Pregnancy Questions
Questions And Answers About Becoming Pregnant
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Pregnancy QuestionsContents Can I Get Pregnant .....? • If I Am On The Pill? |
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Can I Get Pregnant If I Am On The Pill?
If you have followed the guidelines on your contraceptive medication, it is highly unlikely that you will fall pregnant. Most contraceptive pills are 99 percent safe if used correctly. The same rate of effectiveness applies to injection and implant contraceptives. The most common cause of pregnancy while on the pill is forgetting to take it, or vomiting it back up in case of sickness. In both instances, the risk of pregnancy increases. Additionally, some migraine medications and antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of the pill, so do be sure to mention you are on the pill to your doctor when taking any prescribed medications. He/she will probably tell you to use other contraceptive methods, such as condoms for a few weeks as a double precaution (don't forget you can also use female condoms). Do read about the early signs of pregnancy if you are uncertain about the symptoms of being pregnant. Also, check out answer to one reader's question can you get pregnant while taking the pill?
Possibly, but not likely. That said, it is still risky having unprotected sex during a menstruation period because menstrual cycles are not always predictable. Normally, ovulation (when the egg is released for fertilization) is 10-12 days before your period. The more distance between your period bleed and ovulation, the less likely sperm is to encounter the egg (because the egg only survives about 3 days unless it is fertilized). But this is where it gets tricky - if you happen to have a short menstruation cycle, or bleed for longer than usual, then ovulation may happen during or shortly after your period. This means the egg is released and can hang around for up to 3 days, and may bump into some lingering sperm which can survive for up to 7 days. Not a very common occurrence, but it can happen. Yes. However, the closer you are to your period, the further you usually are away from ovulation - which reduces the chance of sperm meeting egg. However, our cycles do not always work like clockwork, so if you happen to have a shorter cycle than normal, this increases the risk of pregnancy. If your period arrives, you can relax, you are not pregnant. Read our guide to menstruation if you would like to understand your cycle better. Also check our article, is it possible to be a little bit pregnant?
Extremely unlikely. The only possible way is where he ejaculated near the entrance of the vagina - close enough for the sperm to swim inside – but this is a rare occurrence. However, if he did enter you with his penis, even only briefly, the risks of pregnancy increases. If you have any doubts, read more about taking a pregnancy test. Can I Get Pregnant While Breastfeeding? Yes, but only if your menstrual cycle has returned (indicating you are ovulating again). Generally women who breast feed resume normal menstrual cycles later than those who do not breast feed. Mothers who bottle feed usually resume their cycle within 6 to 12 weeks, while mothers who breastfeed can take anywhere up to 6 months, sometimes longer. However statistics don't always uniformly apply and some breastfeeding moms have been known to have their periods return within 6 weeks. Exactly when a woman's period returns after childbirth can vary widely - however frequency of breastfeeding may be a factor (more than three times a day seems to suppress ovulation). As it is difficult to predict when you will ovulate again, it may be safer to use some birth control method for peace of mind. See our breastfeeding guide for more tips and advice. Can I Get Pregnant With An IUD? The IUD device has the same success rate in preventing pregnancy as the pill, so the short answer is - highly unlikely. One of the most popular IUD's is the Mirena IUD, a hormonal contraceptive which is placed in the uterus and releases low dosages of a progesterone hormone called levonorgestrel. Once in place, the IUD is safe for birth control for up to 5 years. The pregnancy rate, over that five year period is estimated to be 0.7%. The main issue with IUDs is that they slightly increase the risk of PID (read about the causes of pelvic inflammatory disease) and urinary tract infections especially in women who have had several sexual partners.
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For more answers to your health questions, see the following: • Aspirin During Pregnancy - avoiding during the first trimester. Return to Homepage: Womens Health Advice |
WOMENS HEALTH ADVICE: ABOUT PREGNANCY |
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