How long does it take to stop taking birth control pills?

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You've decided the right time to try for a baby. But if you're using birth control, you may be concerned about whether it will affect your ability to get pregnant. In some cases, it may take longer to conceive after you stop using an estrogen or progestin birth control method. But in the long run, there are no negative effects on your fertility.

1.When should you stop using birth control? Don't stop birth control until you're ready to get pregnant. It doesn't take your body time to "clean up" the hormones that control birth. In fact, you can conceive within a month or two of stopping most medications. If you want to stop using hormonal birth control but aren't ready to get pregnant, use another method, like condoms, until you're ready.
2. How long does it take to get pregnant? If you're using a barrier method, like a condom or a diaphragm, you can get pregnant right after having unprotected sex. Most women can get pregnant a few months after they stop using hormonal birth control, such as the pill, patch, or intrauterine device (IUD). But your health - including your lifestyle habits and genes - plays a big role in how long it takes. And some types have more impact on fertility than others. Here is the breakdown:
Birth control pills . You can get pregnant within 1-3 months of stopping combination pills - that is, those with estrogen and progestin. But most women can get pregnant within a year. One study even found that women who took the pill for more than 4 or 5 years were more likely to conceive than those who took it for 2 years or less. If you're using a progestin-only pill, called the "pill," you could get pregnant a few days or weeks after you quit. That's because the drops don't continuously prevent ovulation the way estrogen pills do. Instead, it thins the lining of your uterus. The lining begins to thicken again as soon as you stop taking the drops, making it possible for you to get pregnant. Intrauterine device (IUD). You can get pregnant as soon as your doctor removes the IUD. Women usually begin to ovulate within 1 month of ablation. For most, pregnancy happens within 6 months to a year. Stick implant. Like the IUD, you can get pregnant as soon as your doctor removes it. Most women start ovulating again within the first month. Contraceptive patch. You will start ovulating 1-3 months after you stop using the birth control patch. That doesn't guarantee you'll get pregnant, but you must ovulate to conceive. Vaginal ring. Most women are able to ovulate one to three months after having it removed. Depo-Provera is an injectable birth control pill. Unlike other forms of hormonal birth control, it can be harder to get pregnant after you stop having these shots. It may take 10 months or more before you ovulate again. For some women, it can take up to 18 months for periods to start again. That's why experts don't recommend this method for women hoping to have a baby within a year of using birth control.

3. Is it safe to get pregnant right after you use birth control? This is safe. Experts once thought that women were at higher risk of miscarriage if they became pregnant soon after stopping birth control. But newer research suggests that it may be safe to conceive right away.
4. Does it matter if you have your period? Unnecessary. Some women don't have periods for several months after they stop taking hormonal birth control. That's because these forms of birth control affect your hormonal balance, and it can take some time for your body to return to its pre-pregnancy state.

But you can get pregnant before you get your period. In fact, if you start ovulating right after you stop using birth control and have unprotected sex, you could already be pregnant - which will keep you from getting your period. If you haven't had a period since you stopped using birth control and you recently had unprotected sex, take a pregnancy test.
Whether you ovulate is much more important than whether you get your period or not. You can't get pregnant unless one of your ovaries releases an egg.
5. How can you tell if you're ovulating? The surest way to know is to take an ovulation test. They test your urine for levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), which rise 24 to 36 hours before you ovulate.
Your body may also show signs that you are ovulating or about to ovulate. For example, your basal body temperature rises slightly around the time of ovulation. And the mucus that comes from your cervix may become sticky or feel like raw egg whites.

6. What if you can't seem to get pregnant? You should talk to your doctor about pregnancy before you start trying. While most women conceive within a year of trying, there are various factors - like age, health history and weight - that can affect your fertility. If you're under 35 and it's been more than a year since you stopped using birth control and you still haven't been able to get pregnant, you should let your doctor know. If you are 35 or older, you should see your doctor after 6 months of trying. An obstetrician and gynecologist, a family doctor with experience in women's health, or a fertility specialist can evaluate you and make recommendations that may increase your chances of getting pregnant. If you have any questions about reproductive health, you can go to the Vinmec health system nationwide for appropriate examination and advice by a doctor.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: mayoclinic.org; webmd.com; healthline.com