WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for April, 1997: Re: birth control pills and pregnancy

Re: birth control pills and pregnancy

From: D. Ashley Hill, M.D. (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 28 Apr 1997 22:07:40 -0500 (CDT)

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At Mon, 28 Apr 1997, nat wrote: >
>I have been taking various birth control pills for 3 years. None of
>them were able to regulate my periods for longer than a few months. What exactly will happen
>when I stop taking them, and what should I do before trying to get
>pregnant?

There are a number of reasons why women have irregular periods, including the most common reason, anovulation, where an egg is not released on schedule each month. Less likely possibilities include thyroid problems, secretion of a hormone called prolactin, extremes of weight loss and gain, and uncontrolled diseases like diabetes. In general, the pill will not cure these problems but will usually lead to regular periods while you take it. When you come off the pill, the most likely scenario is that the irregular periods will return sooner or later.

Irregular periods can make it more difficult to conceive, so you will want to ask your doctor about this. He or she will review your medical history and will help you decide how long you should try to conceive before instituting a workup or taking "fertility pills." Aslo, he or she will probably prescribe prenatal vitamins to prevent some birth defects. In some cases women who have irregular periods can get pregnant, so you may wish to try for a while before using fertility medications, and since this decision depends on many factors (your age, pregnancy history, medical problems, etc) I always advise sitting down for a "preconceptual visit" to discuss these issues!

Good luck on getting pregnant.

Ashley

--
Ashley Hill
D. Ashley Hill, M.D.
Assistant Director, Department of Ob/Gyn
Florida Hospital Family Practice Residency
Orlando, FL
dahmd@gate.net

Next message: Susan: "Re: Laproscopy/Post-Op"
Previous message: K.Lesniak: "Past Doctor & Patient Etiquette"
In reply to: nat: "birth control pills and pregnancy"
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