A recent tip sheet produced by the lifestyle site, The List, describes the many additional effects taking birth control has on women. The List covers positive side effects such as helping to clear up acne and alleviating PMS symptoms, as well as cautionary side effects, such as an increased risk of blood clots and potential weight gain. At the end of the day, it’s important to know that taking birth control pills can result in a multitude of conditions besides greatly reducing the risk of pregnancy. One effect that most women will not know until they begin advanced fertility treatment is that birth control pills can be a very helpful addition to a woman’s medication protocol.
Birth Control during Fertility Treatment
Stephanie Beall, M.D., Ph.D., from Shady Grove Fertility’s Towson and Columbia, Maryland offices says, “In some cases, we use birth control pills for 2 to 4 weeks at the start of fertility treatment to synchronize the ovaries’ response to stimulation medications. The pill ‘quiets’ all of the follicles (resting eggs) and helps to ensure that the follicular growth is consistent.”
During in vitro fertilization (IVF) it’s important for many follicles to grow so when it’s time for the mature eggs to be retrieved, many embryos can be created, thus giving the patient the best opportunity for a strong blastocyst to be transferred.
For patients with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) where a woman’s hormones can prohibit proper follicle development, a short (2 to 4 week) prescription of birth control can help suppress hormones that may harm follicle growth.
To learn more about starting fertility treatment, watch this webinar. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Stephanie Beall or any other SGF physician, call 1-877-971-7755 or click here.
At Shady Grove Fertility, we’re here to give you the caring support you deserve as you start or grow your family. As a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence, we offer patients individualized care, innovative financial options, over 30 accepted insurance plans, and pregnancy rates among the highest of all national centers. We offer patients the convenience of 19 full-service and 6 satellite locations across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. More than 1,700 physicians choose Shady Grove Fertility to refer their patients, and more than 96 percent of our patients say they would recommend Shady Grove Fertility’s 35+ physicians to a friend. With 10 Shady Grove Fertility babies born each day, your dream of starting or growing your family is within reach.
