quick clicks

preconception articles

preconception q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Contraceptives to Conceive

A Contradictory Success Story

By Kelly Burgess

In the case of IVF, pregnancy is the hoped-for result of a well-monitored program. However, for the average woman who is trying to get pregnant after using contraception, there are a few things to consider.

First, you will probably hear conflicting advice about whether or not to wait a couple of months after stopping oral contraceptives before attempting to conceive.

"Contraceptives give you specific amounts of hormones and shut off normal cycling," says Dr. Chenette. "They also cut down on the endometrial lining you produce. The biggest problem is that with the first cycle is that if the hormones don't function immediately, the lining may not function appropriately."

Dr. Chenette recommends that a woman wait to try to conceive until her cycles seem to be back to normal, a process that can take as few as two months.

On the other hand, Dr. Werlin notes that in patients who are on birth control pills because of fibrocystic ovaries, the best time to get pregnant may be in the first month when the hormones are still acting to suppress cysts. In addition, there is also some anecdotal evidence that a woman is most fertile in her first month after stopping hormone-based birth control.

As always, the best thing to do is to consult with a doctor you trust before you become pregnant to decide what will be best for you and your baby.

Want to see more?

• High Tech Babies: In Vitro Fertilization
• NOT According to Plan: Trying to Conceive With Irregular Cycles
• Popping the Pill
• Talk about it!