Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTimingFertility Rate Post Birth ControlOther FactorsOvulation and Pregnancy
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Timing
Fertility Rate Post Birth Control
Other Factors
Ovulation and Pregnancy
People whouse birth controlbut want to become pregnant typically have questions about when they’ll be fertile again.
The answers will likely depend on the method you use and your overall health history. Within a few weeks, you may see signs of ovulation after stopping the pill. And it may take months to become fertile if you useDepo Proverainjections. However, there are many misconceptions about how easy it is to get pregnant once you have stopped birth control.
This article discusses different birth control methods and how quickly you can expect fertility to return after stopping them. It also looks at some other factors that may affect fertility.
How Long Will It Take to Get Pregnant?
Mosthormonal birth controlmethodsstop you from ovulating, or releasing an egg.If you do not release an egg, there is nothing for sperm to fertilize. This is why you do not get pregnant.
When you stop using hormonal birth control, you will start ovulating again. Regular ovulation is one sign that you could be fertile. But a return of ovulation does not automatically mean you will get pregnant.
Hormonal birth control methods often stop ovulation. That is how some prevent pregnancy.
When you regain your fertility, your body begins to ovulate again. This increases the possibility that you can get pregnant. The amount of time it takes depends on whatbirth control methodyou were using.
Barrier Methods and Natural Methods
Contraceptive methods that rely on barriers and timing do not interfere with ovulation. This means you can get pregnant as soon as you stop using them.
Barrier methods block sperm from reaching your egg and include:
As an added bonus, condoms also protect you fromsexually transmitted infections (STIs). Left untreated, some STIs can lead to infertility.
Some people usenatural family planningmethods. If so, you may be able to get pregnant faster. Many of these methods involve keeping track of your most fertile days. So now, just do the reverse instead of avoiding sex around those days.
Natural Birth Control Methods
Combination Birth Control Methods
How long it takes to get pregnant after stopping the pill, patch, or ring varies. It can sometimes take up to three months for cycles to return to normal, but your fertility may return within the first month.
This also seems true for other types of birth control pills. When you stopprogestin-onlyorextended-cycle pills, your fertility should return quickly.
Research shows that 80% of people who try to conceive after stopping hormonal birth control will get pregnant within the first year. This number is the same as that of the general population.
Healthcare providers often advise waiting at least three months to try to conceive after stopping combination birth control. This can help you keep track of your natural cycle so if you get pregnant, it will be easier to date the start of pregnancy.
Signs of Ovulation After Stopping the PillPeople hoping to become pregnant often watch forsigns of ovulationafter stopping the pill. These signs include:Increase of cervical mucusChange in texture of cervical mucus (thick, clear, and stretchy)Mild abdominal pain or bloating (for some people)Small increase in your body temperatureAn at-home ovulation test can help you to track ovulation, too.
Signs of Ovulation After Stopping the Pill
People hoping to become pregnant often watch forsigns of ovulationafter stopping the pill. These signs include:Increase of cervical mucusChange in texture of cervical mucus (thick, clear, and stretchy)Mild abdominal pain or bloating (for some people)Small increase in your body temperatureAn at-home ovulation test can help you to track ovulation, too.
People hoping to become pregnant often watch forsigns of ovulationafter stopping the pill. These signs include:
An at-home ovulation test can help you to track ovulation, too.
IUDs
IUDsare an effective method of long-term contraception. However, it may take longer to get pregnant after IUD removal than other types of birth control. There are two types of IUDs:
Fertility can return within a month of removing an IUD, though it may take longer for some. Studies show pregnancy occurs within one year of IUD removal in 70% to 75% of those actively trying to conceive.This is slightly lower than rates after hormonal contraception.
Nexplanon
Nexplanon, a progestin-only birth control implant, releases progestin for three years. However, you can have it removed early if you want to get pregnant.
Fertility will come back quickly no matter how long you used this method. After the implant is removed, fertility can return as quickly as seven to 14 days. It typically takes at least a month and may take up to two cycles for natural fertility to return.
Depo Provera
Depo Provera is an injection that prevents pregnancy for 12 weeks. Don’t expect to get pregnant quickly after you stop this method. On average, it takes seven to 10 months to begin ovulating after youstop Depo Provera.For some people, it may take more than a year.
According to the manufacturer, you should stop Depo Provera shots for a full year before you want to get pregnant.
Depo Provera only prevents pregnancy for three months. However, the hormonemedroxyprogesterone acetatestays in your body longer.
Though some people report the return of fertility within three months of their last Depo Provera injection, this is not typical. It takes some time for the hormone to make its way completely out of your body.
