will take, and unfortunately, 1 in 6 couples will experience difficulties.
There are a number of factors that may affect your ability to conceive, so being educated about your fertility, and understanding what affects it, is the best way to plan for pregnancy
You’re Over 44 Years Old
Thanks to that good-old biological clock, a woman’s chances of getting pregnant wane over time. Women are born with some 1 million to 2 million eggs there’s only about 300,000 left when they get their first period and 25,000 left by their late 30s. This means that a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant in her early 40s are pretty slim, though it’s by no means impossible. “As we get closer to 40, the ticking of our biological clock becomes louder and by 44, it can be deafening,” she says. “Fertility decreases by as much as 95 percent in women between 40 and 45 years of age.”
How hard is it to get pregnant over 44 years old? According to Dr. Ross, women over the age of 44 have a less than 5 percent chance of getting pregnant each month.
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You Have Diarrhea Or Digestive Issues
Because the birth control pill is absorbed through the digestive tract, your body may not properly absorb the hormones in the pill if you have acute or chronic diarrhea. This means that you may not be adequately protected from becoming pregnant.
Certain digestive conditions may also affect your ability to properly absorb the hormones in the pill. For example, some reports indicate that people with Crohns disease have a higher risk of oral contraceptive failure due to the effects of this disease on nutrient absorption.
Medications That Interfere With The Pill
Some medications can make the pill less effective. Medications include certain antibiotics, such as rifampicin, and anti-fungal drugs, such as griseofulvin.
A person should use backup contraception while taking these medications and for 48 hours after finishing the course.
Other more long-term medications and supplements may also affect how well birth control pills work. These can include:
- epilepsy drugs, such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine
- anti-viral medications used to treat HIV
- St. Johns Wort, which is a herbal remedy
Birth control pills are very effective if a person takes them correctly and does not miss any pill days. The following tips can help prevent unintended pregnancies while taking the pill:
- reading the packaging and following the instructions carefully
- taking the pill at the same time every day
- using an app that tracks periods and provides pills reminders, such as one of the apps from our review article
- always getting a new pill pack at least 1 week before the last pill pack is due to run out
- always taking missed pills as soon as possible
- using a backup method of contraception, such as a condom, if a person misses taking two or more pills in a row
If a person is concerned about not being able to take their pills consistently, they should speak to their doctor or gynecologist about other birth control methods. There are several options available that do not require taking a pill daily, such as an intrauterine device, or IUD.
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Getting Pregnant With The Patch Ring Or Shot
There are a few more options when it comes to birth control, and these include the patch, the vaginal ring and the Depo-Provera shot. Black says the failure rate for typical use of the patch and the ring is the same as the pill: eight percent. The Depo-Provera shot has a failure rate of just six percent with typical use.
With all three types of contraception, adherence is the biggest risk factor. They need to be used as directed to work effectively. Costescu says with the patch, which you replace once a week , one issue is that it may accidentally fall off. With the ring, he explains that replacing it on time is key. And it can only be removed for short periods of time if you want it to remain effective. Some women choose to remove the NuvaRing when theyre sexually active, and we recommend that it only be removed for up to three hours so, it cant be taken out, for instance, for an overnight date, he says.
Black adds that the same medications that make the pill less effective would have a similar effect on the patch and ring.
With Depo-Provera shots, Costescu notes, you must visit a health-care provider every three months to get the shot. He also says that the shot may be a good option if youre on anti-seizure medication, as the high dose of hormones that come with this type of birth control means those medications may not interfere with its effectiveness.
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You’re On Birth Control
Birth controlwhether it’s the pill, patch, ring, implant, IUD, or the shot greatly decreases your chances of conception. These methods work in various ways for example, IUDs block sperm from reaching the egg, while hormonal contraception prevent the recruitment of a mature egg, explains Dr. Brauer. Even if you’re committed to taking your birth control, you still have to use it correctly and consistently.
Also, if you rely on contraceptive pills, take note: Some pill packs contain four to seven days of sugar pills without any hormones. In rare ocassions, this may be long enough to allow for recruitment of a mature egg. “This is often referred to as ‘escape ovulation’ and is one reason for oral hormonal contraception failure,” says Dr. Brauer. Missing doses of hormonal contraception could also increase the chances of accidental pregnancy.
How hard is it to get pregnant on birth control? If you’re on birth control and following all instructions, then your chances of getting pregnant are generally less than 1 percent. The effectiveness decreases with “typical use” .
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Risks Of Taking Birth Control While Pregnant
If you were taking birth control to prevent pregnancy but find out weeks later that youre indeed pregnant, its natural to wonder what effect your birth control may have on a developing fetus. The good news is that birth control has been shown to be safe in early pregnancy.
Of course, no guarantee can be made that the medication hasnt affected the babys development, so be sure to see your doctor as soon as you suspect or find out that youre pregnant. If you test positive, you should stop taking your birth control pill.
Becoming pregnant while on birth control does increase your risk of ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized embryo attaches outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tube. This is a very serious, life-threatening problem and should be cared for immediately.
Experience Of Getting Pregnant On The Pill From Others
I got pregnant after three months on birth control. I took them every single day without missing a dose. I dont understand what happened. I didnt take any other medications and took the pills the same time every day. The only thing I can think of is I like to have a beer once in a while. Anyways, I had a son and he is such a blessing to our lives.
Amber, 23
I became pregnant while taking birth control and had an ectopic pregnancy. I had taken a course of antibiotics for a sinus infection and I am pretty sure that is what caused it to happen. Im just more careful now if I have to take other medications.
Sonja, 19
I had a pregnancy while taking the pill after 20 years of being on birth control. I missed a few days while we were on vacation. It was surprising because if you are on the pill a long time, you may not ovulate right away. I guess I did! Our baby is wonderful and we are so happy to be parents.
Gloria, 39
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