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
