How long after coming off the pill?

duchy

I too assumed it would take a while as I'd been on the pill for years and was nearly 30. I fell the first month-others I knew who were fit and healthy (and younger) took up to a year. There's no set timetable-

euronorris

It really varies from person to person. I have a friend who fell within the first month of stopping the pill, but it took my sister over a year. I had a copper coil in, had it removed and fell pregnant the first month. So, can't even say that I was able to go by my sister's experience as it ended up being so different.


However, I think the question you need to answer for yourself is one that others have already asked: would you wanted to be pregnant on your holiday, or not? (bearing in mind that you may suffer with morning sickness).

gsymoo

Please remember, if you are planning to get pregnant check your smear tests are up to date and wont be due while you're pregnant. I realised mine would be due about 3 months into trying. Good Luck!

lulu_92

I came off the pill in August 2014 and found out I was pregnant May 2015. Unfortunately I miscarried but fell pregnant with twins in August. I'm now 22 weeks.

The only advice I can give you is don't just think it'll happen right away. Two of my friends fell pregnant within four months of stopping the pill and had been on it for longer than me (I was on it 7 years), and my SIL hasn't taken her pill in 4 years and still hasn't conceived.

*Try* to enjoy yourselves, TTC is one of the hardest things if it doesn't happen when you expect.

onlyroz

It's a good idea to have your rubella immunity checked, because if you're not immune then you'll need an MMR injection, and it's not advised to get pregnant within 3 months (I think) of having one.

A smear test might also be a good idea.

As others have said, it's also a good idea to start taking pregnancy supplements, and to curb your alcohol intake, while you're trying for a baby.

For me, it took three months to get pregnant with my son and one month to get pregnant with my daughter.

Birdie85

It took about 3 months after stopping the pill for my first period, then I had another 2-3 mega long cycles reducing by 10 days or so a time until after about a year or so I finally had something resembling a 'regular' cycle and fell pregnant about 18m after coming off the pill. A few friends/family members fell pregnant on the first cycle though so it's just one of those things I guess!

Bean83

Most doctors recommend that you continue using contraception after stopping the pill until you have had a 'natural' period', and only start trying to conceive after that. This is simply because it makes dating your pregnancy much easier, there is no medical reason to wait and you are just as likely to conceive in the first month post-pill as in any other. For me, I stopped taking the pill a few months before we started trying as I wanted to check that my cycle had returned to normal, as it made it easier to track my cycle and make sure we were definitely 'trying' at the right times!

It is also worth noting that, in general, if you had regular periods before taking the pill then chances are they will still be regular after you stop, and vice versa. Again, having regular periods makes it much easier to track your cycle, but of course this does not necessarily mean you will conceive more quickly than someone with irregular periods!

I found a study online that said that, for 310 women trying to conceive:
38 percent were pregnant after 1 month.
68 percent were pregnant after 3 months.
81 percent were pregnant after 6 months.
92 percent were pregnant after 12 months

So odds are that you will be pregnant within a year of starting to try, but there is no way of knowing how long it will take for an individual couple, as a lot of it is down to pure chance!

I have done a lot of reading up on the subject, and as far as I can find out, being on the pill prior to trying to conceive has no bearing on your chances - the pill takes a couple of days to leave your system and then after that you could (in theory) fall pregnant pretty much straightaway.

classy69

My partner came off the pill in April last year, she fell pregnant mid September.

angel11

I came off the pill after 14 years to ttc in June. Took 2 months for my 1st period, after cycles gradually got shorter until last month, when I had much longer than normal cycle. I'd always had a really regular cycle, AF arrived every 4 weeks, on a Friday morning (I could've almost set my watch by it :rotfl:)

As others have said, you could fall pregnant straight away, or it could take over a year, it's all partly down to chance. Whatever you choose to do, I'd second starting folic acid, if you smoke try to stop, maybe cut down alcohol & caffeine, and generally try to keep yourself fit & healthy.

Good luck

pigpen

I was pregnant the first month of taking the pill..

As for your question.. it will take as long as it takes.