We are often asked what is the effect of birth control on fertility and fertility preservation. It’s important to understand that different birth control methods work differently and can or cannot affect your egg freezing cycle. Let’s go over the most popular ones.

Egg freezing and birth control pills

Birth control pills, vaginal rings, and birth control patches are all types of combined hormonal contraception (CHC) which include the combination of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. They work by introducing additional hormones into the body which prevent women from ovulation. Even though sometimes birth control pills are prescribed for a few weeks to prepare for IVF or egg freezing if they have been used for a much longer period it may lead to a lower egg count aka worse response to fertility medication and worse results during your freezing cycle. It’s recommended to have a few months’ break from taking birth control pills to normalize ovulation and it may take up to 6 months for some patients with significantly depressed levels of anti-Mullerian hormone and antral follicle count (egg count measures).

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