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.

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.

References

• Planned Parenthood Info on Birth Control
• Mayo Clinic on Birth Control Pills
• More on Birth Control