[liz-e]

I was wondering how likely it is that I'll become infertile due to birth control. I'm a typically healthy 17-year-old female, give or take the occasional cold or cough. Right now, I'm on Lo-Ogestrel and the only frustrating problem I've had out of it is weight gain. However, for the past three months (the entire time I've been on BC), my left groin lymph node has swollen the week before or during my period. I don't know what's causing it, but the first time it happened, I went to the doctor and she said it was nothing to worry about. Coincidentally, I've had a cough or cold each time this has happened, and also coincidentally an ingrown hair on or around my bikini line.

Any ideas on what could be going on right now with that? And also, how likely is it that I will become infertile because of birth control?

Thanks!

[Mes T]

Typically lymph nodes swell when your body is fighting off some infection. I had this happen to me a few times about a year ago, in my throat. Every time I had a cold coming on my dang lymph nodes would swell. Never happened to me before, and hasn't happened since. I can't think of any connection to birth control with this, but if it continues to happen for the next few months I would suggest switching to another brand. This particular pill could be lowering your immune system for all we know.

Long-term effects of hormonal birth control are... unclear. The pill really hasn't been around long enough for there to be enough data to determine what will happen to a woman when she's 60 after she's taken the pill for x amount of years.

Have a read up on the internet of possible long-term side effects, but those mainly apply to women who have been on the pill for years upon years, if at all. You could be on the pill for 40 years and everything could be fine. Then again, say if you're a heavy smoker, the pill could contribute to blood clots in someone as young as you. It just depends on the person.

I don't recall ever reading anything about infertility as a side-effect. The pill just controls the amount of specific hormones in your body, and seems like most effects of the pill (like weight gain, weight loss, hair loss, sex drive gain or loss) reverse once a woman stops taking it.

So, long story short, if I were you I wouldn't worry myself about infertility. When you get older you might want to consider other, non-hormonal birth control options, but I'd say you're perfectly okay for now.

[Ashlee T.]

I'm with Mes. There is apparently no scientific evidence that hormonal bc leads to infertility. But that doesn't mean it doesn't/can't happen. It means that there aren't a large enough group of women affected in this way for them to consider it large enough to do a "study" so to speak. So can it happen? Yes, most likely. But the chances are slim.

Hormonal bc is well known for it's buffet of side effects. Be watchful of what you experience. I was on it for 10 years and after going through about every bc symptom possible, I had convinced myself I was old for my age, and that something was wrong with me. It finally dawned on me that it was the pill, and it was. I'll never go back to hormonal bc unless I simply have no other choice. In other words, be careful and don't find yourself feeling like total dootie all the time just so you can have unprotected sex. Not worth it. Besides, it doesn't protect you from STD's anyway.

[liz-e]

What non-hormonal birth control did you take (if you took it)? And yeah, I've thought about switching BCs, more or less just to find one that won't make me gain weight. I'm not worried about STDs; I am sexually active, but only with one person, and we're getting married next summer. We've been together for a long time. :P And yeah, my main worry is just that I'll become infertile. Other than that, I'm good!

[Mes T]

Non-hormonal birth control includes copper IUD, condoms. fem-cap, things like that. Unfortunately there's no non-hormonal pill. Pooie!

[ItsASecret]

Unfortunately there's no non-hormonal pill. Pooie!

lol good news they sort of exist!!!! Us science folk call them placebo pills! lol. No 'hormones' (birth control pills are not actually hormones either), just stuff and fillers to make a pill shape. That is exactly what a non-hormonal birth control pill would be. In simple terms it would be like saying "give me cough syrup medicine without the medicine part". So a birth control pill without the chemicals that actually prevent the chance of pregnancy...meanwhile doc is sitting in their chair going o.0 whhhaaaaat?......hence the creation of non-hormonal methods cause they will not be pills.

[Ashlee T.]

What non-hormonal birth control did you take (if you took it)?

I never even considered the Copper IUD. It's non-hormonal, but the effects that many women experience from the copper is similar to what they experience with hormonal bc. I did some research on cervical caps (fem-cap) and diaphragm and decided that if I went that route, I'd go with a diaphragm. In the meantime, a friend recommended "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. After reading it, (it was life changing), I decided that my body and my life is too important to spend it feeling cruddy to avoid pregnancy. So I started "charting" and using condoms. Right now, I chart my cycles, and abstain from sex altogether during my highly fertile days. On the other days, we use condoms in addition to pulling out.

I set the precendent with my bf that I'm not willing to spend my days feeling badly so that he can enjoy unprotected sex. Because as I knew from previous experience, once I started having all the symtpoms, I stopped enjoy sex anyway.

I was on a variety of BC's for a span of 10 years. Yas, Yasmin, Loestrin FE, Seasonale, Ortho Tri Cyclen, Ortho Cyclen......etc etc etc.

[kira]

Birth control pills only cause temporary infertility. Sometimes it can take as much as a year for the body to take over again and have normal cycles after taking pills for a long time and I've heard of it taking longer if you get the depo shot. Hormonal birth control shuts down the body's own systems and makes it rely on the fake hormones so everything has to get started back up again when you stop. I have not heard of a single case of permanent infertility or even a warning of it from a doctor or pharmacist.

Only some people feel bad on birth control. Some feel tons better and sometimes you have try a couple to find the one you feel good on and don't have side effects. Personally I find it well worth all the benefits. I'm still taking seasonique after my husband got a vasectomy.