How Soon After Birth Control Can You Get Pregnant?

Wondering how soon after birth control you can get pregnant?

There are countless reasons why you may be struggling to get pregnant. If your goal is to get pregnant naturally, then it’s understandable you’d be looking for all possible reasons why it’s not happening – including short- or long-term birth control use. 

The good news: birth control use has little to no impact on fertility after you stop it, even if you were on it for many years before trying to conceive. Below, we’re exploring more on the connection between birth control and getting pregnant, plus sharing some helpful tips for increasing your chances of getting pregnant each month. 

How Does Birth Control Affect Fertility?

There are many types of birth control, but all of them serve one key function, which is to prevent an egg and sperm from meeting and creating an embryo. They do this in a few different ways:

• Non-hormonal birth control works by creating a barrier in the body so that viable sperm cannot reach the egg

• Hormonal birth control works by either preventing ovulation and thus ensuring no egg is present to be fertilized or by thinning the uterine lining so a fertilized egg cannot implant

Regardless of the method, all types of birth control impact your fertility while you are on them. But afterward, your fertility should quickly return to normal. In fact, research shows no negative fertility effects from birth control use nor any significant delays in a woman’s ability to conceive once she stops taking birth control. 

Can You Get Pregnant Right After Stopping the Pill?

Yes!

It’s a common misconception that birth control needs to fully “get out of your system” before you can get pregnant. On the contrary, you could ovulate in the very same cycle you stop the birth control pill or other birth control methods such as IUDs, implants, or injectables, which means you could conceive right away. 

Of course, all women are different, and some do experience irregular periods or anovulation in the first few months following birth control cessation. This is particularly true for women who experienced these issues prior to taking birth control. 

So yes, you can get pregnant right away after you stop birth control – but it doesn’t mean you will. If you’re concerned about your periods after getting off the pill or another birth control method, or if you haven’t had any luck getting pregnant after one year (35 and younger) or six months (36 and older), talk to your doctor to see what they recommend. 

Tips for Getting Pregnant After Getting Off Birth Control

Stopping birth control is an important step in getting pregnant. However, the work doesn’t stop there. Here are three things you should be doing if you want to get pregnant after birth control, all of which are worth a try as you strive to conceive naturally. 

Memorize Your Ovulation Window

Generally speaking, the two days before and after ovulation occurs are ideal for conception. That being said, all women have unique ovulation cycles, and some women will ovulate sooner or later in their cycle or for longer or shorter periods of time. Use ovulation predictor tests or other methods such as basal body temperature tracking or cervical mucus tracking to figure out when you’re ovulating and for how long, then use that information to time intercourse appropriately. 

Take Fertility Supplements

Diet can only do so much. Check out supplements to boost fertility and make sure you’re filling in the nutritional gaps that your diet can leave behind. Certain fertility blends may make a notable difference in your chances, especially when it comes to helping you produce healthy eggs and create a hospitable environment for a fertilized egg to implant. Just be sure to stick to reputable brands and read labels carefully to ensure you’re getting the right fertility-boosting vitamins at the right doses. 

Increase Sexual Activity

You can’t get pregnant if you don’t have sex. Aim to do the deed in the two days preceding ovulation and on ovulation day itself, and try to maintain a strong connection during the rest of the month as well. Is trying to conceive taking the spice out of your sex life? Sexual experts advise that you introduce exciting new elements into the bedroom to keep things interesting. This will help both you and your partner become more engaged in the sex itself instead of focusing on the monotony of trying for a baby over and over again.

Whether previously on birth control or not, most healthy couples will conceive in a year. Check out our online store for additional fertility support, and be sure to check in with your doctor if you have any concerns or questions about getting pregnant.