How Long Does it Take to Get Pregnant After Stopping Birth Control?

ByRiddhi Roy
Updated:24 Apr 2025, 2:00 pm

If you’re hoping to start a family, one of your first questions may be, “How long will it take to get pregnant once I come off birth control?”. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on the type of contraception you use, your overall health, age, and other factors. From hormonal pills to IUDs to injections, each method has unique effects on your body.

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Deciding to come off birth control is an incredibly big and exciting decision. It is a shift from preventing pregnancy to trying to conceive. But once that last pill is swallowed or the device is removed, new questions arise:
In this article:

“Will I ovulate immediately?
“Should I expect delays?”“Is birth control damaging my fertility?”You’re not alone in feeling this way. While some conceive within a few weeks, others might be on the journey for a few months. Read on to find out how quickly you could expect your fertility to return and what to do if things don’t go the way you hope.

Stopping Birth Control: An Overview

If you discontinue the use of contraception, the body starts regulating your natural hormonal cycle again. This transition can be quick or may take a little longer, depending on the type and how you have used it.Hormonal methods such as pills, patches and injections work by suppressing ovulation. So when they’re stopped, your body has to re-establish its rhythm. For non-hormonal methods, fertility return is usually immediate. Understanding how each method works can help you better anticipate what to expect when you stop using it.New studies suggest that couples take an initial average of about 10 months to return to fertility after contraception cessation, although this can be as much as 18 months in some cases. Ovulation usually returns in 4 to 12 months, with a few rare cases where it takes an 18-month course. In fact, close to 70% of people will conceive in the first 12 months, and approximately 90% will conceive by 24 months after stopping the pill.

Different birth control methods

Here’s a quick overview of different birth control methods and how they affect your fertility:
  • Oral contraceptives (pills): This type of birth control has synthetic hormones at specific levels to prevent ovulation. Once you stop taking it, your natural cycle returns, usually in a matter of weeks. You may ovulate as soon as two weeks.
  • Hormonal IUDs: These release progestin-thickening cervical mucus and, in some cases, suppress ovulation. After removal, fertility returns immediately, usually in a cycle or two.
  • Copper IUDs: These don’t prevent ovulation. Fertility returns immediately after removal.
  • Medroxyprogesterone acetate (injectable): This long-acting shot prevents ovulation for up to 18 months after the last injection.
  • Contraceptive implants: These are used to suppress ovulation, though fertility typically returns one to two months after removal.
  • Patches and vaginal rings: These function in a similar way as pills, and return to ovulation is relatively quick, typically within a few weeks.
  • Barrier methods (condoms, diaphragms): These don’t affect hormones, so you could become pregnant as soon as you stop using them.
  • Emergency contraception: These one-time doses of hormones don’t interfere with long-term fertility, nor do they delay future ovulation.

Factors Influencing Fertility After Stopping Birth Control

At the risk of oversimplifying, it takes more than halting contraception to get pregnant, even if your cycle returns promptly. Several biological and lifestyle factors contribute:

  • Age:

Your age is one of the biggest factors determining how quickly you become pregnant. If you’re under 35, you have about a 20 to 25 per cent chance of conceiving each month. But fertility declines more sharply after 35, with a steep drop-off at about 40.

  • Menstrual history before use of contraceptive agents:

Were your cycles irregular or painful before going on birth control? If so, those underlying problems could resurface and affect how quickly you conceive. Disorders such as PCOS or endometriosis may need medical treatment.

  • General health:

Your general health may delay conception, with conditions like thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, or autoimmune disorders contributing. Nutritional deficiencies or anaemia might also contribute.

  • Weight and lifestyle:

Being extremely underweight or overweight can disrupt hormone levels. Smoking, heavy drinking, stress, lack of exercise and inadequate sleep all influence fertility.

  • Length of contraceptive use:

If you use contraception for many years, you may wonder whether it delays fertility. The good news is that long-term use does not lead to permanent infertility, studies show. Your body might take a while to adjust.

  • Post-pill amenorrhoea:

After discontinuing hormonal birth control, some women deal with post-pill amenorrhoea, no menstrual periods for three months or longer. Typically, this is temporary, but if your cycles don’t normalise within 3-6 months, it’s worth checking in with a healthcare expert.

