When to stop the pill? I'm so confused!

[RestingPlaces]

Hi!

Fiancé and I would like to start TTC after we get married this year. It's the first time for both of us, so it's all a bit daunting!

I've been on the combined pill since I turned 13, I'm 30 this year. I've probably had 5/6 months off it in total in that time.

We get married in May, and then go on a honeymoon in June. We've been bought some distillery experiences and things on the tour, and then Summer tends to be busy at work, so our ideal would be to conceive around September/October, but I know that life isn't that simple!

A few people have mentioned that they'd stop the pill in the next month or so, and then use condoms until the wedding. I was planning to take the pill until we're back from our honeymoon, and then just go straight to unprotected.

WWYD? Any words of advice?

Thank you!

[sunshinekids]

I stopped early and used condoms and then conceived first cycle of trying; After stopping the pill my cycle did take around 6 months to settle down so I was happy I had done it that way. Good luck

[RestingPlaces]

Thanks, that's really useful - I reckon it'll probably take mine a while to settle down after so long so perhaps I should get ready to come off it sooner rather than later!

[WineAt4pm]

I'd been on it for 10 years with a couple of short breaks, stopped it four months before we planned to TTC just in case things took a while, but cycles went back to normal pretty much immediately. Hopefully you'll be fine!

[EmmaNumberThree]

I would work out when your periods are likely to be if you stop the pill now. It might not bother you, but if it were me I'd want to avoid a period for my wedding day and honeymoon

[LexiM]

It’s so hard to choose, some people say come off it and make sure your cycle is normal and others say just come off it and start trying straight away. I’ve felt conflicted about this because you read so many different experiences.

I have a family friend who’s a sexual health nurse and she said to just come off it when you want to try so that’s what’s I’ve done. She said you can be really fertile straight away and if it takes months it may have taken months anyway even if you stopped taking it months before.

I can’t report back as I’m in the early stages having recently come off it but my friend did the same and got pregnant first time.

[littletandme]

I switched from implant to pill about 3 months before our wedding, after being on hormonal contraceptives for 10 years. Then stopped the pill after the wedding and fell pregnant on second cycle so for me my fertility returned immediately.

If a bit of a possible delay doesn't bother you then just come off the pill to TTC, especially if you feel condoms are more of a hassle than they're worth.

On the other hand if you come off the pill early and use condoms then at least you'll have a few cycles under your belt to go off when it comes to predicting ovulation dates etc.

[Pilot12]

I took the pill for 15 years, came off it, had one period then conceived the next cycle.