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Tips for Getting Pregnant after Stopping Birth Control Posted on: 15-Oct-2020  You’ve got the job, the house, and the partner. Finally, the time feels right. You are ready to start trying to conceive. Now what? How long before trying to conceive should you stop using your birth control? Will using birth control in the past make it harder to get pregnant now? What can you do to get your body ready for pregnancy? The first step in trying to conceive is to stop using your current birth control. Each birth control method acts a little differently on the body to prevent pregnancy. You will need to know how and when to stop the specific type you use. Here is when you can expect fertility to return for these common types.
In addition to stopping your birth control, you will want to take steps to prepare your body for pregnancy. Start taking a prenatal vitamin three months before trying to conceive. Vitamins, along with a healthy diet, are crucial to help ensure that your body is ready tosupport a healthy pregnancy. Lifestyle choices like exercising, reducing stress, quitting smoking, and cutting back on alcohol intake are all very important as well. These will help increase fertility as well as give you a healthy start to your pregnancy. The third step as you try to conceive, is learning more about your body so that you can recognize when you are fertile. Timing sex during your fertile window (the five days before ovulation and the day you ovulate) increases your chances of becoming pregnant quickly. Tracking your menstrual cycle with apps that note changes in your cervical mucus and basal temperatures can help you determine your fertile window. Ovulation tests are another option to help recognize when you are most fertile. The good news is that long-term fertility is not negatively affected by birth control use. If you have decided the time is right to get pregnant, most forms of birth control allow you to become fertile again within a few days to a few months. It is then safe to get pregnant right away. Most women will become pregnant within a year of stopping birth control. However,the time it takes to conceive will depend on your individual body so if at anytime you have questions or concernsabout your fertility check with your doctor. Dr. Anil Pinto is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and the subspecialty of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Pinto has a special interest in the treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), recurrent pregnancy loss, and advanced reproductive technologies, such as IVF. His peers recently selected him as one of the Best Doctors in Dallas in the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Dr. Pinto is married to Karen Pinto, M.D., a pathologist at Baylor University Medical Center. They live in Dallas with their son and daughter. Dr. Pinto enjoys fly fishing, classical music, and playing the flute. Top things to know about coming off hormonal birth control to become pregnant
Many of us spend years of our lives using birth control. But what happens if you decide you’d like to conceive? In this article, we will review the different kinds of birth control and what happens when you stop using them to try to become pregnant. Will hormonal birth control affect my ability to become pregnant in the future?No. Many people will conceive in just a few months after going off birth control, and the majority will become pregnant within a year (1-3). Use the Clue app to set up daily pill reminders. How long does it take to become pregnant after stopping hormonal birth control?One of the main ways hormonal birth control prevents pregnancy is by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg from one of the ovaries ) (2). Once hormonal birth control is stopped or removed, ovulation usually returns along with the chance to become pregnant (2). How long it can take to conceive after going off your hormonal birth control depends on the specific method you were using. Some forms of hormonal birth control take longer to leave the body than others.
Below, we break down each method in detail and how soon after stopping use you may be able to become pregnant: The hormonal IUDPregnancy possible within a few months after removal Hormonal IUDs are inserted into the uterus and release the progestin levonorgestrel, a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone (7). The progestin in the hormonal IUDs primarily prevent pregnancy by thickening the cervical mucus, stopping the growth of the endometrium (lining of the uterus), and impairing sperm function by changing the environment of the uterus (8-10). The hormonal IUD sometimes prevents ovulation from happening, but this isn’t always the case (11). If ovulation is not already happening, it should return quickly after the hormonal IUD is removed (12). Conception is possible as soon as the hormonal IUD is removed (6). The chances of conceiving within one year after using a hormonal IUD is the same as using no birth control at all (1). The copper IUDPregnancy possible within the first month after removal The copper in the IUD prevents pregnancy by changing the environment in the uterus and making it difficult for sperm to move and for fertilization to happen (13,14). Because the copper IUD is non-hormonal, the ability to become pregnant returns faster. Pregnancy can happen within the first month of removing the copper IUD (1). Combination pillsPregnancy possible immediately or within the first few months after stopping Combination pills contain a combination of the hormones ethinyl estradiol and progestin, the synthetic versions of estrogen and progesterone (15). Ovulation usually returns immediately after stopping the combined pill, and one study showed that most people saw their “natural” period (not a withdrawal bleed) return about a month after stopping the pill (16). Studies show that many people will conceive within the first few months of stopping the pill, and between 72–94% within 12 months (17,18). The shotPregnancy possible within three months to a year