Can You Get Pregnant Before Your First Period Post
Yes, you can get pregnant before your first post-pregnancy period. Some women have a sterile first period in other words, they dont ovulate during their initial cycle. Others ovulate before having a period, which means they could conceivably go from pregnancy to pregnancy without ever unpacking the tampons.
Since you dont know which will come first, the period or the egg, contraception makes sense if youre hoping to plan your next pregnancy.
How Long Should You Wait Before Getting Pregnant After Giving Birth
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the March of Dimes recommend that couples wait at least a full year and ideally 18 months after having a baby before getting pregnant again.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises waiting at least six months or more after your last baby’s birth before getting pregnant again and cautions against the risks of pregnancy sooner than 18 months after baby is born.
Thats because conceiving within 18 months of giving birth increases the odds of some complications in the following pregnancy, including having a premature and/or low-birth weight baby especially if conception occurs within six months of birth. That can, in turn, increase the risk of a child having asthma, developmental delays and vision and hearing problems later in life.
Experts arent sure why, exactly, shorter intervals between pregnancies has been linked to these complications. It may be because theres residual inflammation in the uterus from the previous pregnancy, and because the body doesnt have enough time to fully replenish the vitamins and nutrients required for the following pregnancy.
Still, plenty of babies conceived shortly after their moms were pregnant the last time are born perfectly healthy.
On the other hand, some research has also shown that waiting longer between babies is also linked with increased risk of the same complications, including preterm birth and low birth weight babies.
How You Can Get Pregnant After Stopping Depo Provera Shots
If you would like to get pregnant after taking the Depo shot, here are some things you can do:
- Begin to track your ovulation with an ovulation kit, especially if your periods are not occurring once a month.
- Track your periods and make a note when they become regular.
- Have intercourse every other day from the time you stop your period until your next period, especially around ovulation.
- Take prenatal vitamins to give your body what it needs to support a pregnancy.
- If you don’t get pregnant after a year of actively trying and you are under 35, visit your Ob/Gyn. If you are over 35, visit your Ob/Gyn after six months of actively trying to conceive.
Above all, be patient. It may take a while to become pregnant after stopping the shots.
Your chance of getting pregnant while using Depo Provera is 0.3%, which means that three women out of a thousand get pregnant while using it.
Recommended Reading: Is It Normal To Bleed During Pregnancy
How Soon Can I Get Pregnant After Contraceptive Injections
The depot injection or depot Provera as it is also known contains a high
dose of a progesterone-like hormone which is gradually released over a
three-month period.
Although it is a very effective contraceptive, it can
lead to some delay in return of your regular cycle and fertility after
stopping.
The hormone changes that lead to ovulation mean that you will almost
always have a bleed afterwards if you don’t fall pregnant. Thus regular
ovulation means a regular cycle. Studies have found that depot Provera
doesn’t make you infertile, but it can take up to even one year for you
to ovulate regularly after stopping it.
The only way to tell if you are pregnant is to do a pregnancy test in a
few weeks’ time. It is certainly possible that you fell pregnant
immediately without any ‘unsuccessful’ cycles first of all.
Chance
however would dictate that it is less likely, I’m afraid. It is common
to have a few light bleeds or irregular cycles before ovulation
re-commences properly.
Don’t forget to take folic acid tablets each day while you are trying
for a pregnancy which will reduce the risk of spina bifida. Good luck!
What Is The Depo
Depo-Provera is a birth control method that women can get as a shot. You might hear people call it a contraceptive injection or birth control shot. Itâs a manmade hormone, medroxyprogesterone, which is similar to the natural female hormone progesterone.
You get the shot in your arm or buttock. It works for up to 12 to 14 weeks. You have to get it every 12 weeks to get full protection..
Don’t Miss: When To Call Doctor When First Pregnant
Path To Improved Health
Depo-Provera works for about 3 months at a time. To prevent pregnancy, you have to get 1 shot from your doctor 4 times a year, about 12 to 14 weeks apart. If you get it in the first 7 days of your cycle, it works right away. If you dont, youll need to use another form of birth control for 1 week. Your doctor will confirm you are not pregnant before giving you the injection.
Most women who use Depo-Provera have changes in their menstrual periods. These may include:
- Bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods.
- An increase or decrease in menstrual bleeding.
- No menstrual bleeding at all.
About half of women who use Depo-Provera stop having periods after 1 year. This is not harmful. Menstrual bleeding usually returns to normal when you stop using Depo-Provera. It may take about 9 to 10 months to get pregnant after your last shot.
Contact your doctor right away if you have abnormally heavy or nonstop bleeding. Other possible side effects of Depo-Provera include:
- weight gain
- osteoporosis
- blood clots
- A history of heart attack or stroke.
