Myth or truth? Is it really possible to get pregnant while taking birth control? And to the surprise of those who use this very effective method, the answer is yes! Those who take birth control can indeed get pregnant1. Of course, those who take it religiously, on time every day, and have normal health conditions do not get pregnant while on birth control. However, no method is 100% effective and sometimes the 98% rate is not enough. But don’t worry, in general, most birth control pills are very safe.
For a woman to get pregnant while taking birth control, some external and rather uncommon factors need to happen during a single cycle. So, if you are using birth control to prevent pregnancy, keep an eye on the tips below.
IMPORTANT: If you are not disciplined and cannot take medication every day at specific times, it might be a good idea to look for another contraceptive method.
Main Causes That Can Lead Women to Get Pregnant
There are several factors, but the most common are:
- Switching birth control pills
- Forgetting to take the pill
- Use of antibiotics
- Diarrhea or vomiting up to 4 hours after taking the pill
Factors That Make You Get Pregnant While Taking Birth Control
Changing your birth control pill can lead to pregnancy when the new medication has another active ingredient, for example, if the previous one was estrogen-based and the new one is progesterone-based. That’s because there can be a delay in the adaptation, and a fertile window may open, causing pregnancy even with the correct use of the medication.
Another factor that leads to pregnancy while using birth control is the well-known “forgot the pill”. Forgetting the pill is normal and happens, but if a woman often forgets to take medication, it’s best to opt for another form of contraception2 or even injectable birth control.
Forgetting the pill for up to 12 hours is still acceptable, but missing it for more than 12 hours or more than 24 hours opens up a fertile window and the possibility of pregnancy even when using birth control.
Myths and Facts About Birth Control Pills.
Using antibiotics during your cycle while on birth control can also make the medication less effective. Some active ingredients in antibiotics can open up a fertile window and increase the risk of getting pregnant even while on the pill.
Diarrhea and vomiting are also important factors. In these cases, the body can expel the birth control pill before it’s absorbed by a woman’s body. Taking your birth control pill correctly every day at the same time is a great way to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. However, if you forget a pill or use antibiotics and have sexual intercourse on the day of ovulation or during your fertile period, pregnancy is possible even while taking the medication.
For your safety, I advise adopting other forms of contraception if any of the above episodes occur. For example, it’s important to always use a condom to protect yourself from STIs3 and avoid fertile windows.
Reader Questions:
What are the chances of getting pregnant taking birth control correctly?
As mentioned before, no contraceptive is 100% effective, and even taking it correctly there can be failures, although the chances are minimal. With perfect use, the failure rate of birth control pills is only 0.3%. With typical use — for example, if you take it late, forget a dose, or have a bout of diarrhea that interferes with the medication — the risk of failure reaches up to 3%. Also, even with correct and timely use, failures can happen if taken together with medications that “cancel out its effect.”
What is the risk of getting pregnant if you take birth control at different times?
It’s recommended to take your birth control pill every day at the same time to ensure effectiveness and avoid missing a dose. However, if the pill is taken within up to 12 hours of the last dose, the chances of getting pregnant are practically zero.
What risk does the baby face if you get pregnant while taking birth control?
There is no risk to the baby. However, recent studies have suggested that, as in the first trimester the baby’s sexual organs are developing, ingesting hormones could compromise this process. It’s worth noting that the formation of the genital organs depends entirely on genetics and hormonal factors, and development can be altered if hormone levels are unbalanced.
See also: How the Menstrual Cycle Works and the Phases of the Cycle
