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Expert Q&A
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| By Traci Kurtzer Obstetrician and Gynecologist | ||
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I have been taking birth control pills for five years now and I would like to try and get pregnant. What is the right way to get off of these pills safely? If I don't take them, I bleed. Is there an easy way for me to get off of these pills, and how long will it take me to get pregnant?
Most physicians recommend that a patient have one normal cycle off oral contraceptives prior to attempting pregnancy. Many women take oral contraceptives to treat irregular periods and abnormal bleeding patterns. Both of these may be related to not ovulating. In order to conceive, you must be ovulating.
After stopping the pills, you should track your cycles with a basal body temperature chart (BBT) to determine if you are ovulating. Most ovulatory women will get pregnant within one year. If you do not think you are ovulating, then you should be evaluated by a physician.
You can download a BBT chart from The Cycle Daily.
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