INTRODUCTION

There is so much confusion with birth control (also known as contraception) and infertility, all of which has stemmed from fear, lack of knowledge and improper research practices. 

Birth control was originally created to prevent pregnancy in women but now may be given to it has been recommended for women suffering from reproductive disorders such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis.

The introduction of the first birth control pill in the 1960s has transformed the lives of many women, allowing them to have complete power and freedom over their sexual lives and when they choose to begin motherhood. Since then, rules have changed, enabling women both married and single to have access to birth control. Over the years, there have been many developments of new hormonal birth control to cater to all women.

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HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL

Birth control is defined as any method, medicine, or device used to prevent pregnancy; hormonal birth control involves the use of hormones toprevent pregnancy.  Women can choose from many different types of birth control, and pick one that suits them best. 

Hormonal birth control works by stopping the ovaries from releasing eggs and changing the environment of the cervix and uterus. This reduces the chances of getting pregnant. It thickens the lining of the uterus to make it harder for the sperm to reach the uterus and it thins the lining of the uterus to reduce the chance of a fertilised egg implanting into the uterus and being able to grow. It can be categorised in two groups: long-acting or short-acting hormonal methods, which can be seen in table 1. Long-acting hormonal methods are usually used by women who would like to have long term protection from pregnancy without having to remember to use it every day or month. On the contrary, short acting hormonal methods are prescribed by doctors and usually taken every day or month, unless it’s the shot which is given every 3 months.

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Table1 – showing the types of birth control which are long or short acting.

Here will explore two of the common misconceptions associated with birth control.

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MISCONCEPTION1: Birth control causes infertility.

The delayed return of fertility after using birth control is one of the biggest concerns of women when on birth control. This fear has led to the development of one of the biggest misconceptions till date.

In short – no, birth control does not cause infertility. A study was done to observe the fertility of women by assessing their ability to get pregnant after discontinuing the use of contraception. The study concluded that the type of contraception and the length at which the contraception was used did not have an impact of the fertility of the women and that there was no significant difference between the women that did not use birth control.

So no, birth control does not impact your fertility in the long run. But it is important to know that age does impact fertility and could potentially be the cause of infertility.Therefore, if you do come off birth control when fertility begins to decline(typically from the age of 35), it may be harder for you to conceive but it won’t be impossible. Being overweight, reproductive disorders like PCOS and even having a history of untreated sexually transmitted infection can all lead to infertility.

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MISCONCEPTION2: Birth control causes you to gain a lot of weight.

Weight and health play a role in determining the fertility levels of women and also may impact the success rate of fertility treatment. Body mass index (BMI) is a measure used to determine your weight by health using your height and weight. Research has shown that women with a high BMI are at an increased risk for reproductive disorders and poor reproductive outcomes in both natural and assisted conception.

A recent study done in 2022 found that 79% of women who rejected the use of birth control were concerned about gaining weight. Although weight gain is one of the common adverse effects of using birth control, research has suggested that it does not cause a significant amount of weight gain.

A study found that the concentration of hormones within hormonal birth control is not enough to cause a substantial amount of weight gain. Nonetheless, studies have shown that some women have reported experiencing weight gain. Research suggests that the weight gain seen in women when they initially take birth control has been shown to be due to fluid retention within the body or an increase in muscle tissue (as muscle is heavier than other types of tissue in the body). On the other hand, studies have reported that some women have experienced a decrease in appetite when they take birth control, leading to a decrease in weight.

The disparity in the results show that more research needs to be done looking at the link between birth control and weight gain. However, if hormonal birth control had a major impact on weight, a link would be seen in. Yet no link has been seen.

It is normal to feel very conscious about your weight as it does get harder to lose weight as you age.However, it is important to remember that even if you don’t take hormonal birth control, you can still gain weight and results still show that taking birth control does not cause infertility.

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CLOSING REMARKS

Many of the misconceptions are due to fear and lack of education. If you feel the need to go on birth control, speak to a healthcare professional who can give you all the details and answer any questions that you may have and give you advice on finding the right contraception for you. But remember, birth control can prevent pregnancy but when the birth control method does not provide a barrier between the two individual bodies, it cannot protect against sexually transmitted infections(STI).

The key thing to remember is that birth control does not cause infertility. So if you are having difficulties getting pregnant following the use of birth control for more than twelve months, it is essential that you reach out to a healthcare professional in order to explore the possible routes that can be taken.

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By Alfreda Osei

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