If you’re preparing for an IVF cycle, you might be wondering why birth control has been ordered for your cycle. Aren’t you doing this in order to get pregnant? Why is your fertility doctor prescribing birth control?
To help answer that, fertility nurse and our co-founder at Dandi, Leyla Bilali, walks us through why birth control is sometimes used in IVF cycles, how it works, and what side effects to expect.
Why Use Birth Control During IVF?
According to Leyla, using birth control during IVF may seem strange at first, but it plays a key role in preparing your body for the IVF cycle.
"What birth control does is it kind of resets your system," she explains. "It lets us suppress everything, shut it off, so that when we start your medications, you're having the response we want in a very controlled environment."
In simple terms, birth control helps your doctor manage the timing of your cycle and keeps your hormone levels at baseline so they can ensure everything is aligned before starting the ovarian stimulation medications.
Managing Your IVF Schedule
Another reason birth control is prescribed during IVF is to help work around your life schedule. If you have travel plans or other commitments, birth control can be used to manipulate your cycle.
“We can use birth control to control when you'll get your period and when to start the IVF medications,” says Leyla. This flexibility can be a huge relief for those juggling IVF with the demands of daily life.
How Long Will I Be On Birth Control?
The length of time you’ll be on birth control before starting your IVF medications varies depending on your specific protocol.
Leyla explains that most doctors recommend a minimum of 7 to 8 days of birth control before starting stimulation medications, but it can stretch to 14 days or more if needed, especially if there are scheduling conflicts. According to Leyla, “They usually don’t have a maximum, but the minimum is around 7 to 8 days to ensure the birth control has taken full effect”.
How Is Birth Control Administered?
Most of us are familiar with how birth control pills work, but just to recap, birth control during IVF is usually taken as an oral tablet.
Leyla advises taking your oral contraceptive pill in the evening for convenience, but the most important thing is consistency. “As long as it's being taken around the same time every day, you're good to go!”
Are There Any Side Effects of Birth Control?
Just like any medication, birth control can come with side effects. Common side effects of the birth control pill include headaches, nausea, bloating, and breast tenderness. These symptoms occur because most birth control pills are estrogen-based.
However, since the course of birth control you’ll be taking as part of an IVF cycle tends to be fairly short, side effects are usually mild. "Typically, we don’t hear that many complaints during the short course," she reassures.
Advantage of Using Birth Control in IVF
While it may seem strange to use birth control when you're trying to conceive, it actually helps your IVF cycle run more smoothly. From resetting your system to providing flexibility in scheduling, birth control plays a key role in preparing your body for the next steps.
As Leyla emphasizes, understanding the ‘why’ behind your treatment can help you feel more empowered throughout the process.
If you're unsure about this part of your IVF protocol, don't hesitate to talk with your fertility team for more personalized guidance. Or feel free to schedule a consultation to speak with one of our fertility nurses! They’d be happy to guide you through the process of understanding your IVF medication protocol and support you on the journey.