Are Twin Pregnancies More Common After Stopping Birth Control?Getting pregnant soon after stopping hormonal birth control was once thought to increase the odds of twins. This was based on a small study published in theNew England Journal of Medicinein 1977.Since then, however, follow-up research has been unable to replicate these results. Twins account for an estimated 3% of pregnancies regardless of pre-pregnancy contraceptive methods.
Are Twin Pregnancies More Common After Stopping Birth Control?
Getting pregnant soon after stopping hormonal birth control was once thought to increase the odds of twins. This was based on a small study published in theNew England Journal of Medicinein 1977.Since then, however, follow-up research has been unable to replicate these results. Twins account for an estimated 3% of pregnancies regardless of pre-pregnancy contraceptive methods.
Other Fertility Factors to Consider
As a rule of thumb, your fertility should go back to the way it was before you started birth control. If you had regular cycles before, you should have regular cycles again.
Your age may also play a part. That is because fertility drops as you get older. This is especially true once you turn 35.
There has been a lot of research on the return of fertility after stopping birth control. A review of studies involving nearly 15,000 people found that pregnancy rates within one year of stopping birth control averaged 83.1% with few differences between methods.
Research shows that birth control use does not harm fertility. After you stop using birth control, your fertility should go back to the way it was before you started.
Ovulation Does Not Equal Pregnancy
You may not get pregnant right away, even after your fertility returns or you start to ovulate, and the amount of time varies. Some people become pregnant within a month. Others may try to get pregnant for a long time.
At this point, your ability to get pregnant has nothing to do with previous birth control use. Your age, health, and lifestyle can all make it harder to get pregnant. You may also experience infertility.
You may have concerns after you stop birth control. Talk to your healthcare provider if:
Summary
Past use of birth control does not affect future fertility. How quickly your fertility returns depends on the method you used.
Barrier and natural methods do not affect ovulation, so you will already be able to ovulate when you stop using them. After stopping most hormonal birth control methods or IUDs, fertility should return within three months. Depo Provera, however, can take seven to 10 months (or even longer) for ovulation to return.
Other factors may also impact your fertility. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns after stopping birth control.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gebel Berg E.The chemistry of the pill.ACS Cent Sci.2015;1(1):5-7. doi:10.1021/acscentsci.5b00066American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Barrier methods of birth control: spermicide, condom, sponge, diaphragm, and cervical cap.Goundry AL, Finlay ER, Llewellyn CD.Talking about links between sexually transmitted infections and infertility with college and university students from SE England, UK: a qualitative study.Reprod Health.2013;10:47. doi:10.1186/1742-4755-10-47Organon.Return to ovulation.American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.Birth control options.Yland JJ, Bresnick KA, Hatch EE, et al.Pregravid contraceptive use and fecundability: prospective cohort study.BMJ. 2020;371:m3966. doi:10.1136/bmj.m3966Girum T, Wasie A.Return of fertility after discontinuation of contraception: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Contracept Reprod Med.2018;3:9. doi:10.1186/s40834-018-0064-yDinehart E, Lathi RB, Aghajanova L.Levonorgestrel IUD: is there a long-lasting effect on return to fertility?J Assist Reprod Genet. 2020;37(1):45-52. doi:10.1007/s10815-019-01624-5Divya V, Gayathri M, Priyadarshini P.DMPA: Compliance and side effects in a tertiary care hospital.International Journal of Recent Academic Research. 2019;1(6):263-264.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Depo-Prevara.Rothman KJ.Fetal loss, twinning and birth weight after oral-contraceptive use.N Engl J Med. 1977;297(9):468–71. doi:10.1056/NEJM197709012970903Dawson AL, Tinker SC, Jamieson DJ, et al; National Birth Defects Prevention Study.Epidemiology of twinning in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997 to 2007.Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2015;103(2):85-99. doi:10.1002/bdra.23325Pfeifer S, Butts S, Fossum G, et al.Optimizing natural fertility: a committee opinion.ASRM Pages. 2017;107(1):52-58. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.09.029
