How to not get pregnant off birth control

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Millions of people use birth control as a family planning tool, as an acne remedy, and/or to regulate their menses. But what happens when you stop taking "the pill?" How does birth control affect pregnancy and your ability to conceive? Read on to learn more about stopping birth control to get pregnant.

How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After Stopping Birth Control?

All bodies are different. There's no way to know how long it will take you to conceive, and that's true whether you've been using birth control or not. You can (theoretically) get pregnant immediately the first time you have penis in vagina (PIV) sex without a condom or your diaphragm, but that doesn't mean you will. Similarly, it's possible to get pregnant almost right away after stopping birth control pills or having your IUD removed. That said, it might take months for ovulation and/or your period to return to normal.

"The most important thing to know about stopping oral contraceptives is that ovulation can return immediately. The synthetic hormones leave your system in a few days, so you can get pregnant the first month off the pill," says Alexandra Sowa, M.D., an internist in New York City. The same thing is true for IUDs; you can get pregnant the same month your IUD is removed. But, "on the flip side, your period may not return immediately," Dr. Sowa says. "It can take a few months for your period to return." How long it takes your period to return is entirely individual, and has nothing to do with how long you've been using birth control.

Is There Anything You Should Do Before You Stop Taking "The Pill?"

Because pregnancy can occur almost as soon as you stop contraception, it's essential to make sure you're truly ready for a pregnancy before stopping. Dr. Sowa recommends scheduling a preconception visit with your doctor. That way, they can assess your overall health and make sure any preexisting health conditions (such as diabetes or asthma) are under control before you get pregnant.

RELATED: 15 Things All Couples Should Do Before Getting Pregnant

Making sure you're ready also means using contraception until you're absolutely sure you're ready to be pregnant. Don't go off the pill now because you'd like to be pregnant in six months. If getting pregnant now would cause a serious problem in your personal or professional life, it's best to wait.

What Is the Best Way to Get Off of Birth Control?

If you've been on the pill, it's a good idea to finish out your pill pack, rather than stopping mid-month. "When you stop the pill pack in the middle of your cycle, your uterus may get confused and start bleeding, even though it isn't your 'period,'" Dr. Sowa says. "Secondly, if you stop in the middle of the cycle, it can be hard to judge when you're ovulating."

Does Birth Control Negatively Impact Fertility?

Using continuous oral contraceptives, an IUD, or Depo-Provera has no long-term effect on fertility. Don't stress too much if your period doesn't immediately return to normal; remember, it can take a few months for your body to readjust. However, if your period hasn't returned after three months, it's a good idea to check in with your doctor.

Are you thinking about putting the pill packet to one side once and for all? Or maybe it’s time to get your hormonal IUD removed and you’re wondering if you want to get a new one fitted. In this post we’re going to look at stopping birth control pills as well as stopping other hormonal methods. We’ll take a look at how long it takes for the body to go back to how it was before hormonal birth control, and we’ll also cover some non-hormonal methods you might want to consider.

Things to think about before you stop taking hormonal birth control

Whether you’re on the birth control pill, using the Nuvaring, or using another hormonal method, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor or gynecologist before you stop using a particular birth control method. Contraceptive counseling is a great way to get to know your options and discuss the certain side effects, benefits, or risks when using different types of birth control. In the meantime, let’s look at how to stop taking hormonal birth control. 

How to stop taking birth control pills

When you decide to stop taking birth control pills, we recommend you finish the pills in your packet. If you aren’t looking to get pregnant, make sure you have an alternative birth control method lined up for when you finish taking the pills. 

Depending on your individual needs, there are both benefits and drawbacks to stopping hormonal birth control. It’s useful to be aware of these and also to know that things won’t change overnight, going hormone-free is a gradual, educational journey.

How to stop using the Nuva ring/birth control patch 

When it comes to changing the ring or the patch, simply remove the used one and don’t replace it with another. Again, you’ll need to think about your birth control options after you’ve stopped using these because you will no longer be protected once the ring or patch is removed.