after your last shot The most common form of injectable birth control available in the United States is Depo-Provera. It contains progestin only and is taken every three months (4). Although not available in the United States, short-term injectable contraceptives are popular methods in China, Eastern Asia, and Latin America. They’re taken every month and contain progestin and a form of estrogen (19,20). Injectable contraception is usually injected into the muscle which acts as a storage area for the drug. Therefore, there may be a delay in the ability to conceive after stopping the shot (4,5). Because of the delay in the return to fertility, healthcare providers may recommend discontinuing injectable birth control 12–18 months before the time pregnancy is desired (2). Studies show that ovulation may return anywhere from 3 months to a year after your last shot (2,3). The large range can make it difficult to know how long it can take to become pregnant. Tracking your cycle and signs of ovulation can be helpful in identifying when ovulation has returned and conception is possible. The implantPregnancy possible in a week after removal Birth control implants are inserted under the skin on the upper arm and release progestin (21). The hormone from the implant will be cleared from the body within a week of removal (2,22). Ovulation usually returns within 3–4 weeks (22). Studies have shown that pregnancy can occur as early as 1–2 weeks after removal (22). Pregnancy rates one year after removal of the implant are similar to pregnancy rates after stopping other forms of birth control (2) Progestin-only pills (the “mini-pill”)Pregnancy possible immediately after stopping Unlike the more common combination pill that contains an estrogen plus progestin, the mini pill contains only a progestin and is taken everyday at the same time without a break (23). It is often prescribed to people who have recently given birth and who are breast/chestfeeding (2). Ovulation usually returns immediately after stopping progestin-only pills (24). The ringPregnancy possible two weeks after removal The ring is a clear flexible ring about 2 inches (5cm) wide that is self-inserted into the vagina for 21 days and removed for a 7 day break after which a new one is inserted (25). The ring releases ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel, a progestin (25). Ovulation is estimated to return within 17–19 days after removing the ring (2). One large study suggested that within three menstrual cycles of stopping the ring, the ability to conceive is similar to those who stop using barrier methods like condoms (26). The patchPregnancy possible within the first month after stopping The patch is a thin square sticker which has both estrogen and progestin in it (25). It is about 2 inches (5cm) wide that is placed on the skin on the stomach, upper arm or back (25). The patch is replaced every week for 3 weeks, followed by a week long break and withdrawal bleed (25). The patch releases ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin, a progestin, and primarily prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation (2). Ovulation usually returns within the first month after stopping the patch (27). A large study showed that after four menstrual cycles, there isn’t a difference in the ability to conceive, between those who stop using the patch and those who stop using barrier methods like condoms (26). Does using emergency contraception (the morning-after pill) affect my ability to conceive in future?Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy in the same way as hormonal birth control—by preventing ovulation from happening in the cycle you take it in (28). According to the World Health Organization, taking emergency contraceptive pills does not affect the ability to become pregnant in the future (29). If I had my tubes tied, can I still become pregnant if I want to?The fallopian tube is where fertilization (when sperm and the egg meet) occurs. Getting your tubes tied (tubal ligation or tubal removal) is designed to be permanent. If you want to try and become pregnant, it’s possible to have the procedure reversed if there is enough functional and healthy tube available, but this does not automatically mean you can become pregnant (30). In general, research suggests 42% to 90% of those who have the procedure reversed will be able to become pregnant within 2 years (30). Reversal depends on (30):
Getting pregnant after any surgery on the tubes increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy (30). Another option for pregnancy after getting your tubes tied is in vitro fertilization (IVF) (31,32). When should I see a healthcare provider?You should consider speaking to your healthcare provider if (33-35):
Remember: To become pregnant, you need to have sex on the days on your cycle when conception is possible. You can use Clue Conceive to get preconception health information, track your cycles, and get personalized predictions to time sex or home insemination to try and become pregnant. An earlier version of this article was published September 6, 2019, with financial support from Bayer. What's the chances of getting pregnant after stopping birth control?As soon as you come off the pill there is a chance you will become pregnant. In fact, one study has suggested that as many as 40% of women who come of the pill will have a period or get pregnant in the first month. This goes up to 99% in 3 months.
Does being on birth control make it harder to get pregnant?Many women wonder if years of birth control will cause fertility problems later in life. The good news is that long-term use of birth control pills should not impact your ability to get pregnant.
Does birth control affect getting pregnant in the future?The short answer: The pill doesn't affect future fertility. The long answer: The pill (combined contraceptive pill) uses hormones to stop ovulation, as well as thickening the cervical mucus so sperm can't travel easily to fertilise the eggs. The pill doesn't have an effect on future fertility.
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