How long to get pregnant after stopping pill?

[WellLarDeDar]

Hi everyone!

I'm currently taking the progesterone only pill. My DP and I want to start trying for our first soon. In an ideal world we'd want to get pregnant between Aug and Nov, obviously things rarely work out the way you want but that's just how we'd have it if we could chose. I've probably jinxed us by saying that!

I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences of how long it took them to conceive after stopping the pill. I've read that some people can conceive immediately and others take a few months for their bodies to get it's rhythm back. We can't decide if I should stop taking the pill now and use other contraception or leave it for a little longer.

We don't want to accidently get pregnant before August (reason being I'm having an op under general and I cannot do this whilst pregnant, also need some time to recover before baking us a bun - discussed this with the Dr).

How long did it take you/your partner after dropping the pill?

I fell pregnant first cycle after stopping taking the progesterone only pill.

I’m 38 for reference.

A good 9 months...
How old are you?
Amongst my friends didn't really seem to be a pattern...other than slightly longer if older (35+) and didn't catch in first 2 months.

Some caught first month, others after a year.. Same age.. Others caught early with one, long time with other.
The only thing I really noticed was depo injections really knocked fertility for a while.. In my case no period for 11 months after last injection and then more breakthrough
3 month gap between stopping pill and trying seems common (not sure if science based)

November conception would be youngest in school year... Why then?

I stopped the pill in jan, had a WB and stared trying then had a proper period in feb and fell pregnant in March

quite a few get pregnant after missing one pill...

experiences of others are meaningless as everyone has different body chemistry. And regrettably you don't even know if you are fertile.

probably useful to have one natural period to aid calculations if you then get pregnant.

check with the GP if you need to stop the pill before the operation.

I haven't started trying yet but came off the mini pill in Feb and I know I ovulated first cycle (as I was tracking and found my peak), so for me it was possible on the first cycle. Could do what we are doing and use non-hormonal contraception if you want to make sure your cycle goes back to normal?

I'm not trying to get pregnant but had been on the pill for years and stopped taking it in February, my first natural period came 28 days after the first day of my withdrawal bleed and my second one 32 days after day 1 of my natural period, I'm due my next one this week and symptoms suggest it's on the way.
My body went straight back into a regular cycle so I would imagine I could get pregnant if I wanted to.
Everyone is different but from speaking to my nurse she said most people do go back into their natural rhythm as your body doesn't stockpile the hormones from the pill, the level drops after 7 days.

I was 26 at the time, had been on the pill for roughly 8 years. It took me 3 months to get pregnant.

Stopped the mini pill in June, started TTC in Late August. BFP at the end of September on the second TTC cycle.

The mini pill never stopped my periods though so that might have an impact, I know people who took ages to get their periods/cycles back. We also tracked ovulation before TTC as I wanted to know if I was ovulating. Ovulated first cycle after stopping the pill.

DS1 - pregnant the month after stopping taking the pill

DS2 - pregnant while on the pill 🙈

@PinkPlantCase

Stopped the mini pill in June, started TTC in Late August. BFP at the end of September on the second TTC cycle.

The mini pill never stopped my periods though so that might have an impact, I know people who took ages to get their periods/cycles back. We also tracked ovulation before TTC as I wanted to know if I was ovulating. Ovulated first cycle after stopping the pill.

I wondered whether mine would take a while to show as my periods always stop on hormonal contraception (they stop completely with the implant and on mini pill) but straight after the implant I had withdrawal bleed in days, and 3 weeks after the mini pill. I know I ovulated first cycle aswell as I used OPK tracking and caught my peak.

Thanks for your replies. It's good to read about other peoples experiences. I'm turning 30 in a couple of weeks and my DP is turning 39 in a few months. Maybe I should stop taking the pill at the beginning of June to give myself 2 months to get back into the swing. I'm actually quite keen to stop the POP as it gives me the most terrible acne! DP on the other hand is a bit nervous and doesnt want to risk not being able to have the operation or compromising a little foetus.

November conception would be youngest in school year... Why then?

I suppose there's no big reason, more just a combination of little reasons why we're aiming for a spring/summer baby. Though, you never know what will happen, we could end up with a Christmas baby!

@murbblurb

quite a few get pregnant after missing one pill...

experiences of others are meaningless as everyone has different body chemistry. And regrettably you don't even know if you are fertile.

probably useful to have one natural period to aid calculations if you then get pregnant.

check with the GP if you need to stop the pill before the operation.

true! I could have fertility problems. I suppose we're being optimistic and have said if any hurdles come up we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. it's a bit scary thinking about it because you just never know until you decide you want to try!

@PinkPlantCase

Stopped the mini pill in June, started TTC in Late August. BFP at the end of September on the second TTC cycle.

The mini pill never stopped my periods though so that might have an impact, I know people who took ages to get their periods/cycles back. We also tracked ovulation before TTC as I wanted to know if I was ovulating. Ovulated first cycle after stopping the pill.

oh that's a good point. The POP has stopped my periods, I just get the odd bleed if I don't take the pill spot on the 24h mark or if i forget one then I get a little period. I hadn't even thought of that maybe making things take a bit longer to resume!

If you come off the pill and track ovulation OP you could both use condoms and avoid doing it at all on your most fertile days if you want to be extra careful.

I guess it depends how you’d feel about taking the morning after pill if a condom did break.

On the combined pill for 12 years, came off and fell pregnant within two months at age 30. Second pregnancy wasn't on the pill, but fell again after trying to conceive after two months at 36. I think it is probably just more to do with each individual persons general fertility than the pill itself.

Oh, and I have a Spring child and a late summer child, and neither had any issues at school with being the youngest. DD1 was literally just 4 when she started full time.

@PinkPlantCase

If you come off the pill and track ovulation OP you could both use condoms and avoid doing it at all on your most fertile days if you want to be extra careful.

I guess it depends how you’d feel about taking the morning after pill if a condom did break.

Yes the ovulation kits seem like a good plan! I think I would be a little bit torn.

I tried to avoid end of Aug baby... But got one anyway 🙈

If I could pick a time to deliver it'd be feb/march... Just because I didn't wander far in first few weeks but nice to get out and about in April and onwards. If end up with years maternity plus holiday could end up with two springs off.

End of Aug baby.. Didn't really get out and about till end Sept... Cold and wet.. Not great for pram pushing to park! Then felt quite down through winter....

In the end I was just thankful for a baby... But it was harder... Good luck

Another advantage is no summer pregnancy clothes to think about and no hot days when heavily pregnant