Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills
Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills


Starting a pregnancy- When should I stop taking the combined oral contraceptive pill?

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Starting a pregnancy- When should I stop taking the combined oral contraceptive pill?

There is no evidence of any increased risk of abnormality for the baby in women who conceive soon after stopping the combined oral contraceptive pill. The underlying risk of congenital abnormality (a structural defect of one or more parts of the body present at birth) is 2% of all babies. Even when pregnancy occurs accidentally in women taking the combined oral contraceptive pill, the risk of congenital abnormality is not increased above this 2% level.

At one time, one of the most common problems facing obstetricians was determination of the duration of pregnancy. Only if the menstrual cycle was normal and the mother was certain about the date of the first day of the last menstrual period (L. M. P.) could the obstetrician be reasonably confident about the expected time for delivery (expected date of delivery E.D.D). Knowing the dates is critical either when there is a possible need to induce labour, plan an elective Caesarean section or stop premature labour. Periods may be delayed or irregular for a few months after stopping the combined oral contraceptive pill, reducing the accuracy of determining dates in a pregnancy. Ultrasound, which has been available for more than thirty years, can be reasonably accurate in the first half of pregnancy in determining dates usually overcoming this potential difficulty.

There is some evidence that folic acid supplementation reduces the risk of the spina bifida group of defects when taken before pregnancy and for a few weeks after conception. We now recommend folic acid supplements to all women contemplating pregnancy.


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