Pregnancy and Contraception

Posted by Eirdoc

Getting pregnant after the pill

The use of highly effective and reversible methods of contraception, have enabled women to become pregnant by choice, not by chance.

A comprehensive literature review about contraceptive reversibility reassured that cessation of contraception and the past use of birth control methods are not associated with long-term subsequent infertility. However, a temporary delay in pregnancy may happen following discontinuation of contraceptives, but it should not be confused as side effects of contraception. There may be some changes in your lifestyles, and some behavioral and environmental factors which may influence your ability to become pregnant again.

1.     How quickly you become pregnant after cessation of contraception? 

You can conceive as soon as you stop taking the contraceptives. Your body starts making natural hormones and resumes the process of ovulation and it hardly takes 1 year to get pregnant after discontinuation of contraception.

2.     Can you become pregnant immediately after coming off the pill?

It may take three months for your menstrual cycle to get back to normal routine. However, clinicians suggest that chances of getting pregnant in these three months are obvious, and you may get pregnant right after stopping contraception.

3.     How long after stopping the pill ovulation begins?

If you have come off the pill, then your ovulation may start just after 48 hours and you may get pregnant. But keep in mind that you may get pregnant if your ovulation is still stopped. The reason is sperms can survive in the uterus for few days.

No matter what is your contraception method, and which time you are discontinuing it and hoping to get pregnant, there is no ideal and perfect method of birth control. So, it is essential to attend your contraception clinic or visit your doctor to discuss further options. Get free advice from health hub doctors’ team if you had faced a bad experience of taking contraceptives.

Should I come off the pill?

If you are planning your pregnancy, you should come off the pill. As you would stop taking the pills, your organs will start production of different hormones and ovulation would take place. Your menstrual cycle might be upset for initial few months after discontinuation of pills, but it would become regular with the passage of time.

If you are trying to come off of the pill and still have questions, do visit our online health hub team for particular advice.

  • Early signs of pregnancy

If you are in your childbearing age and hoping for a pregnancy, then you should observe following symptoms which can be noticed in early weeks of pregnancy.

  1. Missed period- if you have a regular cycle and not experience your periods for a week or long, then you must be having good news.
  2. Tenderness of breasts- you may feel your breasts have become sore and sensitive to touch even if they are drops that fall on your breasts, then it may be an early sign of pregnancy.
  3. Nausea and vomiting- this is a well-recognised symptom of pregnancy which is known as morning sickness. However, women may experience it at any time during day and some women may not experience it throughout their pregnancy.
  4. Fatigue- you may feel tiredness and excessive sleep all over your pregnancy but it is more apparent in first few weeks.
  5. Spotting- some women may observe light spotting in earliest weeks after a missed period. This is due to implantation bleeding, that befalls when a fertilized egg attaches itself with the lining of uterus and may cause spotting.
  6. Aqueous discharge- you may experience excess vaginal discharge during early weeks of pregnancy.
  7.  Mood swings- due to plethora of hormones during pregnancy, one may become temperamental and moody.

The abovementioned signs and symptoms aren’t restricted to happen in pregnancy only. They may be experienced at the start of your period. Surprisingly, you may get pregnant without demonstrating any such signs.

  • Contraception after having a baby

Newly made mothers usually don’t ponder the start of contraception after having a baby. But remember, you may get pregnant as soon as three weeks after delivering your baby. If you are sexually active after three weeks, and if the periods had not been stopped yet, there is still a chance of getting pregnant.

What type of birth control would be suitable for me after having a baby?

Some contraceptive options are perfectly ok for new mums just after delivering baby. NHS recommended methods which can be taken while you are breastfeeding or not include:

  • The contraceptive implant- it is a tiny plastic tube placed under the skin of your upper arm. It releases synthetic progesterone.
  • Birth control injection- this shot is administered every 8 to 13 weeks which contains progesterone.
  • Progesterone only pill or minipill- this is oral contraceptive and is taken daily.
  • Male and female condoms

You can also use caps, diaphragms, and combined pills but their usage requires vigilant advice of your doctor.

Is breastfeeding enough to avoid future pregnancy?

If you are exclusively breastfeeding your baby for six months, then there would be least chances of getting pregnant. Breastfeeding is 98% effective in controlling a pregnancy. However, it may happen if breastfeeding becomes less often.

Can I take emergency contraception while I’m breastfeeding?

Yes. The morning after pill levonorgestrel is a safe option for breastfeeding mothers to avoid unscheduled pregnancy. Likewise, copper IUD may also be utilized as an emergency contraception, but you need to wait for four weeks after giving birth.

Another effective ECC pill is ellaOne, but its safety for breastfeeding mums is not assured by some clinicians.

For an expert advice, you may contact health hub clinician’s team, or visit our online store to buy different types of available contraceptives.

References

Tags: