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.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
And it may take months to become fertile if you useDepo Proverainjections.
This article discusses different birth control methods and how quickly you could expect fertility to return after stopping them.
It also looks at some other factors that may affect fertility.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
How Long Will It Take to Get Pregnant?
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.
This increases the possibility that it’s possible for you to get pregnant.
The amount of time it takes depends on whatbirth control methodyou were using.
This means you’re free to get pregnant as soon as you stop using them.
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.
This also seems true for other types of birth control pills.
When you stopprogestin-onlyorextended-cycle pills, your fertility should return quickly.
This number is the same as that of the general population.
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.
you’re free to have yourIUD removedat any time by a qualified healthcare provider.
Do not have a go at remove it at home.
Nexplanon
Nexplanon, a progestin-only birth control implant, releases progestin for three years.
However, you’ve got the option to 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.
Depo Provera only prevents pregnancy for three months.
However, the hormonemedroxyprogesterone acetatestays in your body longer.
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.
Twins account for an estimated 3% of pregnancies regardless of pre-pregnancy contraceptive methods.
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.
Research shows that birth control use does not harm fertility.
Some people become pregnant within a month.
Others may have a go at 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.
How quickly your fertility returns depends on the method you used.
After stopping most hormonal birth control methods or IUDs, fertility should return within three months.
Other factors may also impact your fertility.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns after stopping birth control.
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.
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.
2017;107(1):52-58. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.09.029
