Tale of Two Cities: Birth Control, Potential to “Enhance” and “Compromise” Fertility

Abstract

Contraceptives such as birth control prevent fertility while in use but don’t compromise fertility in the long run. There are various types of contraceptive methods, while the oral contraceptive pill returns fertility most promptly. Regardless of the research done and lack of causative proof, there is still a misconception among women of reproductive age that contraceptives cause infertility. There may be a correlation with the amount of time a woman is on the contraceptive and the risk of infertility. The “tail of two cities” aspect of this is that while there is a preconceived notion contraceptives delay or prevent fertility, they are also involved in enhancing and promoting fertility amongst Jewish couples experiencing halachic infertility.