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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Off pill for 6 months but no pregnancy

16 replies

landsharkr · 03/04/2023 11:20

Hi all, just looking for a bit of advice.

I stopped taking my contraceptive pill at the end of September but still no sign of pregnancy.

I had been on the pill for 10 years, and am 25 years old. I'm very naive to have thought that at my age it would have happened very quickly! I was just wondering if anybody had any stories of similar situations?

I'm starting to worry that something could be wrong.

OP posts:

LookUponMyWorks · 03/04/2023 11:32

It took me 18 months! Are your periods back and regular?

Original poster

landsharkr · 03/04/2023 11:36

@LookUponMyWorks thanks for commenting, that's a relief to hear, I didn't know if it was normal or not so it's always good to hear others experiences! Yes my periods are back to normal now

OP posts:

toastfiend · 03/04/2023 11:45

It took 12 months for my periods to come back at all after stopping the pill, a further 9 months before they regulated. I appreciate you say yours are normal now but I don't think the effects of long-term hormonal contraceptive use can be underestimated in terms of your body regulating itself again once you stop. 6 months isn't a wildly long time (although I appreciate that it feels like it). I'd give it another few months and then speak to your GP if still no luck. Are you tracking ovulation etc? It's a relatively narrow window where you're likely to conceive so easy to miss if you're not certain.

airmax · 03/04/2023 11:45

Have you tried ovulation strips ? I tried them and it worked

EliflurtleTripanInfinite · 03/04/2023 11:55

Do you have regular periods? If you do you could use ovulation strips or basal body temperatures to check if you're ovulating. It can take 12 months for some women's bodies get back to normal after stopping the pill. Also you could be ovulating earlier or later in your cycle than the average and depending how often you're having sex you could be missing the fertile window. Even if you weren't coming off hormonal contraceptives 6 months plus is still a very normal timeframe not to have conceived in.

embarrassed23 · 03/04/2023 12:03

I don't think that's anything to be worried about atall. I am similar age and got pregnant third month trying, but that was with almost an obsessive plan lol, like tracking ovulation , and doing the deed at least once or twice a day for a few days either side of the expected ovulation, and using fertility lube. I guess it depends if you have been doing that too or taking a more relaxed approach in terms of when you do the deed etc as it may take longer than way x

Original poster

landsharkr · 03/04/2023 12:10

Thanks all, I really appreciate all of the advice!

I think I'm stressing as I thought it would have happened by now, but by the sounds of things it's pretty normal.

I have ovulation strips although I haven't used them yet, we do the deed fairly often (every day or every other) but like a previous poster mentioned, I have been taking a relaxed approach. Maybe I need to be a bit more hands on with the planning

OP posts:

buckingmad · 03/04/2023 13:09

I came off the pill a similar age and it took about 2 years for my periods to settle in to a regular rhythm. We used other contraception for 2 years and then it took a year of no contraception for me to fall pregnant at 27.

Definitely try the ovulation strips as it may be that you still aren't ovulating. It's very normal for it to take up to 12 months to fall pregnant.

easterbunnie · 03/04/2023 13:11

You can be actively trying for two years and everything can be fine.

Sometimes it just takes time. Good luck.

Twoinapod · 03/04/2023 20:50

It can take an average healthy couple up to 12 months to conceive, some take longer even if no issues. If you do everything right at the right time there’s still only a 20-25% chance of conceiving each cycle. Your body will take some time to get back to normal after hormonal contraceptives, but your age is on your side. If after 12 months you still haven’t conceived you can contact your doctor for tests if you’re worried, they won’t do anything before then as it’s very normal.

Original poster

landsharkr · 04/04/2023 10:26

Thanks all. I will definitely leave it a bit before going to the doctor, I didn't realise it took that long for body to get back to normal after the pill (I've read a lot of conflicting things so I wasn't 100%)

I'll try the ovulation strips and go from there 😊

OP posts:

Lcb123 · 04/04/2023 13:38

I really wouldn’t worry - up to a year is normal, even in couples with no issues. And your body can take time to adjust after the pill. Try and enjoy the process and not obsess or track every thing!

TTCing · 04/04/2023 21:22

It took me 16 months of trying (I was a similar age to you and had been on the pill for 10 years or so). About a year of that was avidly tracking ovulation, timing sex etc.

Although every months feels like forever when trying to conceive, six months is not long at all. And is certainly no cause for concern x

Parky04 · 04/04/2023 21:41

2 years here and a similar age. Second one was straight away!

Jennifer89 · 05/04/2023 00:18

@Parky04 body really can be a mystery..🤔I've heard other ladies say the same with one child takes ages and with another really quick..

Izzie94x · 05/04/2023 12:46

I started TTC at 25 also, after around 10 years on the contraceptive pill.

Unfortunately for us, we tried naturally for almost 3 years before thinking to have DH tested (he has a 12yo) - and to our shock his sperm morphology was pretty shocking - 1% when it should be at least 4%

13k, and a round of IVF with ICSI later - I’m now 15+3!!

But I appreciate it’s a bloody horrible time. I found the first 6-12 months trying the hardest. Definitely at my lowest - as like you at 25, I assumed it would happen right away x

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