Birth control and infertility

Fertility Specialist Richard Marrs, MD, discusses whether or not birth control lead to infertility in women after a woman stops using birth control
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Birth control and infertility

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A common question that women ask is whether the use of birth control affects their fertility. And the answer to that is no. Women can be on birth control pills for six months, twelve months, six years, ten years. As long as they didn't have an infertility problem before they took the pills, it's not going to create one. So women can safely use oral contraceptives, stop them, and become pregnant when they want to after that. Certain types of birth control methods have been problems. Intrauterine devices, 15 - 20 years ago were known to create infections and tubal damage and infertility issues in those women. We don't use those devices anymore. One method that has been used for a period of time is the injectable Depo Provera, which suppresses ovulation and women can take a shot every 3 - 6 months, they won't become pregnant. But some women get very suppressed and they can't ovulate normally for a long period of time after using Depo Provera. I would not recommend that as a method of birth control for young women.
PREGNANCY, Fertility, Infertility

Fertility Specialist Richard Marrs, MD, discusses whether or not birth control lead to infertility in women after a woman stops using birth control

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Richard Marrs, MD

Fertility Specialist

Dr. Richard Marrs is a board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist. He studied medicine and trained in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Texas before moving to Southern California to study Reproductive Endocrinology. While at the University of Southern California, he developed one of the country’s first IVF programs, which is responsible for the second IVF birth in the United States and the first birth from cryopreserved embryos in the United States in 1986. He is internationally recognized for his contributions to the development of IVF. He has published over 200 papers and books in the area of Reproductive Endocrinology and In Vitro Fertilization and is a prominent figure in the national and international infertility communities. In 1996, he published a book for couples called the Dr. Richard Marrs' Fertility Book: America's Leading Infertility Expert Tells You Everything You Need to Know About Getting Pregnant.

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Transcription: 
A common question that women ask is whether the use of birth control affects their fertility. And the answer to that is no. Women can be on birth control pills for six months, twelve months, six years, ten years. As long as they didn't have an infertility problem before they took the pills, it's not going to create one. So women can safely use oral contraceptives, stop them, and become pregnant when they want to after that. Certain types of birth control methods have been problems. Intrauterine devices, 15 - 20 years ago were known to create infections and tubal damage and infertility issues in those women. We don't use those devices anymore. One method that has been used for a period of time is the injectable Depo Provera, which suppresses ovulation and women can take a shot every 3 - 6 months, they won't become pregnant. But some women get very suppressed and they can't ovulate normally for a long period of time after using Depo Provera. I would not recommend that as a method of birth control for young women.
PREGNANCY, Fertility, Infertility