Birth control pills, commonly referred to as The Pill, are between 92 and 99.7% effective at preventing pregnancy. So, the chances of becoming pregnant while using The Pill are fairly slim. That said, a slim chance is still a chance, and women do occasionally get pregnant while using The Pill. This is most common during the first few months of birth control use, or when you have missed taking the pill more than two days in a row.

The immediate question that many women ask when they realize they’ve missed a period and may be pregnant while using the birth control pill is whether or not it could harm the baby if you get pregnant while you are using The Pill. Certainly, that’s a reasonable question to ask. The answer is, at this point there is no conclusive evidence that suggests that your baby will be harmed in any way by having been conceived while you were on The Pill or, for that matter, if you started taking The Pill while you were unknowingly pregnant.

That being said, if you suspect you are pregnant, you should discontinue using The Pill and consult your health care professional. While there are no studies to suggest that short term exposure to the estrogen levels produced by The Pill will be harmful to your baby, it probably isn’t particularly good for her, either. At any rate, if you are pregnant, continuing to take The Pill would be of little benefit to you anyway. Until you confirm that you are pregnant, use alternate forms of contraception, such as condoms.

It is important to note that just because you miss a period does not necessarily mean that you are pregnant, especially if you missed your period shortly after beginning your birth control regimen. However, if you do miss a period, it is a good idea to check with your doctor. If you miss more than one period, you should definitely see your doctor as soon as possible.

If you do find that have become pregnant while using the pill, however, don’t allow it to concern you. Many babies have been conceived and have turned out completely normal and healthy while the mother was on one form of birth control or another. There is no evidence to suggest your baby’s brief exposure to the hormones in birth control pills during her early fetal stages will have any negative effects at all. So, if you are pregnant, or suspect you may be pregnant, discontinue using the birth control pill and see your doctor, but don’t worry yourself about having harmed your baby. You haven’t.

Similar Posts:

• Should I just Stop Taking the Pill if I Want to Conceive?
• What Are the Chances of Getting Pregnant While on Birth Control?
• Birth Control and Trying to Conceive
• What Are Some Other Causes Of A Missed/Late Period If Not Pregnant?

This entry was posted under Getting Pregnant.