Birth control gives women an amazing opportunity to have some control over their body. Eventually, though, most women reach a point when they’re ready to start a family.
Since you’ve been taking it every day, you probably have the application part of birth control down. It’s the cessation part you might have a few questions about. Here’s a look at some FAQs for when you’re ready to set aside contraceptive and start conceiving.
Should I talk to my doctor?
For the most part, it’s completely fine to stop taking birth control pills, and you probably won’t have any weird side effects. However, it’s also usually a good idea to talk to your doctor about any changes in medication you are considering. Of course, if you use IUDs or other forms of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), you’re going to have to talk to a medical professional about removing the device. Additionally, some women don’t realize that they might be in for some changes they weren't expecting. Your doctor can be a really great option for answering specific questions about your particular body and the exact brand of birth control you’ve been using.
What do you mean “changes”???
Nothing too weird. Most birth control pills are hormone based, which means they pump some extra estrogen into your blood. This is what keeps you from ovulating. Birth control also has some side effects you may not have even noticed were happening. Similar to when you get pregnant and people notice your “glow” from your extra thick hair, healthy nails, and clear skin, birth control can have a similar effect. Unfortunately, even though you might have gained a little weight when you started taking the pill, studies show it probably isn’t going to work the opposite way. Don’t expect to lose significant weight just from going off the pill. Other common side effects of stopping birth control include headaches, sore breasts, and a dip in your sex drive.
How is quitting the pill going to affect getting pregnant?
Actually, you really can get pregnant as soon as you stop taking your birth control regularly. It’s not extremely likely for most women, though. You’ve probably got at least two weeks before you start ovulating. So there's probably a little bit of time before it actually happens. That doesn’t mean you should panic, though. It’s totally normal for it to take a few months before a successful conception. Miscarriage used to be a concern for women who conceived immediately after quitting birth control, but experts now agree this isn’t so. Some studies have shown vitamin D levels drop for women fresh off the pill, which can be problematic for a developing fetus, so start taking those prenatal vitamins right away.
What about my period?
Unfortunately, your period may be a little weird for a few months after quitting. This can interfere with conception because you're at your most fertile while you are ovulating. If your cycle is all over the place, it’s hard to pin down when you’re ovulating. Some women also experience "post-pill amenorrhea," or a few months without a period at all, following birth control cessation. Essentially, taking a birth control pill can prevent your body from making the necessary hormones for your cycles, and it can take some time for your body to return to normal production rates. Generally, however, your period should start up again within three months.
It’s also important to remember that if you went on birth control because of an irregular period, extreme cramps, or one of the other lovely side effects of being a woman, those things will probably start up again sans birth control. On the plus side, once you do get pregnant, you’ve got a solid nine months without them again!
