Is it true that birth control pills impair fertility if taken for a long time?
Dr. Vlahos: No, that is a myth. In fact, there are studies that show that birth control pills offer some degree of ovarian protection in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. The only effect of birth control pills on fertility is not due to the medication itself but because women on birth control pills have the option of planning their pregnancies later in life. Studies have shown that fertility rates for women who have been on birth control pills are exactly the same as those of the same age who have not used any contraception. Question: Is it possible to treat infertility surgically? Dr. Vlahos: Yes, it is possible for women with endometriosis and for a specific type of tubal disease. The most important development is that we are now able to perform extensive reconstructive surgeries through the laparoscope that previously required large abdominal incisions. In the past, these surgeries would take from 4 to 5 hours and patients had to stay in the hospital for 3 or 4 days.
