What are the chances?

[fitzas]

I've been looking around for this answer but cant seem to find anything so wondering if anyone can tell me this. What are the chances of becoming pregnant during the most fertile time of month even though your on the pill?

Hope that made sense.

[Brandye]

Very, very low. If 100 women are on the pill for a year whilst sexually active, three will become pregnant.

The theoretical rate, published by the manufacturers under controlled experiments, is one but the other factors enter into it giving a slightly increased rate. The other factors would include improper timing (or missing) a pill, other medications or supplements or illness with high basal temperature.

There is no way to tell the rate as you ask it. We do know that in unprotected sex during the fertile period only one live birth in four acts occurs.

[demonbuttercup]

Also, help me out Brandye... but if you are on the pill.. do you have a fertile period? Since technically you aren't supposed to be ovulating?!? except unless like you said.. if you miss a pill or are real late... then an egg could pop out at any time.. ?

[Brandye]

Wonderful question, demon. Our bodies continue to produce oestrogen and progesterone; the added (synthetic) hormones from the oral contraceptives are just strong enough to keep the body confused, prevent ovulation and keep a thick mucous plug in the cervical os. The more important question is, "Is it more risky to miss a pill on the fifteenth day of your cycle than on, say, the twenty-second day." I cannot find a definitive answer to that and it would depend upon the natural cycles of hormones.

I shall make a few calls. In the meantime, you are correct; no ovulation, no fertile period. And the surprise to your body of having the hormone level in the bloodstream drop below therapeutic level could shock one into ovulation any day.

I'll get back; hopefully with a better answer.