Introduction
Ovulation despite the pill is virtually impossible with the classic combined pill. Ovulation only occurs if there are errors in taking the pill. With the estrogen-free pills, especially the minipill, however, ovulation can occur to a certain percentage. The progestin in the pill has the primary task of thickening the mucus around the cervix. However, further development of the preparations has also improved the inhibitory effect on ovulation.
Can ovulation occur despite the pill?
The classic pill contains both estrogen and progestin. With these preparations, ovulation cannot occur if taken regularly. The administration of additional hormones inhibits the hormone GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone).
GnRH is in turn important for the release of the hormones LH (lutenising hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). Due to the lower concentration of GnRH, LH and FSH are also released at a reduced rate. Since LH is mainly responsible for ovulation and a high concentration of LH is necessary for this, ovulation cannot occur.
This mechanism of contraception also applies to the micro pill, which means that ovulation cannot occur, despite the low-dose hormones. This is different with the estrogen-free pills, e.g. the minipill. With these preparations ovulation can also occur.
In the past, the rate was 43% of women who ovulated despite the pill. However, this rate has been reduced by further development of the preparations. The contraceptive effect of the estrogen-free pill is that it thickens the mucus around the entrance to the uterus so that the sperm cannot enter the uterus.
- There is the so-called combination method, in which a constant dose of estrogen and progestin is usually taken over a period of 21 days.
- Then there is the sequence method. Here, the concentrations of the two hormones change over the time they are taken.
What causes ovulation despite taking the pill?
The most common reason why ovulation occurs despite taking the pill is due to errors in taking it. Either the pill is taken too late or is completely forgotten. In this case, ovulation can be triggered by the fluctuating hormone levels.
It is therefore important to use additional contraceptive methods after forgetting to take the pill. This also applies if vomiting or severe diarrhoea occurs within 3 to 4 hours after taking the pill. The hormones in the pill could not yet be sufficiently absorbed by the body during this period and the prevention of ovulation cannot be guaranteed.
With the estrogen-free pills, i.e. the minipill and the progestogen-only pills (they contain a higher dose of progestogens and are not counted as minipills), ovulation is not suppressed as reliably as with the classic pill. This means that ovulation is not atypical, especially with the minipill. The progestogen pills normally have a sufficiently high concentration of active ingredients to prevent the egg from maturing and ovulation from occurring. However, this is not as safe as with the classic pill.
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