Pregnancy and the Abortion Pills Do Contraception Harm Fertility?

Marketed at the dawn of the 1960s, abortion pills continue to fuel doubts, even fantasies, on many subjects. The first, concerning the supposedly negative impact of contraception on fertility, still agitates the spirits. In fact, how does the pill act on the female body? Its effects are reversible, but how soon can a woman expect to become pregnant after stopping the pill?

To go further, is it true that the contraceptive pill can, in certain cases, play a protective role in the health and even in the fertility of women? Pregnancy and the pill: should we be afraid of contraception? We take stock of estrogen-progestins and micro-progestins, two of the most reliable and widely used contraceptives for almost 60 years.

The contraceptive pill, what is it?

The birth control pill helps women manage their fertility by avoiding unwanted pregnancies. Far from harming fertility, it has reduced maternal and fetal mortality by promoting the regulation of pauses between pregnancies.

The pill is made up of synthetic hormones. It is found in the form of an estrogen-progestogen pill (estrogens and progestins) or progestogen pill (progestins only).

Oestrogen-progestogen and progestogen contraceptives have, depending on the case, action on:

ovulation by blocking the development of oocytes;

the uterine mucosa which becomes thinner and makes implantation impossible;

 the cervical mucus which thickens and blocks the spermatozoa when crossing the cervix.

The issue here is the regularity of taking the contraceptive (ideally, taking should take place at the same time every day) to avoid what is commonly called a “pregnancy on the pill”.

The special case of the abortion pills

In the event of unprotected or poorly protected sexual intercourse, the emergency pill, also known as the "abortion pills", acts by blocking or delaying ovulation, or even by modifying the endometrium, to prevent the implantation of the egg in the uterus. There is therefore no interruption of pregnancy here. Indeed, if the mechanism of pregnancy is already engaged, the abortion pills will not be effective, and the pregnancy will continue its course.

The strengths of the pill and the disadvantages

Beyond its contraceptive function, the pill allows:

• Regularization of the menstrual cycle;
• An alleviation of the adverse effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)  ;
• Relief of dermatological and endocrine symptoms;
• A reduction in the overall risks of ovarian and uterine cancer.
• Estrogen-progestogens would even have a beneficial effect on:
• Symptoms of endometriosis  ;
• Ovarian cysts;
• Reducing the risk of serious infection to the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus.

Disadvantages

Conversely, the pill may have certain disadvantages to be weighed against the benefits and risks. These include potential side effects related to:

• Increased appetite
• The appearance of mastodynia (breast pain);
• The presence of spotting (vaginal bleeding outside of menstruation);
• Weight gain
• Decreased libido

How long does it take to get pregnant after stopping the pill?

You think pregnancy and the pill don't mix. However, the possibility of becoming pregnant remains more possible than ever when contraceptive treatment is interrupted. For some, it will only be the story of a few weeks. For others, you will have to be patient and wait several months. This is demonstrated by the study carried out by specialists from the Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecological Endocrinology in Düsseldorf.

Observation in Women

Of 175 women observed for 3,048 cycles immediately after discontinuation of the contraceptive pill, 57.9% had their first cycles with ovulatory and luteal phases. However, during the first seven cycles, it appeared that the cycle was longer (35 days and more) and the luteal phase shorter (less than 10 days) than average. Which translates in practice to:

• A limited number of cycles limits the chances of fertilization;
• A failing or short-lived luteal phase prevents implantation.

It took until the ninth cycle to return to normal cycle lengths with sufficient luteal phase. It, therefore, emerges from this work that the effects of contraception are reversible. The regeneration time can take up to 9 months or more.

Evaluation According to Demographic

According to figures from INED (national institute for demographic studies): after one year, 97% of couples achieve pregnancy. These results conceal varied situations. Indeed out of this total, only 25% of them see their approach succeed in the first month following the interruption of the pill. Over time, the chances of getting pregnant decrease from 25% per cycle in the first year to 12% and then 7% beyond the second year.

If, despite a prolonged interruption of the pill, no pregnancy is in the offing: it is then time to take stock with a specialist in PMA (medically assisted procreation). With him, you will be able to consider several ways to make your desire for a child come true. Starting with a fertility check-up that will enlighten you on the avenues to follow.