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Birth Control Pills & Their Effect on Fertility

Oral birth control pills are a popular method of contraception. The purpose of birth control pills is to lower fertility by altering a woman's hormone balance so she does not ovulate.

  1. Function

    • Birth control pills reduce fertility by releasing the hormone progestin or a combination of progestin and estrogen which alters a woman's hormone balance so that an egg is not released each month.

    Effectiveness

    • Birth control pills can be over 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, but if pills are not taken properly every day, fertility will be higher.

    Quitting

    • Even after quitting birth control pills, normal fertility may not resume immediately; sometimes it can take several months before periods occur normally.

    Other Benefits

    • Birth control pills can possibly have other beneficial impacts such as reducing acne, making periods more predictable and reducing moodiness.

    Supplemental Contraception

    • Fertility levels can be further reduced for women taking birth control by employing a physical barrier method while on the pill such as condoms.

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