• Birth Control

What Happens if You Take Birth Control While Pregnant?

Birth control is a widely used method to prevent pregnancy, available in various forms such as pills, patches, injections, and intrauterine devices (IUDs). It works by regulating hormones or creating physical barriers to prevent fertilization. Many women rely on birth control for its effectiveness in managing reproductive health, and it’s often used to space pregnancies or manage medical conditions like irregular periods or endometriosis.

However, situations can arise where someone might unknowingly become pregnant while on birth control. This can lead to confusion and concern, prompting questions about the safety of continuing birth control during pregnancy. Understanding the potential effects of taking birth control while pregnant is crucial, as it can impact both the health of the pregnancy and the developing baby. 

In this article, we’ll explore what happens if you take birth control while pregnant and provide insights into the risks, side effects, and next steps if you find yourself in this situation.

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Can You Get Pregnant While on Birth Control?

While birth control is highly effective at preventing pregnancy, it’s not foolproof. The effectiveness of birth control depends on several factors – including the method used, how consistently it’s used, and whether any mistakes are made (like missing a pill or improper use of a condom). For example, hormonal methods like birth control pills, patches, or injections are typically over 99% effective when used correctly. However, typical use (which includes occasional mistakes) reduces their effectiveness to around 91%.

Despite its high effectiveness, it’s still possible to get pregnant while using birth control. In fact, according to studies, approximately nine out of 100 women who use birth control pills may get pregnant each year due to inconsistent use. Other methods – like IUDs or implants – have lower failure rates, with fewer than one in 100 women experiencing a pregnancy in a year of use.

For those who are pregnant on birth control, it’s important to recognize that while rare, pregnancies do occur. This situation can be confusing, but understanding why it happens and how to proceed can help manage the situation.

What Happens if You Take Birth Control While Pregnant?

If you take birth control while pregnant, the primary concern is the potential impact of the hormones in the birth control on both your body and the developing baby. Most forms of birth control – such as the pill, the patch, or hormonal IUDs – contain synthetic hormones (estrogen and/or progestin) that are designed to prevent ovulation and alter the lining of the uterus to prevent pregnancy. These hormones can still have effects on the body even if you’re already pregnant.

Short-term effects on the body may include mild symptoms like nausea or headaches – which are also common during pregnancy. However, the more concerning issue is the continued exposure to synthetic hormones during early pregnancy. While the body typically adjusts to hormonal changes, these synthetic hormones could potentially influence the pregnancy, although studies have shown that they are unlikely to cause major harm – especially if birth control use is discontinued once pregnancy is confirmed.

Long-term implications are generally minimal if birth control is stopped after discovering pregnancy. There's no strong evidence suggesting that taking birth control during pregnancy leads to birth defects or significant developmental issues. However, it's still important to stop using hormonal contraception as soon as pregnancy is detected to avoid unnecessary hormone exposure.

Risks to the Pregnancy

When you’re pregnant and taking birth control, the primary concern is the potential impact of synthetic hormones on the developing baby. While the risk is generally low, it’s important to be aware of potential complications.

Research has shown that if birth control is used in early pregnancy, the chances of birth defects or other complications are minimal. Most studies suggest that if birth control is taken before pregnancy is detected, the risk of major birth defects is not significantly higher compared to pregnancies where no birth control was used. However, some studies have raised concerns about the potential for hormonal interference with early fetal development, though conclusive evidence linking birth control to specific birth defects is scarce.

The synthetic hormones in birth control are designed to prevent ovulation and alter the uterine environment to prevent pregnancy. If these hormones are still in your system during pregnancy, they may influence the growth and development of the fetus, particularly during the critical first few weeks when organs are forming. While the body typically adjusts to pregnancy hormones, exposure to synthetic hormones could potentially disrupt this natural process. However, most research suggests that the body usually adapts without significant negative consequences if birth control is stopped after pregnancy is confirmed.

How Birth Control Works and Why it Doesn’t Always Prevent Pregnancy

Birth control is designed to prevent pregnancy by either stopping ovulation, thickening cervical mucus, or altering the lining of the uterus. There are several types of birth control, each with its method of action:

• Hormonal birth control: This includes pills, patches, injections, and IUDs that release hormones like estrogen and progestin to regulate the menstrual cycle, inhibit ovulation, and prevent sperm from reaching an egg.

