Birth Control & Family Planning
How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After Stopping Birth Control?
For most methods, you can get pregnant within weeks of stopping. Ovulation usually comes back quickly after you stop the pill, patch or ring, or have an IUD or implant removed, and many people conceive within the first few months. The birth control shot is the exception: fertility can take several months, sometimes more than a year, to return after the last injection.
Method by method
| Method | When fertility usually returns |
|---|---|
| Combined pill | Within weeks; often the first cycle |
| Mini pill | Within days to weeks |
| Patch or ring | Within weeks |
| Hormonal IUD | Soon after removal |
| Copper IUD | Right after removal |
| Implant | Within days to weeks after removal |
| Shot (Depo-Provera) | Often several months after the last shot; can be a year or longer |
| Condoms or other barriers | Right away |
These are typical patterns. Your own timeline depends on your age and health.
After the pill, patch or ring
Your first natural period may show up 4 to 6 weeks after you stop. Here's the part that catches people off guard: you can ovulate before that first period. So pregnancy can happen before you've ever seen a "real" cycle. If you're trying, that's good news. If you're not, start another method right away.
After IUD or implant removal
Hormone levels drop quickly after a hormonal IUD or implant comes out. The copper IUD has no hormones, so your cycle was already your own. Studies show pregnancy rates after removal similar to people who never used these methods. Removal itself is usually a quick office visit; an IUD removal often takes under a minute.
After the shot
The shot's hormone leaves your body slowly, and the FDA label notes that return to fertility may be delayed. If you want to get pregnant within about a year, talk with your clinician about switching to another method now so the shot has time to wear off.
Myth vs. fact
Myth: Being on the pill for years makes it harder to get pregnant. Fact: Studies show the length of time you used the pill, an IUD or the implant doesn't change how quickly you can get pregnant after stopping. Ten years on the pill and one year on the pill look about the same, at the same age. Age is what matters, not years on birth control.
Myth: Birth control causes infertility. Fact: Hormonal birth control pauses fertility only while you use it. If you have trouble conceiving after stopping, the cause is usually something else, such as age, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, thyroid problems or a sperm factor. Birth control can hide symptoms of these conditions, like irregular periods, which is why some people only find out after they stop.
Myth: You have to wait a few cycles before trying. Fact: There's no health reason to wait. Some people wait for one natural period so the pregnancy is easier to date, but an ultrasound can date it accurately either way.
Myth: Getting pregnant right after stopping raises the risk of miscarriage or birth defects. Fact: It doesn't, for the pill, patch, ring, IUD or implant. One exception to know: if you get pregnant with an IUD still in place, call your clinician right away. The IUD may need to come out, and ectopic pregnancy has to be ruled out.
How long does it usually take?
Even without any birth control history, conception takes time. Many healthy couples conceive within 6 months, and most within a year. Fertility declines gradually with age, especially after 35. A lot of people feel discouraged after two or three months of negative tests; that's very common and usually not a sign anything is wrong.
Your before-you-stop checklist
1. Start folic acid now. The CDC recommends that anyone who could become pregnant take folic acid daily to help prevent certain birth defects. Ideally, start before you stop birth control. A standard prenatal vitamin covers it; ask your clinician which one fits you.
2. Book a preconception visit. It can cover:
- Medicines that may need to change before pregnancy
- Vaccines such as MMR and varicella if you're not immune
- Control of conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and thyroid disease
- Genetic carrier screening options
- Weight, nutrition, and quitting smoking or alcohol
3. Learn your fertile window. Your most fertile days are the 5 days before ovulation and the day of ovulation. Tracking options:
- Ovulation predictor kits (the drugstore strips work fine)
- Cervical mucus changes
- Period tracking apps (less accurate if your cycles are irregular)
Signs your ovulation is back
- Clear, stretchy, slippery cervical mucus mid-cycle (often compared to raw egg white)
- A positive ovulation predictor test
- Mild one-sided pelvic twinges around mid-cycle
- A period about 2 weeks after those signs
What if your period doesn't come back?
A short delay as your cycle restarts is normal. If your period hasn't returned within 3 months after stopping the pill, patch, ring or implant, take a pregnancy test and see a clinician. Common causes include PCOS, thyroid problems, high prolactin, stress, big weight changes and intense exercise. Many are treatable.
Not trying? Start your next method right away
Since fertility returns fast, don't leave a gap if you don't want to get pregnant. See our guide to coming off birth control, or compare options in our birth control options guide.
If you need fertility care later in New York
New York law requires large group insurance plans to cover IVF, requires many state-regulated plans to cover diagnosis and some treatment of infertility, and requires coverage of fertility preservation when a medical treatment may cause infertility. Coverage depends on your plan type, so call your insurer before your first fertility appointment. Our guide to the New York IVF insurance mandate explains who's covered.
When to see a doctor
See a clinician or fertility specialist if:
- You're under 35 and haven't conceived after 12 months of trying
- You're 35 or older and haven't conceived after 6 months
- You're over 40 (consider an evaluation right away)
- You have no period 3 months after stopping birth control
- Your cycles are very irregular, very painful or very heavy
- You have a known condition such as PCOS, endometriosis or a past pelvic infection
Your next step
Start with an OB/GYN or midwife for a preconception visit. If you need more help, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist can evaluate you. Search the directory to find providers across New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get pregnant right after stopping the pill?
Yes. Ovulation can return within weeks of stopping the pill, patch or ring, so pregnancy is possible in the first cycle. There is no need to wait before trying.
Does long-term birth control use affect fertility?
No. Research shows that using hormonal birth control for years does not reduce your long-term fertility. Age is the biggest factor in fertility, not past birth control use.
How long after Depo can I get pregnant?
It varies. Fertility often takes several months to return after the last shot, and for some people it takes a year or more. The shot does not cause permanent infertility.
When should I see a fertility specialist after stopping birth control?
See a clinician if you are under 35 and have not conceived after 12 months of trying, or after 6 months if you are 35 or older. Seek care sooner if you have no periods or very irregular cycles.
Sources
- ACOG — Good Health Before Pregnancy: Prepregnancy Care (patient FAQ)
- ASRM — Definitions of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss (Committee Opinion)
- CDC — Folic Acid: Recommendations
- FDA — Depo-Provera CI prescribing information
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed clinician who knows your history. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.