Women who use the contraceptive pill could be damaging their fertility in the future, a new study has revealed.
Researchers found the powerful hormones in the drug can ‘age’ the reproductive system, reducing the production of eggs to levels seen in older women, months after coming off the contraceptive.
The link emerged in a study of 833 women between the ages of 19 and 46-years-old, who were attending a fertility clinic in America.
According to the Mail Online, the scientists do not think the phenomenon is permanent, but they have advised that a woman’s ‘biological clock’ should be measured three months after finishing taking the pill.
During the study, experts measured anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicles (AFC) which are indicators of ‘ovarian reserve’ or fertility.
Levels of AMH and AFC were 19 per cent and 16 per cent lower in pill users, and between 19 per cent and 52 per cent less eggs were produced by the women taking part in the study.
Dr Kathrine Birch Petersen, of Copenhagen University Hospital, said: “We expected to find an effect of the pill. But during the project we were surprised at the quantified effect on ovarian reserve parameters as defined by anti-Mullerian hormone, antral follicle count and ovarian volume.”
She added: “We do not believe the pill changes the ovaries in any permanent way.
‘But we still need to know more about the recovery phase after women stop the pill.” – Voice
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