For several decades, women have been using the pill as a method of not getting pregnant. However, for women who do want to have a baby but are finding it difficult to conceive, this very contraceptive could just be of much use!
Researchers at Tel Aviv University conducted a study on 1,800 women at the Infertility and IVF Unit at the Helen Schneider Hospital for Women. This study is not the first to investigate the use of the pill in IVF treatment. However, it is the largest one conducted till date.”
Led by Dr.Haim Pinkas, the researchers found that a two-week interventional treatment using a standard low-dose birth control pill could help timely egg harvesting. This in turn makes the in vitro fertilization more convenient for both the doctor and the patient.
This is because, clinicians say that the ability to time the IVF process is very important to successfully conceive.
“One of the main drawbacks in treating infertility is timing a woman’s body with the clinic’s schedule, so we can get as many mature eggs as possible. IVF clinics can be extremely busy,” explained Dr.Pinkas.
In most cases, doctors begin the IVF treatment from the moment a women gets a period.
Now that the researchers have discovered that using birth control pills for 10-14 days after a period allows the treatment to be adjusted without compromising the ovarian response to stimulation.
Using this method, egg harvesting can fall on a date which is mutually convenient to both the doctor and patient.
“With a proven and safe method for timing when a woman can undergo therapy, there is a lot less stress placed on the physicians’ shoulders too. The IVF process can be very stressful. Adding to that stress is the timing issue. Women need to be able to get on with their lives. This treatment now makes it possible,” stated Dr. Pinkas.