December 26, 2024
Why Take Birth Control Before Starting IVF Treatment?
Understanding how birth control makes the path to egg freezing and IVF smoother and more efficient.
Dr. Michael Strug, DO, PhD
Reproductive Endocrinologist
7 Minute Read
When deciding to freeze your eggs or undergo in vitro fertilization, it's natural to have questions about the process and the medications it involves. One question we often hear is why patients take birth control before IVF, egg freezing, or any other type of assisted reproductive technology.
This is a great question to raise, as the answer gives you a better grasp of how careful preparation and timing can greatly impact the success of your fertility journey.
5 Benefits of Taking Birth Control Before IVF or Egg Freezing
Birth control pills may not seem like an obvious step in fertility treatment — but they can be trusted partners in preparing your body for IVF or egg freezing.
Regulation of Menstrual Cycle
The primary reason for using oral hormonal contraceptive pills before egg freezing is to regulate the menstrual cycle. Many individuals have irregular cycles, which can complicate the timing of egg retrieval. By using oral contraceptive pills or birth control, the hormonal fluctuations that cause irregularities are stabilized. This regulation allows for more predictable timing for ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval.
Would you have to take birth control before frozen embryo transfer? In this case, it’s not always necessary. Still, birth control may be used to synchronize your cycle with the timing of the transfer.
Convenience and Planning
For many, egg freezing is a planned decision. Using oral contraceptives allows individuals to synchronize their egg retrieval with their schedules. It provides an opportunity to plan around commitments, ensuring that the process fits into their lives more seamlessly.
This can be especially convenient for those who travel frequently or have demanding work schedules, since you'll have greater control over when your cycle starts and ends. If you’re planning a vacation or have a major work project, your doctor can use birth control to adjust your cycle so the procedure doesn’t disrupt your personal or professional life. It can also help align your cycle with clinic availability, if your anticipated retrieval falls during a time when the clinic is closed for weekends or holidays.
Enhanced Monitoring of Ovaries
When you’re on birth control, your healthcare team can monitor the body more easily. Regular assessments during this period are required. This helps to track any changes in the ovarian environment, ensuring that the body is primed for stimulation and your medications are started at the correct time for your cycle and your body.
Ovarian Suppression
Patients who develop too many follicles during an egg freezing cycle may be at risk for a condition called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), which is associated with abdominal bloating, discomfort, and further complications. Oral contraceptives work by suppressing ovarian function temporarily. This suppression can help to create a controlled environment for the ovaries, reducing the risk of having multiple follicles developing at once during ovarian stimulation, and therefore reducing the risk of developing OHSS.
Reduction of Ovarian Cysts
Sometimes, individuals may have ovarian cysts that can complicate the egg retrieval process. In these cases, patients often need to delay an egg freezing cycle until the cyst has resolved, since it may influence how their ovaries respond to the medications. OCPs can help allow for additional time to shrink existing cysts and prevent new ones from forming, making the path to egg freezing and IVF smoother and more efficient.
Can I Take Birth Control Before IVF? Side Effects and Potential Risks to Consider
Start Your Journey with Elsa Fertility
Using birth control pills before egg freezing or IVF is a strategic and carefully considered step that benefits both patients and providers. Birth control allows you to regulate your cycles and prevent complications, while offering flexibility in planning around the procedure.
With the right support, you can feel confident in your decisions. Let Elsa Fertility’s experienced team of reproductive endocrinologists and nurses guide you through every step, from selecting the right medications to achieving your fertility preservation goals.
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