Can long-term use of the Pill make it harder to conceive?
No — there’s no evidence that long-term use of the birth control pill interferes with fertility. Some women experience a disruption in their menstrual cycle for several months after going off the Pill (a condition called post-pill amenorrhea). But this is usually caused by an underlying problem that’s unrelated to the Pill — for example, being significantly underweight, or even being under severe stress. In fact, taking the Pill can protect you from diseases — such as ovarian and uterine cancers — that can lead to infertility. Researchers have also found that long-term Pill use may improve the symptoms of endometriosis, a condition that can cause abnormal menstrual bleeding and result in infertility. Finally, the Pill has been shown to reduce the incidence of ectopic pregnancy — when a fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterus, typically in one of the fallopian tubes. (Unfortunately, an ectopic pregnancy can’t result in a successful birth.) Some doctors advise trying to get pregna
