You’ve been on hormonal birth control for years because you didn’t want to have children just yet. Now, you are ready to stop using it so you can start your family. Naturally, you have some concerns because you’ve been on hormones for so long and are unsure if it has affected your fertility. 

These concerns are more than valid. In this guide, we'll cover when to stop birth control and next steps so you feel in control of your fertility journey.

When to stop birth control     Preparing for pregnancy    Working with a professional

When to stop your birth control

The best time to stop using birth control is when you are ready to have children.

Most women will naturally begin ovulating 1 to 2 months after getting off their hormonal birth control. However, each birth control is different, so it’s important to do your research to know what to expect. 

Here are some general guidelines:

• Birth control pills: Normal ovulation within 1-2 months. 
• Intrauterine device (IUD): Pregnancy is possible immediately after removal. However, it typically takes 1 month to start ovulating. 
• Implant: Like the IUD, it’s possible to get pregnant right away, but it’s normal to take your cycle 1 month to regulate. 
• Birth control patch: Normal ovulation within 1- 3 months.
• Vaginal ring: Normal ovulation within 1- 3 months.
• Injectable birth control (Depo-Provera): Doctors don’t typically recommend this birth control method for women wishing to get pregnant soon because it may take 10+ months to start ovulating again. 

>>RELATED: How Can I Tell If I'm Ovulating? How to Find and Test Your Fertile Window

Of course, there are exceptions because all women’s cycles are unique, but using birth control now does not mean you won’t be able to have children in the future. 

How to prepare your body for pregnancy

Stopping birth control may be the obvious first step, but there are other things you want to ensure you do to prepare your body for pregnancy. 

Take prenatal vitamins

You can start taking prenatal vitamins as early as three months before trying to conceive. Taking these vitamins will benefit you and your baby. The extra folic acid, iron, and calcium will support your baby’s development and health.

>>MORE: Fueling Your Body for Fertility: 9 Essential Vitamins and Nutrients

Examine your lifestyle factors

Another less talked about, but just as important factor is your lifestyle. Reduce drinking and eliminate smoking as they are shown to affect conception and pregnancy. Exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet to boost your overall health.

How much do your lifestyle factors affect fertility? Learn the link between lifestyle and infertility.

Understand your whole cycle, not just your period

One of the best things you can do to speed up conception is to track your ovulation so you can time sex during your fertile window. Women can only get pregnant during ovulation, which is only 24 hours on average. But don’t panic! A woman’s fertile window is longer than that because sperm can live up to 5 days — so you can technically have sex before you ovulate and still get pregnant. 

Tracking ovulation

Using an ovulation testing kit like Oova is easy and incredibly accurate. Unlike other ovulation kits, Oova is the first at-home fertility test that uses cutting-edge medical technology to measure both luteinizing hormone and progesterone.

Luteinizing hormone shows when you’ve ovulated, and progesterone confirms that an egg has been released. 

All you have to do is download the app, grab your test strips and start tracking your cycle. You don’t even have to analyze the results, because Oova makes them easy to understand. After each scan, the app shows your hormone levels and the action steps you need to take, like when to have sex so you can get pregnant faster.

When should you work with a professional?

If your cycle hasn’t returned to normal several months after stopping your hormonal birth control, it’s a good idea to consult with your doctor. They can rule out endocrine conditions which could be affecting your cycle. 

>>RELATED: What is a Reproductive Endocrinologist? And When Do I Need One?

Stress, anxiety, extreme changes in weight, and premature menopause could be responsible for irregular cycles as well. It’s important to remember that cycle fluctuations can result from many factors, not just from birth control. 

Takeaway

Getting pregnant after birth control doesn't have to be a lengthy process. Depending on what birth control method you used, it may take a few months to start ovulating as normal.

Yet stopping using birth control isn't the only thing you need to use to prepare for pregnancy. Taking vitamins, managing lifestyle factors, and accurately tracking your cycle are all helpful ways to get you ready.