Infertile women still need to use contraceptives. Why?

Contraceptives are usually a solution for couples who are not ready or do not want to have children. However, did you know that the use of family planning still needs to be considered by couples who have been convicted of infertility? In particular, women who are infertile still need to use contraceptives, you know! I wonder why?

Infertile women may still get pregnant

Being sentenced to infertile doesn't mean you can't have children. Infertile women can still get pregnant, even though the chances are low.

Most couples find it difficult to get pregnant because one or both of them are infertile, not because of infertility. Whether because of a low male sperm count or a problem with female ovulation, the possibility of getting pregnant naturally (not using medical assistance) remains in infertile couples.

Unlike infertility, which means you cannot have children at all. For example, if both of a woman's fallopian tubes are completely blocked, it means that the woman is infertile. Or, if a man has zero sperm count (azoospermia), it means that the man is infertile. It is impossible for fertilization to occur in a situation like this without the assistance of artificial reproductive technologies, such as IVF or insemination.

The decision to use family planning, even if it's not fertile, depends on your life plans in the future

The decision to use contraception after being diagnosed as infertile may sound a little strange. You may be amazed, "You know, I have tried so hard to conceive, why should it be prevented now?" Some may even feel guilty because they think that by using contraception, they are rejecting the provision that can come at any time.

However, there are several reasons that could underlie the consideration of many infertile couples to use contraception. Remember, referring to the explanation above, being infertile does not mean that it is impossible for you to get pregnant. The possibility of getting pregnant still exists, even though it is small.

For infertile couples who have successfully had children before, using contraception can help them not get pregnant again too quickly. Some couples may not want to have two children that are too close together. Others choose to use birth control for a while until you both decide whether you want to have more children or not. Or maybe you and your partner think that just having a small family with one child is enough.

Meanwhile, for infertile couples who have never been pregnant, the reason for using birth control to prevent pregnancy can be based on a short break from prolonged stress after repeatedly trying to get pregnant. The stress of being pregnant continuously can erode the physical and psychological health of both parties. Or after all the efforts to try to get pregnant without success, you and your partner are finally determined to choose to live alone without children. The use of family planning can guarantee your future plans without having to worry about "missed" unplanned pregnancy.

Regardless of your condition, whether you have had children before, your doctor may also advise you not to become pregnant for a number of medical reasons. Well, using birth control even if a woman is infertile can prevent the risk of conceding pregnancy, which might put your health at risk in the future.

Will family planning make it more difficult for me to get pregnant?

Not a few women have refused to use contraceptives since they were convicted of infertility. Apart from feeling fine, they tend to be afraid that this contraceptive can make it even more difficult for them to get pregnant. Is that right?

Quoting from Verywell, there have been many studies that prove that long-term use of contraceptives does not affect female fertility. Most women can get pregnant within the first 3-12 months after stopping taking birth control pills. If you use the IUD, aka spiral birth control, you may immediately get pregnant.

Reporting from Everyday Family, in certain cases, long-term use of birth control pills can actually strengthen fertility in infertile women caused by irregular menstrual cycles. Birth control pills can help a woman's menstrual cycle become more regular, thereby increasing the optimal chances of conception.

This is because the decrease in female fertility is more influenced by the increasing age and health condition of each, not only from the type of family planning or how long it has been used.

So, discuss with your doctor about the type of contraception that suits your health condition. If you are still unsure about using hormonal contraceptives, you can also take advantage of physical barrier contraceptives, such as condoms. Moreover, regardless of the desire to become pregnant or not, men and women who are infertile still need to use condoms during sex to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.