Effects Of Long-Term Birth Control On Conception

Women take birth control for years, or even decades for a variety of reasons. And while their birth control method of choice does what it needs by keeping women from getting pregnant, alleviating period cramps, keeping symptoms of endometriosis bearable, or helping with PCOS, according to WebMD, there is a fear that remaining on it for too long can impact fertility down the line. Leading to many conversations with doctors about how long-term birth control intake may affect trying to get pregnant later on.

No woman wants to get pregnant before she is ready. But, when ready, getting pregnant cannot come fast enough. As such, women do all that they can to eat healthily, exercise, get their sleep, and keep stress low, to make their dream of becoming a mother a reality. When that does not happen in as quick a timeframe as women have set for themselves, they may look at what is in their lives to blame.

And for some, that could be coming back to the years of birth control they were on, leaving them wondering if all the trying to not get pregnant has worked against them in the end.

RELATED: Signs Of Pregnancy When On The Pill

Here is how long-term birth control use affects trying to get pregnant later on.

Long-Term Effects Of Birth Control On Pregnancy

For those women who are concerned that they have been on birth control for too long, there is good news. There are no studies showing that long-time birth control use has any effect on women getting pregnant when they choose to do so.

According to VeryWell Family, it does not matter what type of birth control is used, there are not any changes in the ability to get pregnant when the decision is made to do so. This includes everything from estrogen and progestin pills to vaginal rings, IUDs, patches, implants, and injections. Nothing will impact the ability to get pregnant.

On the plus side, per the publication, those who were on the pill longer than three years were found to be MORE fertile than those who had used the pill for a shorter time. Therefore, no matter how long women have been on birth control, they should not let that concern them for future plans of pregnancy.

Infertility After Long-Term Birth Control

It may seem like it takes a long time to get pregnant after being on birth control. Some may even think they are suffering from infertility. But there is a difference between it taking some time to get pregnant and infertility itself.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, infertility is defined as “not being able to get pregnant after one year or longer of having unprotected sex.” While this is a common problem with one in five women suffering from infertility, per the publication, it may not be what women are dealing with after deciding to get off of birth control.

Therefore, women need to see just how long it has been since they got off birth control and how long they have been trying to get pregnant. It may not be infertility but just the body regulating itself without added hormones. Something that can take time to do. But once it happens, pregnancy should come in short order.

How Long It Takes To Have Regular Periods

While birth control does not affect fertility, it can make it so that periods are irregular for a short time. But not too long of a time when women feel like there is something else afoot with their inability to get pregnant.

According to the NHS, most periods will begin normally four weeks after getting off birth control. However, it can take up to three months for periods to regulate themselves so that women can determine when they are ovulating. At that time, women can track their cycles and hopefully become pregnant as soon as they want to.

What To Expect When Stopping Birth Control

After the decision has been made to stop birth control, women may face some side effects that they were not anticipating. Most are short-lived, however. And as soon as hormones regulate themselves, the side effects should subside.

The side effects women may experience, according to Forbes, include:

• Heavier periods
• More painful cramping
• Changes in weight
• Bleeding irregularly
• Acne caused by hormones
• Change in mood
• Change in libido

It can take several months for hormones to regulate themselves. And once this happens, women should feel like their old selves once again.

How Long It Takes To Get Pregnant

After getting off birth control, the amount of time it takes for women to get pregnant may vary. For most trying to get pregnant after stopping birth control, according to Healthline, they were able to do so within 12 months of no longer using their birth control of choice.

Just how long it takes depends on each woman and her overall health. Things that can factor in, per the publication include:

• Weight
• Stress levels
• How frequently women exercise
• Medical conditions that affect the menstrual cycle
• Age
• Underlying infertility issues that women were unaware of

If women are healthy and have no known fertility issues, they should have no problems getting pregnant within one year of ending birth control. But, if pregnancy has not happened by this time, speaking with a healthcare professional is warranted to determine what the culprit behind not getting pregnant is.

Source: WebMD, VeryWell Family, Centers for Disease Control, NHS, Forbes, Healthline