How long should you be off of the birth control pill before starting to try to get pregnant?
First of all ... good for you for planning ahead for a healthy pregnancy. In the past doctors recommended waiting 2-3 months after stopping the pills to establish normal menstrual cycles. The Idea behind this was more to ensure that the correct due date was established upon becoming pregnancy. However, now with the accuracy of ultrasounds this is not as important.
Depending upon what method you are using you may want to stop a few months ahead of the month that you plan to conceive if you are over 35. Women over 35 may have a slower resumption of normal cycles and ovulation after stopping hormonal contraception than others. Ultimately, the time frame for stopping birth control depends heavily on you social situation.
Some people want to try to do their best to conceive during a certain time of year (e.g. many teachers try to have summer babies). If this is the case, then you may want more time off the birth control to start charting your ovulation and cycle length. Medically, if you have a history of: irregular periods before you began the pill, difficulty conceiving in the past, endometriosis, or are over 35, it may take longer to conceive and thus you might want to factor this in as to when you want to stop birth control. Also, remember to start a prenatal vitamin a month before becoming pregnant. Also schedule a preconception visit with your doctor. Avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs, and be mindful of what prescription and over the counter medications you take before conception.
Best wishes for a wonderful pregnancy!