  • Stress and fertility:

Chronic stress can inhibit ovulation by impacting the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Mindfulness practices, therapy, or even mild to moderate exercise might help regulate your cycle and improve your chances of getting pregnant.

How Quickly Can You Get Pregnant After Stopping Different Methods?

The following are some ways of how soon you can get pregnant after stopping different methods:

  • Oral pills:

Your first ovulation may happen within 2 weeks after your last pill. Some women become pregnant in the first month, and some need 2-3 cycles before things settle down. Most regain full fertility in three months, and approximately 80% conceive in a year.

  • Hormonal IUD:

When they’re taken out, ovulation tends to start again quickly. Studies indicate conception may happen as soon as the first cycle after IUD removal. Most users experience a quick return to fertility.

  • Copper IUD:

Without hormones, ovulation isn’t stopped. You could conceive as early as your next ovulation after removal.

  • Medroxyprogesterone acetate:

This approach takes the most patience. Ovulation can take anywhere from 4–12 months to return to normal. Which in some cases could take as long as 18 months. Fifty-five per cent of users get pregnant in the first year.

  • Implant:

Fertility may return in a matter of weeks. Ovulation usually returns within one to two months for most users.

  • Patch and ring:

Because they deliver hormones similarly to oral pills, your fertility should also return in 1–3 months.

  • Emergency contraception:

Fertility often returns with your next period. These aren’t meant for long-term use and don’t interfere with fertility.

Common Misconceptions About Birth Control and Fertility

Myth: “Birth control is a great cause of infertility.”Fact: This is not a scientifically supported claim. Hormonal birth control can delay the return of ovulation, but it does not create permanent damage to your reproductive system.Myth: “You have to wait before having a baby.”Fact: There’s a belief that you should wait months, even to ‘detox’ from hormones, to try to get pregnant. Reality: It’s safe to get pregnant anytime after ovulation starts again, even before your first period.Myth: “You can’t get pregnant until your period comes back.”Fact: In fact, ovulation occurs before menstruation. That means you could be pregnant before your first post-contraceptive period arrives.Myth: “Lifelong users have a harder time getting pregnant.”Fact: Not necessarily. Most women return to normal fertility within a year of stopping, regardless of how long they used contraception.

What to Do If Pregnancy Takes Longer Than Expected

Trying for a baby can be an emotional rollercoaster, particularly when every cycle ends in a negative test. While it can take time to conceive, you may consider taking proactive measures if you haven’t gotten pregnant after a certain amount of time.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Track your cycle and ovulation: Calculate with OPKs (Ovulation Predictor Kits) BBT (Basal body temperature), and/or cervical mucus. Using apps and fertility trackers, you can pinpoint your most fertile days.
  • Keep a fertility-friendly diet: Eat well, exercise, sleep, and stay away from drugs and alcohol. Even subtle changes can improve your reproductive health.
  • Get a preconception check-up: This includes visiting your healthcare expert for pre-pregnancy counselling. They can identify underlying medical problems, review medications, and recommend prenatal vitamins like folic acid.
  • Try for a year (six months if over 35): If you’re under 35, trying for up to 12 months is normal. If you are over 35, you should seek further advice after 6 months of trying. The earlier a fertility specialist reviews your case, the more options you have.
  • Involve your partner: Fertility is not just about you. About 40% of infertility is attributed to the male factor. A semen analysis is frequently a crucial first step in assessment.
The time it takes to get pregnant after stopping birth control varies from person to person, but for most, it’s a matter of weeks to months. While hormonal methods like pills and shots might delay ovulation, your long-term fertility remains unaffected. Understanding your body, tracking your cycle, and adopting healthy habits are already setting the stage for a successful conception.Don't lose heart if things don’t happen as quickly as you'd hoped. Help is available, and modern fertility treatments are more effective than ever. Keep yourself informed, stay positive, and take it one cycle at a time.

FAQs on How Long Does it Take to Get Pregnant After Stopping Birth Control?

  1. How soon can I get pregnant after stopping birth control pills?You could ovulate within two weeks. Some women conceive during their first cycle of the pill, while others may take 2–3 months to normalise.
  2. Can I get pregnant before my period returns?Yes, ovulation comes before menstruation. So, if you ovulate before your first post-contraceptive period, you can get pregnant.
Disclaimer: Medically approved by Dr Shaily Sharma, Consultant Gynaecologist, Cloudnine Hospital, Faridabad