Congratulations you and your partner have finally decided to get pregnant. So, like most would assume, you just get off the pill and voila, you get pregnant! WRONG! Getting pregnant after taking the pill can be a long process for some couples.
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For 9.6 million women who use oral contraceptives, just getting off the pill in order to get pregnant may not be so simple. Getting off the pill requires planning and should be done gradually to minimize side effects. The ideal way to get off the pill is to finish your current pack completely instead of stopping in the middle. Not finishing it completely can throw your menstrual cycle and cause irregular bleeding or spotting.
What does the pill do and what happens when you stop taking it?
Birth control pills contain two synthetic female sex hormones, estrogen and progestin. The combination of these hormones prevent ovulation, and make a woman’s cervical mucus thicker, preventing sperm from entering the cervix and fertilizing and egg.
Once you stop taking the pill, the synthetic hormones introduced by the pill will be out of your system within a few days and ovulation will resume for a majority of women. Women who begin ovulating shortly after stopping the pill may also be able to conceive right away.
Some common symptoms and side effects associated with menstruation may resume right after stopping oral contraceptives such as:
- breast tenderness
- acne
- menstrual cramps
- moodiness
- heavy periods
- bloating
- improved sexual desire
How long will it take to get pregnant?
About 50% of women are able to get pregnant within the first 3 months of leaving the pill. Most women will get pregnant within the first 12 months of stopping the pill.
Other factors that may affect fertility:
A woman’s age is a crucial factor. For most women, their ability to get pregnant begins decreasing gradually after they turn 25. Women with poor health and irregular periods can also also have difficulties conceiving.
What if you’re having problems getting pregnant?
The regular rule of thumb is to wait a year before seeking medical help to assist with conception provided that, the woman is younger than 35, has a normal menstrual cycle and has no risk factor for infertility.
For women older than 35 or those considered at risk for infertility, gynecologists recommend a visit to an infertility specialist after 6 months of attempted conception.
Some potential risk factors for infertility are:
- history of irregular menstrual periods
- previous abdominal or gynecological surgery
- pelvic inflammatory disease
- sexually transmitted disease
- known structural abnormality of the uterus or other reproductive organs
- endocrine disorders such as thyroid disease
- pituitary tumors
There is no exact cookie cutter method in determining fertility. However, a woman’s age at conception can really make a difference as far as success rates go.
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