- Unknown vaginal bleeding.
- An allergy to the drug in Depo-Provera.
Book An Appointment Now
Before you toss your birth control and break out the scented candles, you should see your family physician for a preconception checkup. As a rule of thumb, if you are thinking about having a baby, you need to see your doctor about six months before you start trying, says Tejal Patel, the physician director of the Maternity Centre of Hamilton. Six months before you even want to start trying may sound terribly pro-active, but its important to make sure everything is in working order.
Don’t Miss: How Does An Iud Work To Prevent Pregnancy
How Does The Birth Control Shot Work
The hormone progestin in the birth control shot works by preventing ovulation . If a girl doesn’t ovulate, she cannot get pregnant because there is no egg to be fertilized.
The progestin also thickens the mucus around the cervix. This makes it hard for sperm to enter the uterus and reach any eggs that may have been released. The progestin also thins the lining of the uterus so that an egg will have a hard time attaching to the wall of the uterus.
Pros And Cons Of Birth Control Pills Vs Injections
Birth control pills and injections work in a similar way. The main difference is how the hormones are delivered.
Birth control pills:
- may be more expensive than Depo injections
- may cause milder side effects because the hormones are delivered gradually on a daily basis
- can be risky because you have to remember to take them.
Birth control injections:
- are convenient because one shot lasts three months
- can lead to extreme side effects because the hormones enter the body all at once.
Recommended Reading: What Can Help Me Poop While Pregnant
How Well Does The Birth Control Shot Work
The birth control shot is an effective birth control method. Over the course of a year, about 6 out of 100 typical couples who use the birth control shot will have an accidental pregnancy. The chance of getting pregnant increases if a girl waits longer than 3 months to get her next shot.
In general, how well each type of birth control method works depends on a lot of things. These include whether a person has any health conditions or is taking any medicines that might affect its use. It also depends on whether the method is convenient and whether the person remembers to use it correctly all of the time.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Using Depo
Your healthcare provider will discuss the disadvantages of this birth control option before you take your first shot. These disadvantages can include:
- It can cause unwanted side effects.
- It doesnt provide protection against sexually transmitted infections .
- It can cause irregular menstrual periods.
- You need to stop taking Depo-Provera® several months ahead of time if you plan on becoming pregnant.
- You need to regularly visit your healthcare providers office for injections. Some women find that this becomes inconvenient.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
It is important to find the right birth control that fits your lifestyle and goals. Talk to your healthcare provider about factors like how often you want to take birth control and your plans for any future pregnancies. Certain options, like the birth control shot, are good for people who do not want to take a daily contraceptive. However, you do have to stick to a schedule for your shots when you take Depo-Provera®. Talk to your provider about the pros and cons of the birth control shot to decide if its the right option for you.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/12/2021.
References
Recommended Reading: How Much For Pregnancy Check Up
Have Sex Before You Ovulate
An egg survives for only 12 to 14 hours after ovulation. Sperm tend to be a little hardier and can survive for about 48 to 72 hours after sex. Ideally you want to have sperm in your system, ready to act as soon as the egg is released. But even if you have a very consistent 28-day cycle, it is hard to pinpoint precisely when ovulation will happen . There is a window of fertility, says Hamoudi. We dont know exactly when the egg will be released.
Hamoudi recommends that you have sex on the three days before you think youll ovulate and on three days after. Or, you could take an even more laidback approach and just try to have sex every other daychances are you will come close to the time of ovulation. Usually if people are consistently having sex every two to three days, and I find that it takes a lot of of the pressure off, says Patel. That way, it doesnt become work.
I Havent Had A Period In Months Because Of The Shot Can I Still Get Pregnant
No period since April 2020 due to the Depo Shot. Can you still get pregnant without a period?
If youre using the birth control shot correctly, which means getting it every 12-13 weeks , its highly unlikely that youll get pregnant. Only 6 out of 100 people get pregnant each year while using the shot. If youre getting the shot regularly, its normal to have fewer or lighter periods, or for your period to stop altogether. The longer you use the shot, the more likely it is for your periods to stop.
If youve stopped using the shot, it can take several months for your period to return to what it was before you started the shot. But it only takes 15 weeks after your last shot for the pregnancy protection to wear off. So even if you still havent gotten a period, if youve stopped using the shot and youre still having vaginal sex, use another method of birth control if you dont want to get pregnant.
Tags:the shot, Depo-Provera, late period, depo shot
Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. is a registered 501 nonprofit under EIN 13-1644147. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable under the law.
