If you have plans to become pregnant and are using a method that poses a risk to future pregnancies, you should stop its use. The birth control method that you adopt should be as safe and effective as possible so that it will not jeopardize your chances of becoming pregnant when you decide to do so. There are contraception that you can safely use to become pregnant anytime after you stop its use and there are those that make conceiving a little more tedious. Most methods which are reversible fall into either one of these three categories as highlighted below. The natural method which includes withdrawal and rhythm and the permanent birth control option called sterilization will not be covered in this article.

Barrier methods

• These include diaphragm, male and female condoms, spermicides, and the cervical cap.

• Some couples combine the barrier methods instead of relying on just one form to prevent become pregnant

• They act as barriers by preventing the sperm from reaching the egg

• Barrier methods must be used each time before intercourse

• There is hardly any waiting period; when you discontinue its use you are ready for pregnancy if your overall health has been okayed by your doc

IUD (Intrauterine Device)

• IUD is a small plastic device inserted inside the uterus during or immediately following a menstrual period

• It contains copper or hormones, which prevents the egg from being fertilized

• Risk of infection increases if the woman or her partner has more than one sexual partner

• Its use is not advisable for women who have not had any children yet

• With the removal of IUD (ideally removed one-two months ahead of time), the contraceptive effect is completely reversed

• There may be slightly more bleeding with the first period

Hormone-based contraceptives

• These include birth control pills, contraceptive patch, Norplant and Depo-Provera shots

• You need to have at least two regular menstrual periods before trying for a baby

• The pill should be discontinued several months before you commence on your baby making efforts

• You will not become pregnant as soon as you stop the pill since you need to have at least one period

• Pregnancy rates after discontinuing the use of the pill is the same as a woman who has never taken the birth control pill; 90% achieve pregnancy within one year of trying.

• However few women do experience a delay in ovulation and menstruation for many months together and this has largely to do with their irregular cycles before going on the pill

• Babies born to women who were previously on the pill do not suffer from any aftereffects of the medication

• Once you stop taking any hormone-based birth control, you will be advised by your doc to use a barrier method until your first period before you start trying

• If you have been taking Depo-Provera shots, be prepared for a longer waiting period. The hormones will take a while to flush out from your system.

• Conception can be up to 10 months for about 50% of the cases while about 90% take 1 and a half years to conceive after discontinuing with the shots

General facts on Birth Control Methods

• Most type of contraception (barrier method) can be discontinued without doctor's intervention

• Some methods require a waiting period (hormone-based contraceptives) i.e. your body needs to return to its normal balance without the influence of contraceptive hormones before you can start trying.

• During this wait, you will need to use barrier methods such as the condom

• Some forms of birth control need to be removed by your doctor such as IUDs and Norplant

• As for Depo-Provera injections, your doctor will stop giving them to you

• Length of time cycles take to revert to the way they were before varies from one woman to another. It can be immediate for some and many months for others. This variation depends on the type and dosage of the hormones used as well as the woman's physiology

• The best birth control method to switch to during the waiting period is the condom