Expert: Lawrence Jay Rappaport <B>M.D.</B> - 6/21/2005

Question
I have just a general question. I have heard mixed answers so i'm asking an expert. Can taking birth control during early pregnancy cause a miscarriage?  

Answer
Very often, women who are taking birth control pills find that they are pregnant. As long as they stop taking birth control pills before the second trimester of pregnancy, there will not be any problem. If you take birth control pills after the first trimester of pregnancy, there is a risk of masculinization of a female fetus. Birth control pills do NOT cause a miscarriage.  However, cigarette smoking can cause msicarriages or fetal wastage (stillborns) as well as small-for-gestational size babies.