Stopping Birth Control Pills

In the present scenario, a well-planned parenthood has become easier with accessibility to safe and effective birth control options. The point is to choose the best option that suits the overall health condition of the woman. Out of the several methods, birth control pills remains the most preferred alternative for women worldwide. In order to prevent pregnancy, these oral contraceptives are formulated with hormones, which work by stopping ovulation, thinning the uterus walls and thickening the cervical mucus linings.

Birth Control Pills

In comparison to other options for birth control, birth control pills are more convenient to use, as they can be switched on and off according to individual demands. In other words, you can stop having birth control pills whenever you plan to conceive, without requiring to visit the doctor's office. Even though birth control pills are popularly used to suppress female fertility, there are many doubts that continue to linger in the mind of most women. Scroll down to find some of the answers related to stopping birth control pills and its possible side effects.

Question: When can you expect your normal periods after stopping birth control pills?

Answer: Once you stop taking birth control pills, normal menstrual cycle or periods will resume within 2-6 weeks. This is because after stopping pills, the normal ovulation cycle is delayed for about 2 weeks time. Thus, ovulation may take place right away after two weeks or it may occur after 6 weeks, depending upon when you get off the pill.

Question: How long should you wait to get pregnant after stopping the pills?

Answer: You need to wait for a few weeks till your normal menstrual cycle (or ovulation) returns. You may become pregnant within 2-6 weeks after stopping pills, when your regular periods begin. In case, ovulation occurs in the first cycle after getting off from the pill, you may conceive right away.

Question: Is it mandatory to wait for a few months to conceive after having stopped the pills?

Answer: Previously, there was a misconception that getting pregnant immediately after you stop taking birth control pills increases the risks of miscarriage. However, there are no clinical reports that prove such statements. Chances are there that you may become pregnant without having your first period after quitting the pills. In such cases, determining the ovulation time and due date may be confusing.

Question: Are there any side effects of stopping birth control pills?

Answer: Since birth control pills contain synthetic hormones, you body is exposed to these hormones, whenever you ingest such pills. Anything that involves taking external hormones can have various side effects. The same thing happens, when you stop taking birth control pills after a prolonged period. These side effects are difficult to predict and may vary from one individual to another.

Side effects are quite usual which can be attributed to hormone withdrawal. However, the major concern is the severity and duration of the adverse symptoms. The most common side effect is fluctuating menstrual cycles, vaginal bleeding, back pain, abdominal cramps, nausea, reduction in sex drive, breast tenderness, mood swings and weight loss. You can read more on side effects of stopping birth control.

Well! These were some of the questions and answers pertaining to stopping birth control pills and possible after effects. On the safer side, a pre-conceptional health visit to the gynecologist office is imperative for planning a safe parenthood.