Does The Pill Abort A Fertilized Egg?

Posting Date: 05/07/1999

Peter: My fiancée and I have been talking about types of birth control. She's interested in taking the pill.

When a woman takes birth control pills, can an egg become fertilized and flow out during menstruation? Some people have said it happens, even though it's rare. Other people tell me it can't happen.

Dr. Dean: Is your concern that this would be akin to a morning-after pill or an abortion?

Peter: Exactly. Someone told me the morning-after pill is the birth control pill.

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Dr. Dean: Okay, let me help. The birth control pill works primarily by stopping ovulation, without ovulation there is no egg. Without an egg, there is no fertilization. Birth control pills interfere with the timing and changing of hormone levels that are necessary for ovulation.

The birth control pill does not cause abortion or loss of a pregnancy, all right? That's important.

Peter: Okay.

Dr. Dean: Even when a woman misses taking a pill, her hormone levels are most often too out of balance for ovulation.

In terms of the morning-after pill, if she's not taking the pill regularly, and if ovulation does occur, taking double the daily dosage of pills for three days will cause the egg to fail to implant in the uterus.