Contraceptive pill

[Tilly8135]

Hello, Random question but does taking the pill for a number of years stop you loosing your eggs, therefore you would have more if you were on the pill longer? I was on the pill for my acne but stopped it but wishing I hadn’t if it keeps me with more eggs.

[LizzieBW]

Hi Tilly,

It's my understanding hormone contraception doesn't prevent ageing of eggs and unfortunately it is often age that impacts egg quality (among other health issues of course). Plenty of women can get a number of eggs but quantity doesn't count if they're poor quality.

Good luck with your journey xx

[Jane8412]

Hey- it is my understanding that the number of eggs you save by not ovulating would be a couple of hundred at most (say 15-20 years on the pill with 12 cycles a year) and that we are born with all the eggs we will ever have (say 1m at birth) and over time a lot of these are lost (around 1000 a month as we age). So the amount you save from being on the pill are such a tiny fraction of the number you lose as we age so they have no relevance. x

[Cinderella5]

No, taking the pill does not affect the eggs you lose. The biggest thing as we get older if egg quality which deteriorates with age and the pill cant prevent that too. I was on the pill for years and years and that didn't do me any favours so don't have regret not staying on it longer.xx

[Azzurra79]

On the contrary, being on the pill for many years can cause you to take a good few months to for your body to return to fertile mode. Never liked the pill, never took it. Good luck x