If you’ve been on birth control for a while, and you’re thinking of starting (or adding to) your family, you might be wondering whether it could affect your ability to get pregnant. It’s a common concern. Questions like, can long-term use of birth control pills cause infertility, or will I struggle to conceive after stopping birth control, pop up often.
Fortunately, studies offer some reassuring answers. A 2018 review of over 20 research papers found that 83% of people who stopped using contraception were able to get pregnant within a year. That’s great news for the majority of individuals who want to transition from preventing pregnancy to planning for it.
Here’s the deal—with very rare exceptions, birth control doesn’t cause infertility. If you’re worried about being on the pill for years or using an IUD, rest easy. The good news is that birth control only temporarily prevents pregnancy. Once you stop using it, your body starts prepping for reproduction all over again. Want to know more? Let’s break it down.
How Birth Control Affects Your Fertility
Birth control methods all have the same end goal—to stop you from getting pregnant while you’re using them. Things like the pill, patch, or IUD do this by preventing ovulation (no egg to fertilize!) and creating other barriers like thickening cervical mucus to block sperm.
When you stop using birth control, these effects go away. For most people, fertility starts returning quickly. Birth control doesn’t harm your eggs or your ability to conceive. It basically hits “pause” on your reproductive system.
That said, some methods take longer for fertility to bounce back. Depo-Provera, the birth control shot, is one example. It might take up to a year for ovulation to get back to normal after your last injection. Most other methods, like the pill or hormonal IUDs, typically allow ovulation to return within a few months.
Does Long-Term Use Affect Fertility?
One of the big myths about birth control is that using it for years and years messes with your fertility. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. Whether you’re on it for six months or 15 years, stopping birth control allows your hormones and ovulation to return to normal.
However, if you’re in your mid-30s or older, natural fertility might start to decline, regardless of whether or not you used birth control. It’s a timing thing, not a birth control thing.
Sometimes, health conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis, which can affect fertility, may only become noticeable after you stop birth control. These conditions weren’t caused by birth control but were simply masked by the hormones regulating your cycle.
What to Expect After Stopping Birth Control
If you stop birth control, don’t freak out if everything doesn’t click back immediately. Your body may take a couple of months to adjust. You might have irregular periods, spotting, or even a slightly delayed return to ovulation. For most people, though, these things settle pretty quickly.
If you’re hoping to conceive, experts say to give it two to three cycles to stabilize before testing your fertility. This gives your body time to shake off the extra hormones and settle into its natural rhythm.
Here’s a tip while you wait to conceive: start prepping your body for pregnancy. Think nutritious foods, plenty of water, and maybe even prenatal vitamins. And yes, managing stress really helps, even if easier said than done.
Why the Misconceptions About Birth Control and Infertility?
These myths have been floating around for decades. They go back to when contraceptives were first introduced. For example, older devices like the Dalkon Shield IUD were linked to major health issues, including infections that could cause infertility.
Today’s birth control options are much safer, with lower hormone doses and better designs. But those old stories still linger for some people, feeding a fear that modern contraception could lead to infertility.
Another reason for the confusion is that once some people stop birth control, they notice symptoms from undiagnosed fertility issues. Since these issues pop up after stopping the pill or IUD, it’s easy to think birth control caused the problem.
Watching for Signs of Fertility Issues
If you’ve been trying for over a year (or six months for those over 35) and haven’t been able to conceive, it’s time to check in with your doctor. Fertility issues can have a variety of causes, from hormonal imbalances to blocked fallopian tubes or even low sperm count in your partner.
Also, pay attention to your body after stopping birth control. If your periods don’t return or remain irregular for several months, it’s worth chatting with a healthcare provider. It might be something simple like a hormonal adjustment or something that needs further testing.
From Birth Control to Baby Steps: Trust the Process
Honestly, I get why this topic can feel overwhelming. You spend years trying not to get pregnant, and then when you’re ready, all this fear about fertility crops up. But trust me, birth control isn’t the villain here. It’s a tool that gives us control over our reproductive health. And when it’s time to stop, your body typically knows what to do.
If you’re planning to conceive, give yourself grace and time. Talk with your doctor about optimizing your health for conception, and keep in mind that fertility is a team sport between you, your partner, and sometimes even a little help from science. Whatever you’re feeling right now, know that creating a family often takes a bit of patience, care, and the right guidance.