What happens if you still take birth control while pregnant

Some people might assume that getting pregnant while taking birth control isn’t possible. And well, this just isn’t true. Birth control is between  91% – 99% effective when it is used with perfect use. Although it has high rate of effectiveness, there are many ways that a woman can become pregnant without intending to.

So, what happens if you take birth control while pregnant? Is the birth control harmful to the baby or mother? Let’s find out below and discuss some of the reasons that you may become pregnant while taking birth control.

Reasons That You May Become Pregnant

Birth control pills are intended to lower the risk of pregnancy, and some women choose to use the medication to treat certain symptoms of menstruation. For example, some hormonal birth control can be used to regulate periods, reduce acne, and treat symptoms of PMS. Whatever the reason may be to take birth control, there’s always a chance that pregnancy may occur while taking the medication. Not all birth control methods have the same effectiveness, so you should always check the prescription label to find out how effective the birth control is.

Birth control failure can occur for many different reasons and can lead to an unintended pregnancy. So, if you’re wondering what happens if you take birth control while pregnant, you should first know the most common reasons that a woman can get pregnant while taking birth control. They are:  

Missing a dose of birth control – this is especially true for progestin only birth control, which needs to be taken every 24 hours. If a dose is missed or taken at a different time, the body receives an inconsistent level of hormones and may lead to pregnancy.

Vomiting – nausea and vomiting may occur if a woman becomes ill. If a woman experiences vomiting while taking oral contraceptive, there is a chance that the medication may come back up and the hormones will not be absorbed into the body.

Medications interfering – other prescription medication may counter the effects of birth control and reduce its effectiveness. If you’re taking any form of medication, ensure that your doctor knows before you start taking the birth control.

Improper storage – birth control needs to be stored in a dry place at room temperature (between 68 – 77 degrees). If it is exposed to either hot or cold conditions, the chemical makeup of the medication can be altered and reduced its effectiveness.

If any of these instances occurs and you have unprotected sex during this time, your chance of pregnancy increases.

What Harm Will Birth Control Cause to An Unborn Baby?

So, what happens if you take birth control while pregnant? Taking birth control in the early stages of pregnancy doesn’t appear to increase the risk of birth defects in unborn babies. The exposure from the hormones in birth control is not known to cause any birth defects or increase the chance of miscarriage. So, you shouldn’t be concerned if you kept taking your birth control because you didn’t know you’re pregnant.

If you think there’s a chance that you may be pregnant, take a home pregnancy test as a precaution. If the test is positive, stop taking the birth control immediately and visit your doctor.

Can I Use Birth Control While Breastfeeding?

Once a woman has become sexually active again after childbirth, couples should start thinking about a what method of birth control to use while breastfeeding. As we’ve discussed already, there is little risk involved with taking birth control during the early stages of pregnancy, but is there any risk to the baby while breastfeeding?

There is little evidence supporting that using birth control while pregnant causes problems. Something to keep in mind is that combination birth control containing estrogen may reduce milk supply and can cause blood clots. For this reason, your doctor will most likely prescribe a progestin-only birth control while breastfeeding.

If you’re still concerned and wondering what happens if you take birth control while pregnant, you should speak with your doctor to find out the possibility of there being any complications with your baby.

The birth control pill is safe for most people, but all medicines have some risks and side effects. Your doctor will help you figure out if the pill is safe for you.

Is the birth control pill safe?

There’s a good chance the pill will be totally safe for you — most people can take it with no problems. The pill has been around for more than 50 years, and millions of people have used it safely.  

Can I take the birth control pill?

Like with all medications, the pill isn’t for everyone.

Smoking and birth control pills don’t always mix. If you’re over 35 and a smoker, you shouldn’t use the combination pill (COCs) or any other kind of birth control that contains the hormone estrogen. If you’re over 35 and you vape, talk with your nurse or doctor about whether the combination pill is safe for you. You can take progestin-only pills (POPs or mini pills) if you’re a smoker.

