Articles
Birth control pill FAQ: Benefits, risks and choices
Do I need special pills or can I use ordinary birth control pills to prevent having a period?
If I plan to have a baby, how soon after stopping the birth control pill can I conceive?
Can I get pregnant during the week of nonactive (placebo) pills?
Can women older than age 35 continue taking birth control pills?
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Can I use birth control pills to delay or stop my period?
To prevent having a period, can I use ordinary birth control pills or do I need special pills?
If I plan to have a baby, how soon after stopping birth control pills can I conceive?
Is there an advantage to waiting a few months after stopping the pill before trying to conceive?
What happens if I stop taking the birth control pill and my period doesn't come back?
Will a pregnancy test be accurate if I'm taking the birth control pill?
What happens if I take birth control pills while pregnant?
Can I use several birth control pills at once for emergency contraception?
Does how much I weigh reduce the effectiveness of emergency birth control pills?
I have taken birth control pills for years and want to stop. Can I stop at any time or should I finish my current pill packet?
Can I get pregnant during the week of inactive pills?
Do birth control pills cause weight gain?
How do birth control pills affect cancer risk?
Do birth control pills affect cholesterol levels?
Do birth control pills affect blood pressure?
What is the risk of blood clots when taking birth control pills?
Can I continue taking birth control pills if I'm older than age 35?
Can antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills?
Is there an advantage to waiting a few months after stopping the pill before trying to conceive?
Conceiving immediately after stopping the pill does not increase your risk of miscarriage or harm to the fetus. The hormones in birth control pills don't remain in your system.
Usually periods start again a few weeks after stopping the pill. However, if your periods were infrequent before you started taking the pill, they will likely be that way again after you stop taking the pill. It may take a couple of months before you return to regular ovulation cycles.
After stopping the pill, if you're not ready to conceive, consider using a backup form of birth control.
