Taking birth control pills as a preparational step before the process of in-vitro fertilization, which helps to combat infertility and get pregnant, might already sound quite contradictory and alogical. So why start birth control before IVF and why do the majority of fertility clinics follow this rule?
Why Start Birth Control Before IVF?
Since the birth control pill gives the signal to your body to stop producing eggs and eventually prevent pregnancy, it acts as a good regulative tool for reproductive specialists to control a female’s menstrual cycle as well as ovulation period and effectively plan IVF treatment with an egg retrieval as its final stage.
Moreover, birth control pills (BCPs) are very helpful in preventing ovarian cysts, which indirectly slow down the egg production process. Adding to this, starting birth control before IVF has a positive influence on stimulating multiple follicles’ growth at the same time and rates, resulting in an advanced number of eggs for retrieval. Therefore, the possibility of conceiving a healthy child will be much higher respectively.
Why Take Birth Control Before IVF: Restrictions
Birth control pills are safe and helpful for the majority of women. However, there’s still a set of precautions that should not be missed in order to identify and eliminate possible health risks.
So if you have any of the following problems, you should probably stay away from birth control:
- blood clots;
- breast cancer or cancer of female genital organs;
- heart stroke and/or attack;
- high blood pressure;
- Diabetes and liver tumor;
- migraines with aura.
Even though you can’t opt for birth control pills, there’re always alternative ways, which can be suggested by an experienced medical expert.
How Long On Birth Control Before IVF?
Of course, the duration of a BCPs prescription can vary from person to person, taking into account the physiological peculiarities of your body. But usually, doctors implement birth control medication when around 2 weeks have passed after the last period. The birth control procedure itself takes place 3 to 4 weeks before the IVF cycle and continues up to 18 days. After that, birth control gives its place to further body preparations for pregnancy.
Other Benefits of Birth Control
The role of birth control in the IVF cycle is not only helpful but a necessary prerequisite for a healthy child conceiving. However, there’re other spheres in which birth control might be beneficial.
First of all, BCPs are a component of the hysteroscopy procedure ― the examination of a female’s uterus and cervix with the help of an endoscope, which allows spotting such problems as polyps, fibroids, and many others. Hysteroscopy cannot be scheduled without a prior birth control pills prescription, which helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and enables the endometrium to be as thin as possible for undergoing hysteroscopy.
Secondly, BCPs are often used to treat endometriosis ― a disease when the tissue of the uterus starts to spread to other places and grow on fallopian tubes or the ovaries. The omen of this disorder is endometrioma, or “chocolate cyst” which is filled with menstrual blood.
Since endometriosis triggers estrogen overproduction and thus tissue overgrowing, birth control pills are taken to prevent estrogen production and reveal pain.
Why Do You Need To Take Birth Control Pills Before IVF Treatment?
It’s clear that birth control bears a lot of potential and is a significant component of various reproductive processes. Most importantly, BCPs can guarantee an increased number of healthy eggs suitable for the IVF cycle and higher chances for successful pregnancy which leads many IPs to the family of their dream.
If you also desire to experience happy parenthood but have certain health issues ― don’t hesitate to complete a brief questionnaire and our medical expert will surely find a suitable surrogacy solution for you.
