Is this true?
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Is this true?
| Thu, 03-11-2004 - 12:39pm |
I read in different medical journals and websites, at different periods of time, that with hormonal contraceptives there is a slight chance of your egg actually being fertilized. In this case, the contraceptive will actually prevent it from being implanted. I'm not comfortable with that. To me, it's like a mini abortion. When I asked my doc about it, she basically pushed my question under the rug and told me not to worry about it. She didn't give me a straight answer either way. Someone suggested non hormonal contraceptives like an IUD. Am I being irrational? The thought of an IUD kind of creeps me out, but I'll "zen down" and get used to the idea if it means not taking the chance of "Prevention of implantation".

No method of contraception is 100% effective, except abstinence. With hormonal contraceptives there is a very slight possibility that you will ovulate. Hormonals also thicken cervical mucus making it difficult for sperm to reach the ovum and make the endometrium inhospitable for implantation. It may be that you will find an IUD will not meet your requirements either. The ParaGard (Copper-T) and the Mirena IUD (which releases a small amount of progestin) sites have this to say about their devices methods of contraception:
ParaGard: “The exact mechanism by which metallic copper enhances the contraceptive effect of an IUD has not been conclusively demonstrated. Various hypotheses have been advanced, including interference with sperm transport, fertilization, and implantation. Clinical studies with copper-bearing IUDs also suggest that fertilization is prevented either due to an altered number or lack of viability of spermatozoa.”
Mirena: “The local mechanism by which continuously released levonorgestrel enhances contraceptive effectiveness of the IUS has not been conclusively demonstrated. Studies of MIRENA ® prototypes have suggested several mechanisms that prevent pregnancy: thickening of cervical mucus preventing passage of sperm into the uterus, inhibition of sperm capacitation or survival, and alteration of the endometrium.”
You might want to consider a diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide since they work by immobilizing sperm and blocking it’s entry into the cervix.
Good luck
Jill
IUD's are less well understood as to their means of preventing conception. It is also possible for an IUD to prevent implantation, or they may be preventing fertilization. IUD's do not prevent ovulation.
It is also possible, without any birth control methods whatsoever, for a fertilized egg not to implant.
It is not an abortion to "flush" a fertilized egg. It is an abortion to remove an implanted embryo from a woman's uterus.
“Combination oral contraceptives act by suppression of gonadotropins. Although the primary mechanism of this action is inhibition of ovulation, other alterations include changes in the cervical mucus (which increase the difficulty of sperm entry into the uterus) and the endometrium (which reduce the likelihood of implantation).”
Jill
Like dancer and happy said, the chance of it happening is exceedingly low - and if you choose the birth control pill/patch/ring, there are things you could do to bring that chance to virtually zero.
Let's not forget that some women *do* become pregnant while taking the pill.
Express!
Beth "Petrouchka"