Tag: hormone testing after contraception

Deciding to try for a baby is a big step, and one of the first practical questions many people ask is: when should I stop using contraception if I want to get pregnant? The answer depends on the type of contraception you’re using. For most methods, fertility can return quickly, sometimes within days or weeks. For others, particularly the contraceptive injection, it can take several months for ovulation and periods to return. The reassuring news? Contraception does not impact your long-term fertility. Most people are able to start trying as soon as they stop their method, although your cycle may take a little time to settle. This guide explains when to stop each type of contraception, how quickly fertility may return, what can affect your chances of conceiving, and when to seek support if things are not progressing as expected. Quick facts: When should you stop using contraception if you want to get pregnant? One of the most common concerns about stopping contraception is whether it can make it harder to get pregnant later. The reassuring answer is no. Reversible contraception does not permanently affect your fertility. Hormonal contraception works by temporarily changing your reproductive hormones. Depending on the method, it may stop ovulation, thicken cervical mucus, thin the womb lining or create an environment that prevents pregnancy. Once you stop using it, these effects wear off. What can vary is how long it takes for ovulation to return. For most methods, this happens quickly. For the contraceptive injection, it can take longer because the hormone is designed to stay active in the body for several months. Sometimes, stopping contraception can reveal symptoms that were previously being masked. For example, if you had irregular periods before starting contraception, they may return once you stop. Conditions such as PMOS (formerly known as PCOS), thyroid dysfunction, endometriosis or hypothalamic amenorrhoea may also become more noticeable after stopping hormonal contraception. This does not mean contraception caused the issue. It may simply have been managing or hiding the symptoms. How long does it take to get pregnant once your stop contraception? A review of 22 studies across 15,000 women found that 83.1% became pregnant within 12 months of stopping any form of contraception, which is comparable to the general conception rate. The NHS data similarly shows that 82–92% of people conceive within one year of trying, depending on age. Some people get pregnant in the first cycle after stopping contraception. For others, it can take several months, and that can still be completely normal.  When to Stop the Combined Pill Before Trying to Get Pregnant The combined contraceptive pill contains synthetic versions of oestrogen and progesterone. It prevents pregnancy mainly by stopping ovulation, meaning your ovaries do not release an egg each month. When to stop: You can stop the combined pill whenever you are ready to start trying for a baby. There is no medical need to finish your current pill pack, although some people prefer to do this because it can make bleeding easier to predict. When fertility returns: Fertility can return quickly after stopping the combined pill. Some people ovulate within the first month, although it can take one to three months for your natural menstrual cycle to become regular again. If your periods were irregular before you started the pill, they may become irregular again once you stop. When to start trying: You can start trying to conceive as soon as you stop the pill. If you get pregnant before your first natural period, it may be slightly harder to date the pregnancy, but this is not harmful and is not a reason to delay trying. When to Stop the Mini Pill Before Trying to Get Pregnant The progestogen-only pill, often called the mini pill, contains a synthetic version of progesterone. It can prevent pregnancy by thickening cervical mucus, thinning the womb lining and sometimes stopping ovulation. When to stop: You can stop the mini pill at any point. Fertility usually returns very quickly, often within days to a few weeks, because the mini pill does not always suppress ovulation in the same way as the combined pill. When fertility returns: You can start trying for a baby as soon as you stop taking the mini pill. Your period may take a little time to return, but ovulation can happen before your first bleed, which means pregnancy may be possible straight away. When to start trying: You can start trying to conceive as soon as you stop the pill. If you get pregnant before your first natural period, it may be slightly harder to date the pregnancy, but this is not harmful and is not a reason to delay trying. When to Stop the Contraceptive Patch Before Trying to Get Pregnant The contraceptive patch is worn on the skin and releases oestrogen and progestogen. It works in a similar way to the combined pill by stopping ovulation. When to stop: You can stop using the contraceptive patch by removing it when you are ready to try for pregnancy.  When fertility returns: Fertility may return quickly after stopping, although your period may take one to two months to return to its usual pattern, but even if your periods don’t come back immediately, it may still be possible to get pregnant right after stopping the patch  When to start trying: You can start trying to conceive immediately after removing the patch. As with other hormonal methods, ovulation can happen before your first period, so pregnancy may be possible straight away. When to Stop the Vaginal Ring Before Trying to Get Pregnant The vaginal ring is a small, flexible ring placed inside the vagina. It releases hormones that prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation, thickening cervical mucus and thinning the womb lining. When to stop: You can stop using the vaginal ring by removing it when you are ready to start trying for a baby. When fertility returns: As with the combined pill and patch, the ring is a combined hormonal method and […]