Getting Pregnant After Stopping Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills are one of the most common methods of preventing pregnancy. These pills deliver specific hormones in the body that prevent pregnancy. In fact, birth control pills can be highly effective, when taken as per the directions mentioned in the pack or prescription.

However, once you are ready to have a baby, you may search this question all over the internet: how soon can you get pregnant after stopping the pill? So the thing is, it majorly depends on where you are in your menstrual cycle. If you stop taking the pill in the middle of your pack, you may get pregnant right away, but if you finish out the month’s pill, pregnancy might happen after your cycle gets back to normal. Let’s understand more in detail about how birth control pills work and how to get pregnant after stopping the pill. Keep on reading.

How does the Birth Control Pill Work?

The birth control pill prevents the sperm from forming a bond with an egg. As you know, fertilisation is a process where the sperm unites with the egg, producing a zygote cell and initiating prenatal development. However, by consuming birth control pills, this process is safely stopped by the hormones and as there is no egg for the sperm to fertilise, pregnancy gets stopped.

How Long After Stopping Birth Control Can You Get Pregnant? 

Birth control pills are usually combination tablets containing both oestrogen and progestin. You may be able to conceive after 1-3 months of discontinuing a combination tablet. However, the majority of women may become pregnant within a year. According to a study, women who used the pill for more than 4 or 5 years were found to be more fertile than those who used it for less than 2 years.  

What to Do if You’re Trying to Conceive?

If you are trying to conceive, stopping the contraceptive pills all of sudden may not be a good idea. Therefore, it is good to finish the pack and let your body run through a normal menstrual cycle. This is because, topping in the middle may alter your menstrual cycle.

One common misconception about the pills is that it affects a woman’s fertility. Factually, there is no impact on fertility. It may take some extra time to bring back your menstrual cycle, but it won’t lead to infertility. You may or may not get pregnant during the first cycle after you stop the pill. However, there will be chances of getting pregnant in your second cycle.

If you’re trying to conceive then: 

• You should record menstrual cycle frequency to keep a track
• Know what is ovulation and start monitoring it.
• You can have sex every other day during the fertile window
• Maintain a healthy body weight
• Take prenatal vitamins 
• Eat healthy foods
• Reduce the amount of time you spend doing intense exercises
• Be aware of the effects of ageing on your fertility

Nevertheless, your doctor is your best source for advice for ensuring a healthy conception. They can advise the best way to discontinue the pill and talk to you about starting a prenatal vitamin before you try to conceive. They may also make recommendations about healthy eating, abstaining from alcohol, exercise, and more.

What to Do if You’re on Alternative Birth Control Methods

Apart from contraceptive pills, IUD, which is better known as Copper-T, is one of the effective contraceptive methods. Getting pregnant with IUD is rare, but it is possible if you had penetrative intercourse within 7 days of its implantation. Secondly, a woman may get pregnant with an IUD, if it falls out of its place.

Since Copper-t is a non-permanent birth control measure, it needs to be removed from your uterus  before you start any conception method. Apart from Copper-t, Diaphragms are used for birth control by women. A diaphragm is placed in the vagina, that acts as a barrier along with the cervix. To prevent pregnancy, Diaphragm must stay in the vagina for six hours after intercourse, and post that, it should be removed within the next 18 hours. However, with the increased use of oral contraception and the IUD method, the use of the Diaphragm has now reduced.

Signs of Ovulation After Stopping the Pill

Ovulation will usually resume  two to four weeks after you stop using the pill. According to a study, it may take a little longer for older women and women who have been on the pill for a long period of time. Re-establishing a normal ovulation cycle might take many months in certain situations. Here are some of the signs of ovulation after stopping the pill:

• Your core body temperature drops and rises again after some time. 
• Your cervical mucus becomes whiter and thinner, with an egg white-like consistency.
• Your cervix opens up and softens. 
• you may experience some pain or cramping in your lower abdomen.

What if You’re Not Showing Signs of Getting Pregnant After Birth Control

Taking the pill can sometimes imbalance your menstrual cycle. Once you stop taking the pill, your menstrual cycle may take some time to return to normal. As a result, you may not get pregnant straight away. If you aren’t able to conceive under the following circumstances, you should consult your doctor.

• If you’re under 35 and haven’t been able to get pregnant in more than a year after stopping the birth control pills,  you should consult a doctor. Also, if you’re 35 or older, and haven’t been able to conceive even after trying for six months, you should call your doctor.
  
• An OB/GYN, a general practitioner with knowledge of women’s fertility health can assist you and give recommendations that may improve your chances of conceiving.
  
• Health history and being overweight can impact your fertility.
  
  

Some Useful Tips for Getting Pregnant After Birth Control Pills 

Here we bring you some most useful tips for getting pregnant after birth control quickly . 

• Get a checkup before you start attempting to conceive. Consult your doctor about folic acid-fortified prenatal vitamins, which can help prevent  birth abnormalities.
• Keep regular track of your menstrual cycle
• Keep an eye on your ovulation
• Have regular intercourse to increase the chances of pregnancy
• Maintain healthy body weight
• Consume nutritious foods
• Reduce the frequency of intense exercises
• Be mindful of the effects of ageing on fertility.

FAQs

Can you get pregnant right after stopping the pill?

You will be able to conceive after 1-3 months after discontinuing the birth control pills. However, the majority of women may see pregnancy symptoms within a year.

What exercises can I do to prepare for pregnancy?

If you’re attempting to conceive, Barre, Yoga, and Pilates are perfect workouts since they improve strength, balance, and muscular tone, and help increase the chances of conception. So, if you’re wondering how to prepare your body for pregnancy, then these exercises will surely help you out!

How long after stopping the pill will I ovulate?

In most cases, it takes six months to a year for a woman to get pregnant. If you haven’t been able to conceive after a year of trying, you should see a fertility doctor.

Is it safe to get pregnant right after you use birth control?

Yes. Experts used to believe that if a woman became pregnant shortly after stopping the birth control pill, she was more likely tomiscarry the baby. However, recent research indicates that it is safe to conceive rightaway after discontinuing birth control pills.

Takeaway

Whether you want to stop taking your pill or already have, you should consult with your doctor for further advice. They can answer any questions you may have about continued protection against pregnancy or help you plan your conception.

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