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Published on: Nov 03, 2021
2 minute read
By: Second Medic Expert

Can A Person Get Pregnant While Taking The Pill?

Can a person get pregnant while taking the pill?

Your doctor originally prescribed it for one reason, to prevent pregnancy.

Many women use hormonal contraceptives in conjunction with other forms of contraception for added protection, but that's up to the individual or couple. Methods like condoms or diaphragms may also be more suitable for contexts where a woman is more concerned about STDs than about getting pregnant, such as same-sex relationships or long-distance relationships.

Birth control pill does not protect against STDs or other infection. The pill should be used in conjunction with a condom to prevent pregnancy and STDS. Women should also take precautions when consuming beverages containing alcohol while taking the birth control pill. This is because high levels of alcohol can interfere with contraception and increase a woman's risk of unprotected sex. Drinking a few alcoholic drinks doesn't mean you won't get pregnant, so it's important for women to always practice safe sex too.

Withdrawal bleeding, the monthly menstrual cycle, and ovulation all happen because of a hormone called progesterone. A person typically takes pills for 21 days followed by a pill-free period of seven days. During that time, their body doesn't produce any progesterone and levels gradually rise until they reach the maximum level in the middle of the cycle. The estrogen levels in her body will also increase during this time, which is what helps keep her reproductive tract in shape to support pregnancy. Pregnancy depends on cells lining up just right but that can't happen if there's no risk of exposure to sperm or if there are enough artificial hormones in play to disrupt them when they have lined up well enough.

If an egg is released while the woman is on her period and sperm can make their way to it, fertilization may occur; this is called ovulation. Pregnancy will not necessarily be avoided by using a contraceptive such as a pill if sex during your period occurs at some point when you are on active pills and ovulating.

If a person who is taking hormonal contraceptives is sexually active and also ovulatory, and there was unprotected intercourse around the time of ovulation, they can get pregnant. And contraceptive pills with estrogen do not sterilize women. If a woman is considering using the pharmaceutical as an option to not get pregnant, she must still think about other methods such as surgical sterilization or IUDs as well as having two forms of birth control every day-a form for prevention of pregnancy and another form for STD protection. If you take off your condom but use no other contraception you can get pregnant! Be safe :) And try always wearing a condom even on oral sex!

About 1 in every 4 pregnancies are the result of women who are taking oral contraceptives - which means, statistically speaking, it could happen to you! The birth control pill is designed to work primarily by preventing ovulation. A woman's estrogen and progesterone levels do not need to be low for her to become pregnant because she can still release eggs even while on birth control- although these eggs will most likely be immature and won't produce a fertilizable zygote that will attach to the uterine wall.

There is a short time space during which the woman taking birth control pills can get pregnant, and this time-space varies from 4-6 days depending on the type of pill that she's taking. Pregnancy is a possibility any time you have unprotected sex, or even when your birth control fails for whatever reason. The pill does not provide protection from STDs and the female birth control shot may also have unwanted side effects like weight gain and menstrual changes. Coworkers of mine got pregnant while still taking the pill because they forgot to take them one day (sleepy-time effect).

It's possible to get pregnant while on the pill if there is no condom used during sexual encounters between two people who are sexually active with each other because pregnancy can happen at any point in a woman’s monthly cycle. It has been proven that some babies will be born missing parts of their bodies.

The only foolproof method of not getting pregnant while taking the pill is to stick to one type and take the pills in the right way every day so that no "mistakes" can occur. The pill does not always block ovulation, so the person could get pregnant even while taking the pill. In fact, 5-8% of women on oral contraceptives get pregnant each year and evidence suggests this is because their pills aren't working properly. The chance of pregnancy while on birth control pills is also increased if a woman misses two or more consecutive doses due to less hormone in her system that week.

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Reasons Behind Low Haemoglobin in Non-Anaemic People

When people think of low haemoglobin, they often assume it's always linked with anaemia. But that’s not always true. You can have a slightly low haemoglobin count even if your red blood cell count and iron levels are still in the normal range.

So, what does it mean when non-anaemic people have low haemoglobin? Should you worry? Let’s explore the reasons behind low haemoglobin in non-anaemic people and what you can do about it.

What Is Haemoglobin?

Haemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. The average normal levels are:

Men: 13.5 – 17.5 g/dL
Women: 12.0 – 15.5 g/dL

Levels just below the normal range may not be classified as anaemia—but they can still indicate something going on.

Common Reasons for Low Haemoglobin in Non-Anaemic People

1. Mild Nutrient Deficiencies

Even if you’re eating regularly, you could still lack key nutrients needed to build haemoglobin—such as:

Vitamin B12
Folate (Vitamin B9)
Vitamin C (helps absorb iron)

Low levels of these don’t always lead to full-blown anaemia but can reduce haemoglobin production.

2. Chronic Inflammation or Infections

Your body may produce less haemoglobin during periods of chronic inflammation—such as:

Thyroid disorders
IBS or gut issues
Low-grade infections

These may not show symptoms right away but can slightly lower your haemoglobin over time.

3. Dilution from Overhydration

If you drink too much water before a blood test, your blood plasma volume may increase and dilute your haemoglobin, giving a lower reading.

This is temporary and often not harmful, but it can confuse test results.

4. Hormonal Imbalances

Conditions like hypothyroidism can subtly affect red blood cell and haemoglobin production.

In women, heavy menstrual bleeding can cause periodic dips in haemoglobin levels—especially if not supported with iron-rich nutrition.

5. Athletic Training (Pseudo-Anaemia)

In endurance athletes or those who do high levels of cardio, the body increases plasma (fluid) volume to improve circulation. This can lower the haemoglobin concentration without reducing red cell count—this is called athlete’s pseudo-anaemia.

What Tests to Consider

If you have low haemoglobin but no signs of anaemia, your doctor may recommend:

Serum Ferritin (iron storage)
Vitamin B12 and Folate tests
Thyroid profile
CRP or ESR (for inflammation)

You can get these tests easily with home sample collection from trusted platforms like SecondMedic.com, powered by Thyrocare.

Should You Be Concerned?

If your haemoglobin is:

Slightly below normal (e.g., 11.8–12.2 g/dL)
You have no symptoms (fatigue, paleness, breathlessness)

…then it may not be an emergency. However, monitoring and lifestyle changes are still important.

If it drops further or if symptoms appear, consult a doctor immediately.

What You Can Do Naturally

Improve Your Diet

Eat leafy greens, legumes, citrus fruits
Add iron-rich foods like beetroot, dates, and jaggery
Pair iron with vitamin C (e.g., lemon + spinach)

Reduce Inflammation

Avoid excessive sugar, fried foods, and processed meals
Include turmeric, ginger, and antioxidants in your diet

Stay Active but Balanced

Don’t overtrain
Rest and hydrate well, especially before blood tests

Conclusion

Low haemoglobin without anaemia is more common than you might think. The causes are often mild and reversible, but keeping an eye on your numbers and adjusting your diet or lifestyle can make a big difference.

If you’ve been wondering about the reasons behind low haemoglobin in non-anaemic people, now you know how to understand and manage it better—naturally and confidently.

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