Women who have tried to conceive using in vitro fertilization (IVF) methods are painfully aware that timing is of the essence. There are cancelled vacations, too many sick days taken from work, and the necessity to plan everything around “the treatment.”
But thanks to a Tel Aviv University study, trying for a baby has just been made easier. In a surprising finding, researchers have discovered that the same pill used to prevent pregnancy can actually help a woman conceive.
Dr. Haim Pinkas MD, a senior physician at the Rabin Medical Center and an academic staff member of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine, and his colleagues at the infertility center where he practices, have found that a two-week intervention treatment using a standard low-dose birth control pill can help time egg harvesting, making the IVF process more convenient for both doctor and patient.
The study was done on 1,800 women at the Infertility and IVF Unit, Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva and appeared in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction & Genetics in January of this year.
All in the Timing
According to the American Fertility Association, more than 15% of American couples have difficulty conceiving a child. There are currently two types of therapy — natural methods and assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF. In many cases, IVF offers the last hope to conceive a child.
Convenience is a factor that contributes to a woman’s general peace of mind and health. But from a clinician’s point of view, the ability to time the IVF process is also crucial.
Dr. Pinkas explains, “One of the main drawbacks in treating infertility is timing a woman’s body with the clinic’s schedule, so we can get as many mature eggs as possible. IVF clinics can be extremely busy. With a proven and safe method for timing when a woman can undergo therapy, there is a lot less stress placed on the physicians’ shoulders too.”
Normally doctors start the IVF treatment from the moment a woman gets her period. But the use of birth control pills, for 10-14 days after a period, allows the treatment to be adjusted without compromising the “ovarian response to stimulation,” says Dr. Pinkas. This way, egg-harvesting can fall on a date mutually convenient to both the clinician and patient.
Study Is Unique and Broad
This study is not the first to investigate the use of the pill in IVF, but it is the largest one performed so far. It is also unique in that it placed an emphasis on the impact of a patient’s age, her ovarian response, the characteristics of her cycle, and the final outcome – a birth.
The bottom line is that the treatment gives a woman comfort without compromising her chances to conceive. Dr. Pinkas says, “The IVF process can be very stressful. Adding to that stress is the timing issue. Women need to be able to get on with their lives. This treatment makes it possible.”
And while old wives’ tales persist about days of the month when women can conceive, Dr. Pinkas says it is bunk. “The timing of ovulation for different women is spaced out evenly throughout the year. We can schedule a woman’s ovulation with contraceptive pills, but not with the moon.”
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MY LEGS R HURTING ME SERIOUSLY AND MY TUMMY HURTS WHAT DO U THINK HAPPEN?
Bleeding and cramping is not normal go see a doctor girlfriend!
My boyfriend and I have tried to get pregnant and it hasn’t worked. I was told because my irregular menstrual cycle it would be difficult and was recommended birth control to regulate my cycle, well it has only been one month on the pill and I’m currently on my last active pill in my pack, after I get my period would it be okay to stop the pills and try to conceive again?
Um. . . In 2009, I started taking YAZ bc! I took it regularly for a bout three months (Jan, Feb, March) I stopped taking it in like April because it was making me sick to my stomach. After April, I stopped having cycles. . Went to the doctor in June and found out I was 15 weeks pregnant. . Now, I want to have another baby. . My fiance’ and I have been together for 4 years && we wanna share that experience of having another bby. My cycle is irregular && we’ve been having a lot of unprotected sex. . . He’s also been “letting LOSE” in me. . . (Lol. . ) I haven’t had a cycle since Oct. . . I took two pregnancy tests and both came back negative. . (they were cheap $.84) I don’t know if its bc of a cheap test or bc I’m not pregnant. . . Anywho, I think that birth control helps me to be more fertile. . . I have a doctor’s appointment Monday, I’m gonna take the pills for the first month and thats it! Pray that I get the second bby . . .If it works like last time, I’ll let ya’ll know. ..
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I meant July. . .
Thank You, this is really helpful:)
I’m going to try this method out and hope that it works for me
I just got 3 Packs of BC and Pray that it works for me just like it worked for you:)
So did you find out:)
I am a childhood cancer survivor- due to my steroid treatments, doctors told me I would have trouble conceiving a child when I reached adulthood. I definitely knew that was the case since I had never had more than 3 periods a year since I was eleven. BUT! My doctor advised me to go on Sprintec (the generic form of Ortho Tri Cyclen) three months before my wedding to make sure I could start to regulate my cycles- she thought it would be helpful for when I later started fertility treatments. I started BC in mid October of 2006, was married in December and quit the birth control mid cycle in February (Valentine’s Day actually) since I was sure it wasn’t helping me- the next month I found out I was pregnant! You need to be on BC at least 3 months for it regulate your cycles and when you stop mid cycle I would drag it out- meaning, skip a day or two, take one pill and then skip again, kind of weaning your body of the pill. If you stop cold turkey my doc said your body will go into shock and immediately give you your period due to hormone levels. I am now trying for our second baby and just started BC last month- hopefully by this Valentine’s Day we will have good news! Good Luck- don’t give up hope!
What BC how do it looks
Hy guys, i didn’t read all of your stories but i need to have a baby seriously and i don’t want to use those contraception pill. Is there any way to do that?
I have read everyones post on here and tried this method out. With me im really irregular too, i would have 1 or 2 periods a year and im not kidding. I tired taking Birth Control for 2 weeks and then stopped(like it said above). Then 2 days after i stopped i was getting really bad back pain and cramps then i got a period. Does this mean that my body could have ovulated or did i do something wrong?
ive read everyones forums here and they sound helpfull but i just have a quick question i need answered! i took the beyaz birth control pill for two weeks now have stoped like the ladies above had said they did. Im now experiencing some bleeding and cramping. is this normal? did i do something wrong? ive been trying to concieve for over 6 months. dont use any protection and nothing happeds. will this method not work for me? helpppp!
can i use any birth controll pill?