Has anyone become pregnant straight after coming off being on pill for ^years^?

[Ozziegirly]

Basically, Dh and I think we would like to start trying for our first in about a year. I am 30 and have been on the pill (mercilon for 14 years and yasmin for the last year) since I was 15. No pregnancy scares in that time, no problems at all.

So I asked my Dr about whether I should come off it now to give myself some time to get back to normal, and she said no need, 2 cycles would do it. Do you agree?

And if not, can anyone suggest a good, reliable contraceptive to use in the meantime? We do not want to take risks at this stage (although Dh says maybe in 6 months he would be less "risk averse!")

Thank you

[OneLieIn]

After coming off the pill it took me over a year- but I guess that's personal and down to the individual.

Best contraceptive was always to keep your legs crossed I was told!!

[Ozziegirly]

Well, I'm not 100% sure that Dh will go for that one...

[pickie]

I did, stopped the 18th December and was pregnant the 24th December. We had the same plan, come of the pill and would approx take a year to get pregnant

[Flamesparrow]

I had been on it about 5 years and got pregnant pretty much instantly.

I then thought that was a freak accident, so planned proper ttc after coming off again to have DS.... again, instant

It just depends on the person tbh. Other people try for years.

I would think about your age though - in another year you will be 31 and it might start getting harder.

[BabiesEverywhere]

On pill for 16 years, came off and gave myself 4 cycles to self regulate back to normal cycles, during which time we used condoms.

Fell pregnant in month five .i.e. the first month we tried. I do feel we were very lucky to get pregnant so quickly.

[fymandbean]

I did the 'it takes a year on average' one and it took 3 months

BTW we had decided on condoms as an interim measure and he never got round to using them!!!

[LadyBee]

I came off the pill (been on for 16 years!) while being investigated for PCOS, never went back on it and was pregnant on my the 3rd cycle. When I talked to the consultant, she told me that this happens to a lot of women and they think there is an increase in fertility in the first few months after coming off, perhaps while the body overcompensates?? Just telling you what she said, don't know whether it's reliable.
Condoms are probably the least faff - and fairly reliable so long as you actually use them

[reethi96]

Yes, straight away (had been on pill for 13 years). Doctor also said that there is an increase in fertility for the first couple of months after coming off.

[surreygirl]

Was on Logynon and then Marvelon for 17 years - got pregnant first time of trying within one month of coming off the pill aged 39!

[surreygirl]

Was on Logynon and then Marvelon for 17 years - got pregnant first time of trying within one month of coming off the pill aged 39!

[warthog]

yes. took one month.

[Cathpot]

I was on the pill more or less continously for 14 years. Decided to try for a baby, came off the pill, had one normall period and was pregnant the next cycle. I have heard there is some sort of 'bounce back' effect. It took 5 months to get pregnant second time when I hadnt then been on the pill for 3 years- that might have had something to do with exhaustion though...

[tazmosis]

On pill for 18 years, came off in July, started trying in October and was pregnant immediately.

[blondieminx]

Ozziegirly - I would say come off the pill and give your system time to settle down .

Allow plenty of time - I will be 30 next birthday and was also on the pill snce I was 15. Came off the pill last xmas and have only had one period since... Chatting to other ladies on the board I know I am not the only one to have hoped to come off the pill and start quickly - only to discover that things don't always work out the way you'd hoped!

I would just say come off the pill and give your system time to adjust - good luck and I hope you are as lucky as the ladies who have already posted!

[Niecie]

Was on the pill for 7 years, came off in August, used condoms until my cycle righted itself (2 cycles) and then got pregnant in October in the first month of trying. I was 33.

I heard a similar thing to Cathpot - you can be particularly fertile in the first couple of months after coming off the Pill - don't know if that is true but there are a surprising no. of us on this thread of who got pregnant at the first attempt.

[PegDoll]

Straight away! Within four weeks of coming off pill. We were also of the opinion it would take a year so were not at all in a babymaking frame of mind (only had sex about 3 times that month!)

Have also heard the theory that there can be slightly increased fertility immediately after coming off the pill - rebound fertility they called it. Don't know how scientific it is.

I have also understood that the pill leaves your system pretty much immediately. The main reason for waiting a few cycles is so that you can establish your pattern ie how long your natural cycles are, which helps you to pinpoint ovulation a bit more accurately.

Although my sister swore she felt the pill hadn't left her system until month 8 (she got pg month 8, so who knows). There again she might not have ovulated much prior to that, so it was ovulation kicking in that made her feel "different".

[mummy2olivia]

I got pregnant straight away after coming off the pill.

Then TTC after the copper coil and nothing

[Ozziegirly]

Ooo, thank you all so much, that's all so lovely and reassuring. My mum told me (whilst sharing way TMI once) that it only took one try to get pregnant with me, but as I have never even had the tiniest scare and have been regular as clockwork on the pill for 15 years I wonder if it will be the same. Mum was 30 too.

Well, all I need to do now is convince DH that we are "ready" as he keeps coming up with annoying reality checks at the moment.

But when I said yesterday to him "I'm not going to try to "convince" you, I want it to be your decision" he replied "I thought it was up to the wife to convince the husband" so there may be hope yet....

[nooka]

I think that if you feel ready to conceive then coming off the pill now and agreeing with your dh that you will use condoms for a while is a good way to put the ball in his court as it were. Some people do take a long time to conceive and others get there quick (I think were in cycle two, after 8 yrs on Marvelon) trouble is you can't say which category you will fall into. Anyway if he is ambivalent, then I wouldn't be surprised if the extra hassle of condoms might tip him over in agreeing to TTC early.

[Ozziegirly]

Thanks nooka - I didn't want it to seem like I had coerced him into something, but I think maybe after Christmas (when I run out of this set of pills) I may just say that I've had enough and I'd like him to use condoms. we're planning a lovely relaxing holiday and I'm pretty certain he'll just forget or not bother once we're all relaxed and (probably) tipsy....

[bbgirl81]

hi ladies,
Stopped taking seasonal bcp around the week of feb 14. was on it for almost 2 yrs. Never took pills on time. Sometime no pills for 3 days and take 2 pills the following day. Had unprotected sex on feb 24, 27, and on 28. Possible to get pregnant?
Thanks!

[HopingForALittleOne]

This is an old thread you might want to start new one? Xx

[salsamad]

I was on Microgynon for four years. I just finished my last packet of pills, had my break through bleed and we went from there.
We didn't use alternative contraception as my GP advised us that you are more likely to get pregnant in the first few months after stopping, as you are are most fertile then - hence the need for emergency contraception if you miss taking a pill.
The only reason it's sometimes suggested you use other contraceptives, is to allow your cycle to settle in order to clarify your due date if you get pregnant quickly, however scan dating is so precise now it's not really a concern.
We were really lucky and I got pregnant straight away in that first month, though we were having sex everyday .

[salsamad]

Oh Sorry - only just noticed this is a Zombie thread .....