We’ve all heard at some point or another that if you take the morning after pill too many times, you’ll become infertile. A lot of people, especially those who don’t use any other form of contraception, rely on the morning after pill as their only way to prevent pregnancy. But is infertility related to the morning after pill at all?
The morning after pill works in a particular way. It contains hormones that stop or delay ovulation, which is what prevents a pregnancy. Some morning-after pills contain both estrogen and progestin, while others provide just progestin. Emergency contraception is not as effective as other forms of contraception. It also is way more expensive than different types of contraception, such as birth control, condoms, or an IUD.
So, using the morning after pill as your only source of contraception isn’t ideal. Taking emergency contraception comes with a few risks, too. Headaches, nausea, and bleeding are side effects often affiliated with emergency contraception. However, you can take the morning-after pill more than one time during your menstrual cycle, and it will work the same.
Does taking the morning after pill too many times lead to infertility?
So: does taking the morning after pill too many times lead to infertility? Most likely not. There hasn’t been much research done on the long-term side effects of taking the morning after pill, so things like infertility or the pill stopping working are unlikely. There’s no scientific research that proves that emergency contraception can lead to infertility. So whoever started that rumor, and for those who still believe it, it’s not true!!!
Using emergency contraception is not ideal for various reasons, but infertility is not one of them. If you do find yourself taking the morning after pill frequently, maybe look into other forms of contraception to give your body, mind, and bank account a more consistent sense of relief.
