• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

When to Stop Taking Birth Control Pills to Get Pregnant

January 5, 2011 by ds_81 Leave a Comment

Oral contraceptives, usually referred to as birth control pills, are a convenient, safe and effective means of preventing unwanted pregnancies. Birth control pills can be more than 99 percent effective when used correctly, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Birth control pills can become effective within seven days of beginning a regular regimen, and the contraceptive effects typically wear off soon after discontinuing their use.

Function

Conception occurs when sperm encounters a mature egg, typically in the woman’s fallopian tube. The fertilized egg moves down into the uterus where it attaches itself to the lining and continues to grow through the various stages of fetal development. Birth control pills contain hormones that cause a thickening of cervical mucus , makes it difficult for sperm to penetrate the cervix. These hormones may also cause a thinning of the uterine lining, which prevents a fertilized egg from attaching. In both cases pregnancy is unlikely to occur.

Time Frame

Birth control ills come in a number of different types, each using different formulations and combinations of hormones. Most types provide effective contraception after seven days of continuous use, but some become effective after the first day. You may begin ovulating again immediately after you stop taking birth control pills, although most women require four to six weeks before they begin having normal menstrual cycles again. Talk to your health care provider to determine how soon your brand of birth control pills becomes effective and when their effects are expected to wear off.

Considerations

A healthy, fertile couple who engage in regular sexual intercourse can expect to conceive within 12 months of ceasing the use of birth control pills. Conception may occur within the first month, but some health care providers recommend waiting until you have resumed your regular monthly cycle before trying to become pregnant. No known harm has been reported to either the mother or child from a pregnancy that occurs immediately after stopping birth control pills. Your pregnancy wil be easier to date if you have re-established your regular cycle.

Misconceptions

Birth control pills are up to 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, but they will not protect you against any form of sexually transmitted disease, including HIV. You may become pregnant while using birth control pills if you take them incorrectly, which includes skipping a day or taking the pill at different times during the day. Birth control pills are not all the same, and not all types are appropriate for all women. Talk to your health care provider to determine the right birth control pill for you.

Benefits

Birth control pills offer a safe, effective, convenient and low-cost means of reversible contraception. They are appropriate for women who may wish to become pregnant at some later time, but who do not wish to become pregnant now. Other benefits of using birth control pills for contraception include the possibility of lighter, more regular menstrual periods. Some types of birth control pills may help reduce your risk of endometrial or ovarian cancer. They may also reduce the incidence of menstrual cramping and help to improve your complexion.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Living Healthy

About ds_81

After attending Hardin Simmons University, Kay Dean finished her formal education with the Institute of Children's Literature. Since 1995, Dean has written more than 2,000 articles for publications, including "PB&J," Disneys "Family Fun,""ParentLife,""Living With Teenagers" and Thomas Nelsons New York Times best-selling "Resolve." After 17 years of homeschooling her five children, Dean discovered that motherhood doesnt stop with an empty nest.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

Killing Off Supermom

I'll be honest with you. In my house, the beds are rarely … [Read More...] about Killing Off Supermom

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

Breast Pains & Pregnancy

Breast Pains & Pregnancy

Signs of PMS or Pregnancy

Coconut Oil

Why Coconut Oil Is So Good For Pregnant & Nursing Mothers

Freeze Cooked & Smoked Ham

How to Freeze Cooked & Smoked Ham

Refrigerate Fresh Lemon Juice

How Long Can You Refrigerate Fresh Lemon Juice?

Post-Pregnancy Headaches

Post-Pregnancy Headaches

strep throat symptoms in babies

Strep Throat Symptoms in Babies

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.