We’re using birth control, can I just stop?

If you’ve been taking birth control, depending on what you’ve been using, chances are it may take a little while after you stop, before you actually conceive.

Of course condoms and spermicides are not taken internally, so just putting those aside should start you and your partner on the road to trying to conceive – but most of us are on something else.

The Pill – Depending on your doctor, your doctor may tell you to stop or wait until you have a period and you ovulate. This precaution is usually because there is always a chance, albeit small, that your baby can develop a heart and/or blood vessel defect if conceived while still taking birth control pills. The chances of that happening, though small, should be thoroughly discussed with your doctor.

The Shot – Depo-Provera manufacturers suggest up to 12 weeks from the time of your last shot, that it is completely out of your system, while others suggest it isn’t until one year that you will actually be able to conceive. On average, anywhere from 3 – 9 months, AFTER your shot wears off, most women may conceive.

What if I tied my tubes? – Unfortunately, this is the hardest procedure to reverse when it comes to trying to conceive, and is the reason why physicians are wary of doing this procedure in some instances. A little more than ½ – sixty percent – of women are able to have successful pregnancies after having their tubes tied, but the chances of painful ectopic pregnancies also increase. To reverse this procedure, major surgery is a must, and there is always a chance that the tubes have been damages due to scarring.

My husband had a vasectomy – is it reversible? – Vasectomies, in some instances, are reversed, but the success rate is much lower than a tubal ligation reversal, around forty- percent. Please keep in mind that some insurance providers may not cover the cost to have a vasectomy reversed.

Will my IUD affect my fertility chances? – If there were no fertility problems before and during your experience with IUD’s then your chances of getting pregnant shouldn’t be difficult. As always, speak with your doctor and have a thorough exam. Some women have had pelvic inflammatory disease and other infections while using the IUD so as soon as you know you want it removed – contact your doctor. Pelvic diseases sometimes take a while to treat.