It was in the 1960's when a pill was introduced to Americans that would now give women the control over their own fertility. By taking a small pill taken once a day women have the ability to stop pregnancy by preventing monthly ovulation; this is cause by the releasing of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone throughout the body in a continuous cycle. With the pill preventing ovulation, it's impossible for the egg to be fertilized and for pregnancy to take place. Although the pill is used by 60 million women worldwide, everyone has their thoughts and worries of how it can affect pregnancy and a fetus. Being the pill is around 95-99% effective, a pregnancy may occur when it’s not properly taken or a day is skipped. Today there are several kinds of birth control. The patch, and shot are the newest forms of birth control, yet they all have the same effects as the pill although they are said to be more reliable.
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| How the Birth Control Patch Works |
Although it's thought that the pill doesn't significantly increase the risks of birth defects, in a study in 2009 it associated the birth control pill during the time of conception, showed that the risks of low birth weight and premature labor took place according to the MayoClinic.com. The research in previous studies shows the risks of problems developing in the baby's sexual organs such as an enlarged clitoris. In a study at the University of Missouri in Columbia, taking the pill could led to deformity in the prostates of the developing embryo and increasing risks of having problems with their bladders and prostates later in the child’s life.
The main issue that doctors worry about today is that the pill gives a woman a higher chance of having a ectopic, when the egg implants itself usually in the fallopian tube rather than in the uterus.
This is the only main risk that doctors inform women of if they don't take the pill regularly and potentially have the risk of becoming pregnant.
If a woman thinks or suspects that she may be pregnant and she's on the pill, she should stop taking the pill immediately and seek medical attention before retaking the pill. If she is pregnant she needs to make the doctor or physician aware of the period in which she was taking the pill.
Pregnancy after the pill:
Some women feel that they will have complications becoming fertile after taking the pill for years, although it’s been proven that it takes about 3 months to become completely fertile again. This doesn’t necessarily go for all women, some take longer and others become pregnant right after being off the pill. It depends on your body’s natural cycle.
According to pregnancy-info.net, here are a few tips that will help you to improve your chances of becoming pregnant after being on the pill:
· Eat as nutritiously as possible.
· Begin taking folic acid supplements.
· Quit smoking.
· Limit your intake of alcohol.
· Try to manage your stress
http://www.mayoclinic.com/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ectopic-pregnancy/DS00622
http://www.pregnancy-info.net/pregnancy_pill.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/birth-control-pills/AN01662
http://contraception.about.com/od/thepill/f/pillusepregnant.htm
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5692008_effects-control-pills-developing-fetus.html
I think your information presented is interesting. I feel that many women feel completely protected when using birth control, but that evidently is not the case. If not taken properly, women can no only increase their risk for an STD if condom use is not in effect, but also risk the chance of getting pregnant and potentially damaging the infant if they are unaware of the pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteI knew that birth control is not 100% effective but i did not know the side effects on a fetes if a mother continues to take birth control. I am curious how often a women doesn't realize that she is pregnant and continues to take the pill.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting guys, like when I first read about it, I thought to myself if it's affecting women like this, just think about young teens taking it and parents giving their daughters the pill thinking they're reliable. I don't think parents really understand the whole aspect of birth control and what it could potentially do if not taken properly.
ReplyDeleteOne of your Mayo clinic articles mentions that the earlier studies on the link between the pill and birth defects have not held up, and have not been seen in a clinical setting. This illustrates the importance of confirming the results of one study before being certain about its findings. Apparently the increased risk of ectopic pregnancy is correct.
ReplyDeleteThe pill is a very effective form of birth control if used properly, and in combination with other methods. But as always people need to be educated in its use. And hopefully they realize that it does not prevent the spread of STDs.
Nice post.