You May Like: Can I Get Pregnant If I Have Irregular Periods
There Can Be Negative Side Effects While You Use The Shot
Like all medicines, there can be side effects with the shot. But lots of people adjust to the shot with no problems. Many negative side effects usually go away after 2-3 months, once your body gets used to the shot. You can use our birth control app to keep track of the side effects you may be having.
Most people on the shot have some change in their periods, including bleeding more days than usual, spotting between periods, or no periods. This is most common during the first year. Other possible side effects include nausea, weight gain, headaches, sore breasts, or depression. You may also get slight bruising where you got the shot, or rarely, a small, permanent dent.
Lots of people who use the shot stop getting their period altogether after about a year of using it. Like all the side effects of the shot, this goes away after you stop getting the shot. Your period should go back to normal within a few months after your last shot wears off.
Birth control shouldnt make you feel bad. Luckily, there are many different types of birth control, so youve got options. If you keep having side effects that bother you, talk with your nurse or doctor about trying another birth control method.
I Want To Get Pregnant How Long Will It Take After I Stop Taking Depo Shots
If you are trying to get pregnant and have had one injection you aren’t likely to get pregnant right away . Remember that the injection lasts 12 weeks. After that, your body still has to adjust to get back to normal. For some women, it can take months to conceive. For me personally, it took 18 months after only one Depo shot to get pregnant.
You May Like: Can You Get Pregnant 6 Days After Your Period
Depo Detox Diet To Get Pregnant
Many women try out a Depo detox diet to get pregnant after stopping the Depo shot. This is supposed to help your body eliminate all the excess synthetic progesterone from the liver faster. However, while naturopathy prescribes this diet, it hasnt been confirmed how effective it actually is. The detox diet includes:
- Drinking a lot of water
- Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables
- Staying off spicy, oily junk food
- Drinking herbal teas
- Including dandelion root, milk thistle, and turmeric in your diet
Check with your obstetrician before going on a detox diet and including any new foods in your daily menu. This is because some of the herbs and new foods may not be suitable for you and may also aggravate any underlying condition that you already have. You could also be allergic to one or more of these herbs. Having an allergic reaction is not good for your body if you are trying to get pregnant.
After A Depo Shot Can I Get Pregnant Even If My Normal Period Has Not Returned
Yes, you can get pregnant after a Depo shot even if your regular period has not returned. This is because the body can ovulate without a period, too. You normally ovulate for around 2 weeks before your period. However, you will know for sure if you are ovulating when you have a regular monthly cycle and can track your ovulation and periods.
Getting pregnant after stopping Depo Provera shots can take up to 10 months after the last shot. It takes time for you to regain your fertility after the Depo shot. Some women have reported taking up to 2 years time to get pregnant after stopping Depo. If you have been trying to conceive for a year after Depo but without any success, then you should consult your obstetrician who may recommend a fertility specialist.
Read Also: Can I Put Braces While Pregnant
How Effective Is Depo
Depo-Provera® is 96% effective in preventing pregnancy, which means that about four unplanned pregnancies will occur out of every 100 women every year. Women at greatest risk of accidental pregnancy while taking the birth control shot include younger women, such as adolescents . This is typically related to human error, such as not getting your shot on time or missing a shot. IUDs and implants placed in the upper arm are considered to be the most effective forms of contraception.
Does Your Sex Position Matter
Is missionary better than doggy style? Do you need to stand on your head afterward? Rest easy, there is no need to revert to vanilla sex or ramp up to acrobatic feats. In fact, doctors advise couples to do whatever feels good.
Theres no one position that is particularly more effective than another. Once the deed is done, be sure to rest on your backit makes it easier for the sperm to swim upstream. If you want to give the little swimmers even more encouragement, place a pillow under your hips. Sticking your legs in the air, however, wont make any difference. . Just lie back and enjoy the moment, and avoid getting up and going to the washroom for 10 to 15 minutes.
And while youre waiting, dont stress over whether you had an orgasm or not. There is no scientific proof that it will spur on conception.
Also Check: What Is The Depression After Pregnancy
What Is Depo Provera
Depo Provera is a form of birth control via an injection that is taken every three months, or twelve weeks, to prevent pregnancy.
Birth control methods understandably vary in terms of side effects.
If youre interested in becoming pregnant in the future, its wise to note their potentially long-term side effects before making your selection.
Depo Provera, also often referred to as DMPA or simply Depo shots, contains a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone.
For three months following the shot, pregnancy is prevented because:
- ovulation is halted
- cervical mucus is thickened
- the lining of the uterus is modified to reject the formation of a pregnancy
The shots increase the level of progesterone, a hormone that is present in high levels during pregnancy.
The body is essentially tricked into thinking its already pregnant, preventing further ovulation.
The shots are administered in a strategic, timed fashion and should be given within five days after the beginning of a womans menstrual cycle.