Also avoid using combination pills if you’ve had:

  • Blood clots, an inherited blood-clotting disorder, or vein inflammation

  • Breast cancer

  • Heart attack, stroke, angina, or other serious heart problems

  • Migraine headaches with aura (seeing flashing, zigzag lines)

  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure

  • Very bad diabetes or liver disease

Avoid using progestin-only pills if you’ve had:

  • Certain forms of lupus

  • Breast cancer

Avoid using Slynd (a type of progestin-only pill) if you’ve had:

  • Kidney disease

  • Adrenal insufficiency

  • Liver disease

  • Cervical, breast, ovarian, uterine, or endometrial cancer

Talk with your doctor or nurse about your health history. They’ll help you decide if the pill is right for you.

What are the risks of birth control pills?

Even though birth control pills are very safe, using the combination pill can slightly increase your risk of health problems. Complications are rare, but they can be serious. These include heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and liver tumors. In very rare cases, they can lead to death. For the most part, progestin-only pills (aka POPs or mini pills) don’t have these risks.

When talking with your doctor about birth control, tell them about any medications you’re taking and any health problems you’ve had.

There’s a very slight chance that you can get pregnant even if you always take the pill correctly every day. But if you do get pregnant and accidentally take the pill during the early part of your pregnancy, it won’t increase the risk of birth defects.

It’s important to remember that the chance of having any of these problems while taking birth control pills is really, really low for most people. In fact, pregnancy is more likely to cause serious health problems than the pill. Your doctor or nurse can help you figure out which types of birth control will be safest for you.

What warning signs should I know about?

Most people on the pill won’t have any problems at all. But just in case, it’s good to know what the signs of a serious issue are.

See a doctor or nurse right away if you have:

  • sudden back/jaw pain along with nausea, sweating, or trouble breathing

  • chest pain or discomfort

  • achy soreness in your leg

  • trouble breathing

  • severe pain in your belly or stomach

  • sudden, very bad headache

  • headaches that are different, worse, or happen more often than usual

  • aura — (seeing flashing, zigzag lines)

  • yellowing of your skin or eyes

You can always call a nurse or doctor, like the ones at your local Planned Parenthood health center, if you have questions or you’re worried about any health issues.

Is it safe to take the pill while breastfeeding?

Combination pills (COCs) may reduce the amount and quality of your breast milk in the first 3 weeks of breastfeeding. If you’re nursing, wait at least 3 weeks after giving birth to start using combination pills. Your breast milk will contain traces of the pill's hormones, but it’s not likely that these hormones will have any effect on your baby. Talk with your nurse or doctor if you have any concerns about breastfeeding while using the pill.

Progestin-only pills (AKA POPs or mini pills) are fine to use while you're breastfeeding. In fact, using the mini pill and breastfeeding shouldn’t have any effect on how much milk you produce, and won't affect your baby.

More questions from patients:

Can I take the birth control pill if I have high blood pressure?

It depends. Birth control pills that contain the hormone estrogen aren’t a good idea for people with high blood pressure because they can actually raise your blood pressure. Depending on your age, how well your blood pressure is controlled, and other risk factors, your nurse or doctor can help you decide whether the pill is safe for you.

There are 4 estrogen free (progestin-only) hormonal methods that are safe to use for people with high blood pressure, including progestin-only pills, the birth control shot, the birth control implant, and hormonal IUDs. Your doctor or nurse, like the staff at your local Planned Parenthood health center, can help you decide which birth control method is right for you.

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What happens when you take birth control pills while pregnant?

Birth control pills will not harm an existing pregnancy, so don't stop using your birth control until you know for sure if you're pregnant. If a woman is worried that she might be pregnant, the first thing she needs to do is take a home pregnancy test or go to a health care center for confidential testing.

What happens if you take birth control while pregnant without knowing?

The exposure from the hormones in birth control is not known to cause any birth defects or increase the chance of miscarriage. So, you shouldn't be concerned if you kept taking your birth control because you didn't know you're pregnant.

Can taking birth control while pregnant cause a miscarriage?

Consumption of oral contraceptives for more than 2 years before pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of miscarriage.