How long after stopping birth control can you get pregnant?

Bottom lineYou can get pregnant very soon after stopping most hormonal birth control, sometimes in the first cycle before your first natural period: ovulation returns within 2 to 4 weeks after the pill, patch, or ring, immediately after copper IUD removal, and soon after hormonal IUD or implant removal; the Depo injection is the exception, taking several months to a year. The pill has no long-term effect on fertility, so start folic acid and track returning cycles.

You can get pregnant very soon after stopping most hormonal birth control - sometimes within the first cycle, even before your first natural period.

By method

• Pill, patch, ring: ovulation can return within 2 to 4 weeks; many conceive within the first few months
• Hormonal IUD or implant: fertility returns soon after removal
• Copper IUD: no hormones, so fertility returns immediately after removal
• Depo Provera injection: the exception - it can take several months to a year for ovulation and fertility to fully return

Does the pill delay fertility?

For most methods, no. Studies show no long-term effect on fertility from the pill. Conception rates after stopping are similar to those who never used it, within a few months. The Depo injection is the main one with a longer return.

What helps

• Start folic acid before trying
• Track your cycle as it returns to time conception, especially since you may ovulate before your first period
• Give it a few months for cycles to settle

When to see a doctor

• No period within 3 months of stopping
• Trying for 12 months (or 6 months if over 35) without success

See what happens when you stop birth control and find your window with the Fertile Window Calculator.

Femora helps you track returning cycles so you can time conception right away.