It signifies that you are ready to move on to a whole new phase of your life.

 

A chapter you may have never experienced before. It is a combination of excitement and fear of the unknown but you will absolutely thrive in the role as a parent. We just know it.

There are a couple of practical things to consider before you begin trying to conceive. One of those questions is how and when you should come off your birth control to prepare your body for the possibility of conceiving a baby? Speaking to your GP is a really good place to start as every situation is unique.

 

You may have been put on a certain contraceptive to help with more than just preventing a baby from being conceived. There are a number of health reasons whereby a hormone-based pill can help to manage progression and symptoms. Your GP will be able to advise on the best course of action for you and your health.

 

If you have been taking the contraceptive pill to prevent pregnancy you will no longer require this pill when you are trying to conceive. Until now the pill will have stopped ovulation from occurring in your body. Even if you experienced some bleeding or light periods every month your body was not releasing an egg every month during this time if the pill was working correctly.

 

Coming off the pill gives your body the opportunity to behave naturally and produce and release an egg once every month in the hopes of being fertilised with sperm to produce an embryo which will soon become a baby.

There is no medical reason why you cannot start trying for a baby from the moment you stop taking the pill. It will not harm you in any way. Some doctors and fertility specialists will recommend waiting until you get your first period as this can be helpful in a number of ways. Getting your first “real” menstrual period after you have come off the pill will give you a better idea of your body’s natural cycle.

 

This can make things a lot easier when pinpointing the days that you might be ovulating which makes trying to conceive a little easier. Remember there are technically only a couple of days in the month where conception is possible. Knowing when these days fall is really helpful.

 

Your first menstrual period after coming off the pill will also give you a starting point so that if conception does occur and you fall pregnant you will have a better idea of dates and how far along you are. This is because the first day of your last menstrual period is the benchmark that your care team will use initially until a scan is performed at about twelve weeks to date the pregnancy.

It can take some time for your menstrual periods to return when you stop taking the contraceptive pill. Most women experience a withdrawal bleed shortly after they have stopped taking it but this is usually not a real period. Some women will have a real period two to four weeks after they come off the pill but for other women, it can happen sooner or take much longer.

 

It can be difficult to pinpoint ovulation during this time but after a couple of menstrual cycles, you will be able to read your cycle more clearly by looking at your own signs and symptoms or by using an ovulation predictor kit.