Family Planning Plus

First of all, if you know you are pregnant, you should not be using a hormonal method of birth control.  You don’t want to expose the fetus to any medications that are not necessary.

However, women who get pregnant while using a hormonal method need not be too alarmed. There’s very little evidence  indicating that contraceptive hormone use during pregnancy will harm the baby in any way.  According to the Mayo Clinic, “A 2009 study suggested an association between the use of birth control pills during the time of conception and an increased risk of low birth weight or preterm delivery. Also, older research suggested that use of certain birth control pills during pregnancy could pose a risk of developmental problems with a female baby’s sexual organs — such as enlargement of the clitoris. Generally, however, these concerns haven’t been observed in clinical experience.”  That being said, women who are using hormones when they learn they are pregnant should stop using them right away.

Regarding sexual activity, a woman with a normal pregnancy can continue to have sexual intercourse up until delivery time.  Pregnant women with specific medical problems such as bleeding, placenta praevia, or a history of miscarriages should check with their prenatal care provider to see if there are any restrictions on their sexual behavior.