• Barrier methods: Condoms, diaphragms, and cervical caps physically block sperm from entering the uterus.

• Sterilization: Permanent methods like tubal ligation or vasectomy prevent sperm and eggs from meeting.

• Fertility awareness: Tracking ovulation to avoid intercourse during fertile windows.

• Emergency contraception: Pills or devices used after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.

While birth control is highly effective, no method is 100% foolproof. Each form has a failure rate, and pregnancy can still occur if birth control is used incorrectly or inconsistently. For instance:

• Birth control pills have a typical use failure rate of around 9%, meaning nine out of 100 women may get pregnant each year if they occasionally miss pills or take them at irregular times.

• IUDs and implants are more effective, with failure rates less than 1%, but they can still fail in rare cases.

Other factors like drug interactions, vomiting, or diarrhea (which can interfere with pill absorption) and improper use of barrier methods can increase the chances of pregnancy. This is why what happens if you are taking birth control while pregnant is something to consider. 

Even though birth control methods can be highly effective, no method is perfect, and pregnancy can happen unexpectedly, leading to the situation where you’re pregnant while on birth control. If you find yourself in this position, it’s crucial to stop taking birth control and consult with a healthcare provider.

What to Do if You Realize You're Pregnant While on Birth Control

If you realize you're pregnant while on birth control, the first thing to do is to confirm the pregnancy with a home pregnancy test or by visiting a healthcare provider. Once pregnancy is confirmed, it’s essential to take certain steps to ensure your health and the well-being of your developing baby.

1. Stop taking birth control: As soon as pregnancy is confirmed, discontinue using your current birth control method. Continuing hormonal contraception may not be necessary, and stopping it will eliminate unnecessary exposure to synthetic hormones, which can have uncertain effects on the pregnancy.

2. Schedule a doctor's appointment: It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider to discuss the next steps. Your doctor can provide guidance on prenatal care, advise you on any additional supplements or precautions, and monitor the pregnancy’s progress. They can also help assess if any further actions are needed based on the type of birth control you were using.

3. Evaluate your health: If you were on birth control for medical reasons – such as regulating menstrual cycles or managing hormonal imbalances – your healthcare provider can help you explore alternative treatments during pregnancy. They can also check for any underlying conditions that might affect the pregnancy.

4. Get prenatal care: Early prenatal care is crucial. Even if you didn’t plan the pregnancy, regular checkups can help ensure a healthy start. Your provider will guide you through necessary screenings and tests to ensure that both you and the baby are progressing well.

Can Birth Control Harm the Baby After Conception?

When it comes to the concern of what happens if you take birth control while pregnant, many people worry about the potential harm to the developing baby. However, research and studies generally indicate that birth control usage after conception does not typically result in significant harm to the baby.

Most studies suggest that if birth control is taken unknowingly during early pregnancy, the risk of birth defects or complications is minimal. For example, a study found no significant increase in the risk of birth defects for women who were using hormonal birth control (like the pill or patch) during early pregnancy. The hormones in birth control are designed to prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation and altering the uterine environment, but once conception has occurred, they generally don’t interfere with the early stages of fetal development.

That being said, continuing birth control once pregnancy is confirmed is not recommended, as it's unnecessary and could lead to hormone exposure that might affect the pregnancy. Stopping birth control once pregnancy is detected is the best course of action.

Common myths and facts

Myth: Taking birth control during pregnancy causes birth defects or miscarriages.

Fact: There is no strong evidence linking birth control use in early pregnancy to birth defects or miscarriage. Most studies indicate that the risks are low, though it’s still essential to stop taking birth control as soon as pregnancy is confirmed.

Myth: If you were on birth control during early pregnancy, it might cause long-term developmental problems for the baby.

Fact: Most research suggests that any potential risk to the baby is limited to the first few weeks of pregnancy, and by the time pregnancy is recognized, the fetus is typically past the critical stages of organ development. The chances of long-term developmental issues due to early exposure to birth control are rare.

How Can LifeMD Help?

If you want to learn more about birth control, LifeMD is here to help.

A licensed healthcare provider can offer guidance on what to do if you get pregnant while taking birth control, or provide general information about birth control and help you find the most suitable prescription for you. 

Make an online appointment to get started.

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