If you are on birth control pill and if you are planning to get pregnant, you must make note of few things. Here is what you must know about the birth control pill and conception.Birth control pill is one of the convenient options for preventing pregnancy. Most of the women opt for birth control pills due to the ease of their use. It also helps in fixing problems like irregular menstrual cycle. But, while
planning a pregnancy, certain things should be kept in mind if a woman is on birth control pill. Let us take a look at few concerns of woman about the birth control pill and conception.
When should I stop taking the pill if I want to get pregnant?
The pill should be stopped at least 2-3 months before deciding to get pregnant, so that the chances of foetal malformations are reduced. During this time, other forms of contraception, like condoms or creams, should be used. It is important to note that women who have had irregular cycles before starting the pill will have a significant delay (six months or more) in getting their first period.
Is it true that the birth control pill causes infertility?
Contrary to popular belief, the pill does not cause infertility, nor does it reduce the sex drive. There is also no benefit in going off the pill for a while (rest period) and then restarting it.
What are the chances of getting pregnant after stopping the pills?
When birth control pills are taken, a woman’s body stops ovulating and pregnancy is prevented. On stopping these pills the hormones preventing
ovulation are out of your body. It may take a couple of days for these hormones to get flushed out of your body completely. This will lead your body to function on its own and it may take some time to adjust and function in the normal way. Once your body is back to normal, you may start ovulating. It may not take more than 2 to 3 months for your body to get back on track. All women are not the same, some may start ovulating quickly within few weeks and some may even take longer. Therefore, some women may get pregnant immediately and some may take more time.
What other problems can occur after stopping the pill?
It may take some time for your
periods to get regular after you stop taking the pills. This may happen even if your periods were regular before you had started taking the pills. If you were facing the problem of
irregular periods before starting on the pills, this problem may continue. As the work of normalising the hormones will stop as no pill is introduced in your body, you may also start experiencing PMS again. Your periods may also get characterised by heavy flow and cramping.
What to do if I am unable to get pregnant after stopping the pills?
There is no need to worry if you do not get pregnant immediately after stopping the pills. Body of every woman is different. As discussed earlier, some women may start ovulating immediately, whereas some women may take longer. Similarly, some women may get pregnant immediately and some women may take more than five to six months. Some women may even take a year to get pregnant after stopping the pill, so you can keep trying at least for one year. In case if you are not able to get pregnant even after trying for a year, you must consult a fertility specialist.
Letting your body normalise is one of the most important factors that can help you to improve your chances of getting pregnant after stopping the pill. It is also a must to follow a healthy lifestyle in order to boost your chances of pregnancy. You may also ask your doctor to prescribe you with preconception supplements to boost the chances of conception and prevent other problems.
