If you are able to get pregnant, chances are you have taken birth control, or at least been advised to take it. But what is its impact on our bodies and minds?
Methods to control fertility and unwanted pregnancies have existed since the beginning of time. Since their introduction in the 1960s [1], oral contraceptives, or “the pill,” have skyrocketed in popularity and regularly prescribed to not only prevent pregnancy, but also to tackle various health issues, like irregular or painful periods, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, or even acne. For many uterus havers, taking one or more types of hormonal birth control is a natural and expected part of their life course.
Despite being around for more than half a century, and perhaps due to the lack of general sex education received in our society, there is a lot of confusion and misconception about the impact of hormonal contraception on the body. So let’s look into what research has to say about that, but first, a quick overview of how hormonal birth control actually works, and all the shapes and kinds it comes in.
Very simply put, these contraceptives contain estrogen and progestin, a synthetic version of progesterone [2]. When these hormones are released in your body, they influence the process of ovulation and stop your ovaries from releasing eggs. They can also make your cervical mucus thicker, which makes it harder for sperm to reach the egg. Some contraceptives only trigger one of these reactions, but others do both [3].
In comparison, non-hormonal contraception does not influence the hormonal makeup of your body. Such contraception techniques are condoms, cervical caps, diaphragms, sponges, or full sterilization.
Many people choose to take hormonal birth control not only as a means to prevent unwanted pregnancies, but as a way to regulate their menstrual cycle. Because of the release of estrogen and progestin, the menstrual cycle is affected, and can be regulated by the choice of specific birth control type.
Since there is no uterine lining to shed (which happens in regular periods) because of hormonal birth control, what you experience during the week without a vaginal ring or a skin patch, or when taking pills that contain no hormones, is called withdrawal bleeding, and usually tends to be lighter and less painful. With IUDs or injections, your period might stop altogether for the duration of you using the contraceptive.
Research has also shown that it is safe to use hormonal birth control for continuous menstruation suppression [4], which is easily reversible once birth control is no longer taken. People with various health issues as well as trans and gender non-conforming people with body dysphoria benefit from such menstrual suppression.
Once you stop taking hormonal birth control, you will gradually return to fertility — however, the time of fertility restoration differs based on the type of contraception. For example, the fastest return to fertility is with IUDs and implants (only two menstrual cycles). With oral contraceptives, whether COC or POP, and vaginal rings, the restoration lasts a few months. The longest period is with the injections, which can be up to eight months [5]. Research shows that most people will become pregnant within 12 months after they stop taking hormonal contraceptives [6].
