How long should you be off the Pill before you start trying to conceive?
Posted: 23 April 2009
by Susan Lee
Some doctors recommend that you stop taking your contraceptive pill three months before you start trying to conceive. Others say there’s no need to wait and that you can start trying right away. Indeed, in rare cases, some women get pregnant while they are taking The Pill so it is not as if a really long gap between taking your contraceptive and trying for a baby is absolutely necessary.
However, generally, the amount of time it takes for your contraceptive pill to clear from your system depends on many factors, including:
- Your age
- How long you were taking contraceptive pills
- What kind of pill you were on
- Your general health
There’s no evidence that any residual elements of the Pill will damage a foetus if you do conceive in the first three months, and you might even conceive in your first menstrual cycle off the pill.
Expert Tip
You don’t need to worry about the oral contraceptive pill being out of your system – the Pill contains hormones that are very similar to the ones your body produces naturally
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP
However, waiting for a few months before you start trying to conceive does have some advantages.
A break between when you stop taking oral contraception and start trying to conceive gives you the chance to become familiar with your natural cycle. This helps you date your pregnancy more accurately.
You can also use those three months to prepare your body for pregnancy:
- Start taking the right supplements, most importantly folic acid
- Have a preconception health check, including checking for immunity to rubella
- Improve your diet
- Cut back on alcohol
- Give up smoking
- Start exercising (you don’t need to join a gym – things like walking, dancing, swimming and yoga all count!)
