What Are the Dangers of Using the Birth Control Pill While Pregnant?
Many women continue to take birth control pills during the first few months of pregnancy, not aware that they are pregnant. Once you realize you are pregnant, you should not keep taking them, but it is not the end of the world if you did take the pills for a few weeks at the beginning of the pregnancy.
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Accuracy of the Pill
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Although birth control pills are 99 percent effective when used perfectly, there is that 1 percent chance that a woman taking the pill will get pregnant. She typically won't realize it for several weeks, when her menstrual cycle does not start.
Stopping the pill
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Once you miss your menstrual cycle, take a pregnancy test. If it comes back positive, stop taking your birth control pills. Even though they should not cause a problem, you might want to contact your OBGYN to see what your next steps should be.
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No Proof
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There is very little scientific proof that continuing to take birth control pills while pregnant will harm the fetus or the mother.
Genetic Defects
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Many people think that the hormones in birth control pills will cause birth defects in the unborn baby. There is no proof of this occurring.
Causes Cancer
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Women used to take a synthetic estrogen called diethylstilbestrol to prevent miscarriage. This was later found to cause cancer. Although modern day birth control pills typically contain estrogen, it is not the same form and has not been found to cause cancer.
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