Is it Hard to Get Pregnant After Being on the Pill?
Any difficulty becoming pregnant after using birth control pills depends largely on a woman's menstrual cycles and hormone production. Generally speaking, taking the birth control pill will not hinder the ability to become pregnant after quitting the pill. The time it takes to become pregnant will be vary, depending on how quickly the woman's body can return to natural ovulation cycles.
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How Birth Control Pills Work
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According to the American Pregnancy Association, all oral contraceptives focus on controlling hormone activity in the body, as well as affecting conditions of the cervix and the uterus relevant to becoming pregnant. The hormone levels that are normally present, specifically estrogen and progesterone, are altered in such a way that ovulation is prevented. The mucus content in the cervix is altered to prevent the sperm from entering the uterus. The lining of the uterus is thinned out, preventing the sperm from attaching to the uterine wall.
Recovery of Hormone Cycles
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The timing of the return to regular production of hormones after taking birth control pills has ceased can vary. For some women ovulation can take place as soon as two weeks after cessation of the pills, other women will take an average of two to three months before hormonal activity adjusts to typical levels. Some women may take up to six months or longer to become fertile. This adjustment will depend on the woman.
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Advice
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There is a question of when to start trying to become pregnant after getting off birth control pills. Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Dr. Frank Chervenak suggest completing the current cycle of the pills before attempting to become pregnant. This allows for the effects of the pills to disappear from the body, including resumption of regular menses (menstrual bleeding) before any reliable monitoring of menstrual cycles and hormone levels can take place.
Additional Advice
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Reportedly, it takes a varying amount of time after getting off birth control pills before regular monthly cycles resume. According to Dr. Chervenak, maintaining a barrier method of birth control, such as using condoms or a spermicide, between stopping the pill and the beginning of menstruation. The reasons for this opinion are: if ovulation begins right away, a woman may not know she is pregnant and will not make dietary and physical adjustments; and a certain amount of stress may be involved in attempting to get pregnant when it is unclear whether the woman is actually ovulating or not.
Precautions
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly recommends folic acid to prevent miscarriage and birth defects, especially after getting off birth control pills. Folic acid (vitamin B9) is essential to DNA integrity, as well as the cell and tissue development of the fetus. A minimum of 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) should be present in the body daily. Birth control pills can deplete several vitamins in a woman's body including folic acid and vitamin D. Women on birth control and those who have just stopped taking birth control should take a multivitamin to help replenish these vitamins within the body. Additionally, a careful monitoring of all dietary requirements should take place to ensure the proper levels of all nutrients are in place for the health of the mother as well as the potential baby.
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