Although manybirth control methodsare highlyeffective, you could still get pregnant while using them.
Studies suggest that around half of allunintended pregnancieshappen whenbirth controlis used.
Education can help overcome these concerns.
Yuri Arcurs / Collection: E+ / Getty Images
When Can Conception Occur?
During the average menstrual cycle, there are seven days when an egg is able to be fertilized.
That is a time span of 10 days.
Hormonal birth control methods are those that interfere with the menstrual cycle and ovulation.
These generally need to be used consistently on an ongoing basis.
Non-hormonal methods involve barrier devices or sexual practices that prevent sperm from reaching the egg.
Many barrier methods can be used on demand.
The main reason is user error.
Did My Birth Control Fail?
Thinking that you may have gotten pregnant while on birth controland do not want to becan be stressful.
While there are many reasons why you may havemissed your period, the most common cause is pregnancy.
The only way to know for sure if you’re pregnant is to get apregnancy test.
Even so, it’s crucial that you test at the right time and not too early.
Summary
It is possible to get pregnant on birth control.
This is true for both hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives.
Correcting these errors can better ensure you avoid pregnancy.
Guttmacher Institute.Unintended Pregnancy in the United States.
Su RW, Fazleabas AT.Implantation and establishment of pregnancy in human and nonhuman primates.Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol.
American Pregnancy Association.Birth control failure.
American Pregnancy Association.hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin): the pregnancy hormone.