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gebel Berg E.The chemistry of the pill.ACS Cent Sci.2015;1(1):5-7. doi:10.1021/acscentsci.5b00066American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Barrier methods of birth control: spermicide, condom, sponge, diaphragm, and cervical cap.Goundry AL, Finlay ER, Llewellyn CD.Talking about links between sexually transmitted infections and infertility with college and university students from SE England, UK: a qualitative study.Reprod Health.2013;10:47. doi:10.1186/1742-4755-10-47Organon.Return to ovulation.American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.Birth control options.Yland JJ, Bresnick KA, Hatch EE, et al.Pregravid contraceptive use and fecundability: prospective cohort study.BMJ. 2020;371:m3966. doi:10.1136/bmj.m3966Girum T, Wasie A.Return of fertility after discontinuation of contraception: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Contracept Reprod Med.2018;3:9. doi:10.1186/s40834-018-0064-yDinehart E, Lathi RB, Aghajanova L.Levonorgestrel IUD: is there a long-lasting effect on return to fertility?J Assist Reprod Genet. 2020;37(1):45-52. doi:10.1007/s10815-019-01624-5Divya V, Gayathri M, Priyadarshini P.DMPA: Compliance and side effects in a tertiary care hospital.International Journal of Recent Academic Research. 2019;1(6):263-264.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Depo-Prevara.Rothman KJ.Fetal loss, twinning and birth weight after oral-contraceptive use.N Engl J Med. 1977;297(9):468–71. doi:10.1056/NEJM197709012970903Dawson AL, Tinker SC, Jamieson DJ, et al; National Birth Defects Prevention Study.Epidemiology of twinning in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997 to 2007.Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2015;103(2):85-99. doi:10.1002/bdra.23325Pfeifer S, Butts S, Fossum G, et al.Optimizing natural fertility: a committee opinion.ASRM Pages. 2017;107(1):52-58. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.09.029
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gebel Berg E.The chemistry of the pill.ACS Cent Sci.2015;1(1):5-7. doi:10.1021/acscentsci.5b00066American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Barrier methods of birth control: spermicide, condom, sponge, diaphragm, and cervical cap.Goundry AL, Finlay ER, Llewellyn CD.Talking about links between sexually transmitted infections and infertility with college and university students from SE England, UK: a qualitative study.Reprod Health.2013;10:47. doi:10.1186/1742-4755-10-47Organon.Return to ovulation.American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.Birth control options.Yland JJ, Bresnick KA, Hatch EE, et al.Pregravid contraceptive use and fecundability: prospective cohort study.BMJ. 2020;371:m3966. doi:10.1136/bmj.m3966Girum T, Wasie A.Return of fertility after discontinuation of contraception: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Contracept Reprod Med.2018;3:9. doi:10.1186/s40834-018-0064-yDinehart E, Lathi RB, Aghajanova L.Levonorgestrel IUD: is there a long-lasting effect on return to fertility?J Assist Reprod Genet. 2020;37(1):45-52. doi:10.1007/s10815-019-01624-5Divya V, Gayathri M, Priyadarshini P.DMPA: Compliance and side effects in a tertiary care hospital.International Journal of Recent Academic Research. 2019;1(6):263-264.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Depo-Prevara.Rothman KJ.Fetal loss, twinning and birth weight after oral-contraceptive use.N Engl J Med. 1977;297(9):468–71. doi:10.1056/NEJM197709012970903Dawson AL, Tinker SC, Jamieson DJ, et al; National Birth Defects Prevention Study.Epidemiology of twinning in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997 to 2007.Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2015;103(2):85-99. doi:10.1002/bdra.23325Pfeifer S, Butts S, Fossum G, et al.Optimizing natural fertility: a committee opinion.ASRM Pages. 2017;107(1):52-58. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.09.029
Gebel Berg E.The chemistry of the pill.ACS Cent Sci.2015;1(1):5-7. doi:10.1021/acscentsci.5b00066
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Barrier methods of birth control: spermicide, condom, sponge, diaphragm, and cervical cap.
Goundry AL, Finlay ER, Llewellyn CD.Talking about links between sexually transmitted infections and infertility with college and university students from SE England, UK: a qualitative study.Reprod Health.2013;10:47. doi:10.1186/1742-4755-10-47
Organon.Return to ovulation.
American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.Birth control options.
Yland JJ, Bresnick KA, Hatch EE, et al.Pregravid contraceptive use and fecundability: prospective cohort study.BMJ. 2020;371:m3966. doi:10.1136/bmj.m3966
Girum T, Wasie A.Return of fertility after discontinuation of contraception: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Contracept Reprod Med.2018;3:9. doi:10.1186/s40834-018-0064-y
Dinehart E, Lathi RB, Aghajanova L.Levonorgestrel IUD: is there a long-lasting effect on return to fertility?J Assist Reprod Genet. 2020;37(1):45-52. doi:10.1007/s10815-019-01624-5
Divya V, Gayathri M, Priyadarshini P.DMPA: Compliance and side effects in a tertiary care hospital.International Journal of Recent Academic Research. 2019;1(6):263-264.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Depo-Prevara.
Rothman KJ.Fetal loss, twinning and birth weight after oral-contraceptive use.N Engl J Med. 1977;297(9):468–71. doi:10.1056/NEJM197709012970903
Dawson AL, Tinker SC, Jamieson DJ, et al; National Birth Defects Prevention Study.Epidemiology of twinning in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997 to 2007.Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2015;103(2):85-99. doi:10.1002/bdra.23325
Pfeifer S, Butts S, Fossum G, et al.Optimizing natural fertility: a committee opinion.ASRM Pages. 2017;107(1):52-58. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.09.029
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