How to stop using the hormonal IUD/implant

You’ll need to make a trip to see a healthcare professional to get your implant or IUD removed. You can get these removed when they are due to be changed, or you can get them taken out earlier if you’re looking to stop hormonal birth control sooner. While it might take a little while for your cycles to get back to normal, remember to use another birth control method in the meantime if you’re still trying to avoid pregnancy.

What happens when you stop taking birth control pills & other hormonal methods?

We’re all different, so how our bodies react to stopping hormonal birth control will vary from person to person. Once you stop, the hormones begin to leave your system and your body starts to go back to how it behaved before the hormonal birth control. Depending on the individual and the method, it can take a while for things to balance back out - but it’s important you have a plan for another method of birth control if you don’t want to get pregnant. 

Side effects of stopping birth control pills & other hormonal methods

While some of us might not notice a change when we come off birth control, others will experience some side effects of stopping birth control pills or other hormonal methods. These may include:

• Irregular periods
• Spotting
• Acne
• Mood changes
• Potential weight changes
• Changes in energy levels 
• Changes in libido

Birth control withdrawal symptoms

You might also experience what’s called a withdrawal bleed once you stop taking hormonal birth control. This isn’t your period, but instead a different kind of spotting that’s caused by a change in hormones. Withdrawal bleeding tends to be lighter and shorter than a regular period and it’s a healthy sign that your body is getting back to its regular hormone levels. 

Benefits of stopping hormonal birth control

While there are some negative side effects associated with stopping hormonal birth control, there are also quite a few reported upsides to going hormone-free too. Many of the benefits are associated with the way we feel around ovulation (since hormonal birth control stops ovulation from happening). These include a spike in sex drive, increased energy levels, and positive mood changes. 

Of course, everyone is different and your experience of stopping hormonal birth control is unique to you. You can read more about the unique experiences of going hormone-free here. 

How long does it take for hormones to balance after stopping birth control pills or other hormonal birth control methods?

While everyone is different, you may find it can take up to three months after stopping hormonal birth control for your cycle to go back to how it was before. In the meantime, you might experience light bleeding. If you’ve been a long-term user of hormonal birth control, it’s worth knowing that it can mask certain cycle conditions that can lead to irregular cycles, such as polycystic ovary syndrome. If you have questions or concerns about the regularity of your cycle, then it’s always a good idea to speak to a healthcare professional. 

Look out for indications in your body that you might be about to ovulate - these can be tough to spot if you’re not used to monitoring your cycle, but some of these include: a rise in sex drive and increased cervical mucus. You might also experience PMS in the lead up to your first period.

How soon can you get pregnant after stopping the pill?

In theory, you can get pregnant straight after stopping hormonal birth control. However, in most cases, it may take several months before you ovulate for the first time again. For this reason, if you’re thinking about starting a family soon, but are using a hormonal birth control method, it’s worth considering switching to a hormone-free option until you are ready to try to get pregnant. 

We carried out a study looking at women who had previously used hormonal birth control and women who had used Natural Cycles non-hormonal birth control. Our research found that those who used our hormone-free birth control got pregnant faster, on average in three cycles or less. 

How to stop taking birth control pills without getting pregnant

If you don’t want to get pregnant straight away, you should consider other birth control options you can use when you stop taking the birth control pill or other hormonal methods. There are a few non-hormonal birth control options available, including Natural Cycles, the copper IUD and condoms. It’s important to remember that no method of birth control is 100% effective so with any method there will always be a risk of unintended pregnancy. 

Thinking about going hormone-free?

Stopping birth control pills or other hormonal methods can feel like a big step. However, it’s a lifestyle change that women around the world are deciding to take every day. Natural Cycles is the world’s first birth control app and is cleared by the US FDA and CE marked in Europe. It has more than 2 million registered users worldwide, and it can also be used to plan a pregnancy.

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