Suppose your aunt heard about the fact you took a kick-ass Bio for non-majors co

Question

Suppose your aunt heard about the fact you took a kick-ass Bio for non-majors course and she knows that you are now an expert in all things human reproduction, so she asks for advice. She is 42 years old, and after years of taking oral contraceptives, she wants to have a baby. She stopped taking her birth control a year ago, had a miscarriage six months ago, and hasn’t be able to get pregnant since. Explain to your aunt what you think is happening in her body, and recommend a plan for her to have a child. Provide details for her plan that will help her understand what is happening and why.

Explanation / Answer

Normal ovulation and baby:

In women every month an egg gets released from one of the ovaries and if it fertilized with healthy sperm, zygote forms and the resulting embryo settles in the endometrium layer of the uterus (womb) and starts growing. If egg won’t get fertilized, endometrium in the uterus sheds out, what is called a menstrual cycle, a 28-day periodical cycle that happens every month.

Oral contraceptives mainly work by maintaining the estrogen levels at its low and prevents ovulation. Also prevents sperms from reaching the egg by forming thick mucus in the cervix.

Factors that influence the chances of conceiving after stopping contraceptive pill are:

Long-term usage of the oral contraceptives doesn’t affect the fertility and a study revealed that women who used pills for a long time got pregnant more quickly than those who didn’t because, the pills offer protection to the uterus from diseases like endometriosis, pelvic inflammations and ectopic pregnancy, ovarian and other uterine cancers.

Effect of oral contraceptives on miscarriage:

Women who use oral contraceptives for a period of 5-10 years are more likely to miscarry. This is because of the following reasons:

Endometrium thickness: Endometrium of 7mm or thicker is crucial for normal establishment and growth of the embryo in the uterus. Usage of oral contraceptives significantly influences the endometrium and its thickness reduces to 7mm or less. There is 600% higher chances of miscarriage rate in women whose endometrium is 7mm or less thick.

Gut microbial flora: these beneficial microbes help in synthesizing nutrients like vitamin K1, Vitamin B1, B12, folate, pantothenic acid and others. Women with long-term oral contraceptive use would be having an imbalanced gut and hence this natural synthesis of crucial supplementation was poor or less for both the woman and the baby.

Zinc depletion: Zinc generally involved in the mental development of the child and is called “the intelligence mineral”. Women with oral contraceptive usage would have very low zinc levels. Hence, it is important to wait at least for 6 months to become pregnant to make sure that zinc levels to become normal. Because low zinc levels result in lowered IQ and birth defects in the babies.

Recommended steps to take to prepare the body for conceiving after stopping oral contraceptives:
Step one: Prepare your Body

Step two: Trying to Conceive

Step three: If not Getting Pregnant after a year

It is advised only to look for fertility help after a year of trying if you are 35 or under or 6 months of trying if you are over the age of 35.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse S
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.