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.”
I’m 27 will be 28 I want a to become pregnant sooner than later I don’t want to be 40 having my first baby so I’m praying that birth control pills will help me to conceive if not I’m done trying I can’t afford to get infertility treaments and even if I could I don’t want to go through all of the treatments and still have no pregnancy or to have one and it end in miscarriage I really couldn’t handle that . I’m so ready to be a mother it hurts to know I’ve been married for 8 years and still no baby or children. Of my own I’m tried of not having a childless life don’t get me wrong I love my liife with just me and my husband but when you come from a big family and most your sisters and brothers have children and your neices and newphews start making you a great aunt you start wondering what wrong why another mothers day is going by and you are still without a child. So I’m praying for the birth control pills to work .
I totally feel you. I am in the same exact boat. Thank you for sharing. Although I know I wasn’t alone it helped hearing someone else explain it like me. I’ve also been married 8yrs, big family, and the only one with no kids and a great aunt (a million times over) I pray this works.
Thank you,
well that makes 3 of us in the same boat… did the pill ever worked for you?
22 years ago at age 33 I removed my copper 7 or whatever it was called, took bc pills for a month and voila pregnant the very next month. Don’t remember where I heard to try this but it worked for me. Now I’m a grandmama.
So if a women takes birth control for 10-14 days after her period, what days would she actually ovulate? Would it be right after she stopped taking them, or a few days later?
No offence, but these pills cannot possibly help you get pregnant.
Well Amber, no offence to you but unless you are a fertility specialist, you wouldn’t know if the pill can help you get pregnant or not. My cousin got pregnant by using the pill to help her. Unless you really know the facts then you should probably keep the comments like that to your self. These sites are for women trying to conceive, NOT for people to leave judgemental comments
hi, im 39 and going to be 40. i had 2 son from first relationship, but now im married to my husband and wanted to have a baby with him. is it still possible that i can use this pills at my age? ( my husband is much older than me ) thanks…
What could be the best birth control to be on for two weeks, to become prego???????
Hi i really love the article…i found your post at google i am sure to come back for more infos just wanted to say thanks
Sometimes we despair of ever having a baby :..We have tried everything… drugs, jabs, weve endured all sorts of tests, our partner too……weve even had I.V.F……but sometimes the expense is far beyond our reach… do we give up any thoughts of ever being able to conceive ?… no, we shouldn’t!… I wonder… have we ever thought of Reflexology ???… Its 100% natural, and Very powerful !… Im a qualified , Reflexologist, and ive specialized in successfuly helping women to get pregnant… often, im the last resort !… Firstly, I treat underlying symptoms and problems to be sure that your body is working as well as we can get it… have you ever had, for example, Candida?… Not necessarily recently, but at any time in your life ?… Have you taken any antibiotics in your life ? .. Do you suffer from bloating ?.. excess wind ?….These are some of the symptoms that I need to eradicate before your body will be functioning well… I do this by reccommending any supplements that I feel are the ones you need, and which you can buy in any local health shop ( Im not trying to sell you anything expensive )… Along with, of course a specialized to your body, Reflexology treatment…Ive tried to answer many of your questions on a website Ive written specially for you… http://www.reflexologypregnancy.com Ive also included some helpful ideas, which are always part of my treatments, not just for women, but also some helpful ideas for men, who maybe have very low sperm counts, or sperm motility or mobility problems.
Try ovulex it works google it!!!!!
try ovulex it works!!!!
Im tryinn to get prego asap what is the pill name n where do I get it at