Side effects taking birth control pills while pregnant

• About 9% of people who take birth control pills will become pregnant each year.
• If you get pregnant while using hormonal birth control like the pill or an IUD, it is important to stop using it as soon as possible.
• If you stop it early enough you shouldn't have complications during pregnancy or experience damage to your health or your baby's.
• This article was reviewed by Jane van Dis, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN and medical director of the Maven Clinic.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

In the US, nearly half of pregnancies happen by accident. Many occur because couples aren't using contraception. However, nearly 50% of unintended pregnancies occur because the birth control failed or the couple used it incorrectly.

If you get pregnant while using hormonal birth control like the pill or an IUD, it is important to stop using it as soon as possible. If you stop early on in pregnancy, there is a good chance you won't have any complications.

How birth control works

Many birth control methods use sex hormones to trigger changes in your body that prevent pregnancy. Elevated levels of hormones such as progestin, either alone or combined with estrogen, can prevent ovulation as well as thicken the tissue lining in your uterus so eggs can't join together with sperm or implant in the uterine wall.

The most common form of hormonal birth control is the pill, which 28% of Americans use to prevent pregnancy. Other methods that use hormones include vaginal rings, patches, subcutaneous implants, injections, and some IUDs.

What happens if you take birth control pills while pregnant

According to the CDC, nine%  of people who take birth control pills will become pregnant each year. That's because "although the effectiveness of birth control pills is very high when used perfectly (99.7%), the average woman will occasionally miss doses," says Dr. Yvonne Butler Tobah, MD, an OB-GYN at the Mayo Clinic.

Because accidental pregnancy is fairly common from failed or misused hormonal birth control, many developing embryos may be exposed to high levels of progestin and/or estrogen early on in pregnancy.

However, research indicates that this will not cause major problems for your health or the health of your embryo. For example, a 2016 study published in BMJ found that there was no link between taking birth control pills while pregnant and having a baby with birth defects.

What happens if you get pregnant with an IUD

If you get pregnant with an IUD, it's important to see a doctor and have it removed as soon as possible. Because there is an increased risk that you will have, what's called, an ectopic pregnancy, says Butler Tobah. 

Ectopic pregnancies happen when the fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tube instead of in the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies can be life-threatening and may require surgery as soon as possible.

Even if you have a normal pregnancy with an IUD, it may be important to have the device removed within the first trimester of pregnancy, if possible. Talk to a doctor about your options.

"Contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you think you might be pregnant, even while on a form of birth control," Butler Tobah says, adding that you can also start by taking an at-home pregnancy test.

Related stories about pregnancy and pregnancy tests:

• When to take a pregnancy test for the most accurate result
• Home pregnancy tests are very accurate if you use them correctly
• Pregnancy symptoms you can expect each trimester of your pregnancy and how to alleviate them
• Yes, you can get a flu shot while pregnant. Here's the best time to get it.
• Doctors debunk the 25 biggest pregnancy myths

Madeline Kennedy is a health writer for Insider covering a wide range of topics including reproductive and sexual health, mental health, nutrition, and infectious disease. Before joining Insider, Madeline worked as a health news writer for Reuters, and a domestic violence therapist. She has a master's degree in social work from UPenn and is interested in the intersection of health and social justice.

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Remembering to take a pill every day can be hard. And some people get side effects that bother them (but they usually go away in a few months).

You have to take the pill every day.

It’s really important to take your birth control pill every day, or you might not be protected from pregnancy. Using our birth control reminder app, setting an alarm, or keeping your pill pack next to things you use every day (like your toothbrush or phone charger) can help you remember to take your pills.

If you have a really busy life and think you might not remember your pill every day, check out other birth control methods like IUDs or the implant that are super low-maintenance and almost impossible to mess up. Take our quiz to help find the birth control method that’s best for you.

There can be negative side effects.

Like all medications, birth control pills can have side effects. But most usually go away after 2 or 3 months. Many people use the pill with no problems at all. You can keep track of any side effects with our app.

The most common side effects are spotting or bleeding between periods (this is more common with progestin-only pills), sore breasts, nausea, or headaches. But these usually go away after 2 or 3 months, and they don’t happen to everyone who takes the pill.

Birth control shouldn’t make you feel sick or uncomfortable. Luckily, there are many different types of birth control, so you’ve got options. If you keep having side effects that bother you after using the pill for 3 months, talk with your nurse or doctor about trying another brand of pill or another birth control method. But don’t stop taking the pill without starting a new method, or you won’t be protected from pregnancy.

There can be some rare but serious risks.

Serious problems from taking the birth control pill are very rare. People using birth control that has estrogen, like combination pills, have a slightly higher chance of having a few rare but dangerous problems than people who don’t use birth control with hormones. Read more about birth control pill safety.

For more information about side effects and risks, talk with your nurse or doctor or read the package insert that came with your pills.

What are the side effects of stopping birth control pills?

The side effects of stopping birth control pills are different for each person, just like the side effects of using them.

The hormones in the pill leave your body in a few days. That means any side effects you experienced while using it will go away pretty quickly. Yes, this includes the positive ones like clearer skin and lighter periods. However, it can take a few weeks to several months for your regular menstrual cycle to return.

Here are some side effects you might experience:

• PMS symptoms come back

• Mood changes, including a change in sex drive

• Changes in vaginal discharge

• Change in your periods

• Skin changes, like more acne if you had that before taking the pill

Your ability to get pregnant returns as soon as you stop the pill, so if you don’t want to get pregnant right away, keep using your birth control (or use a different method like condoms) until you can get to a doctor or nurse. They can help you make a plan for switching to a new method.

Your periods might be irregular for a while. If you don’t get your period within 3 months after stopping birth control pills, check in with your doctor or nurse to rule out any problems.

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