Can I Get Pregnant Straight After Coming Off The Pill
If youve come off the pill, and you’re not trying to conceive, its likely youre moving on to a different type of contraception.
Just know that it IS possible that you may be able to get pregnant soon after. A few of our MFMers have found themselves pregnant almost straight away, in fact.
That said, for many women it can take some time before you start ovulating again roughly 6 months or maybe more.
If you’re moving to a new kind of contraception, make sure you speak to your GP about how to remain protected during the transition.
Can I Get Pregnant If Im Already Pregnant
You might have heard of this and be wondering about it, so here goes yes, you can get pregnant when you are pregnant.
This is very rare, but sometimes one ovary will release an egg, which will become fertilized, and then the other ovary will release an egg a few weeks later, resulting in two babies conceived at different times. Sometimes the babies are not born at the same time, but usually, they are.
And, fortunately, the pregnancy hormones that start two to six weeks after fertilization will stop your ovaries from releasing any more eggs, so a big difference in development is unlikely . Other changes that make another pregnancy extremely rare are the thick uterine wall, making it hard for a second fertilized egg to attach, and the mucus plug, which protects the cervix from additional sperm exposure.
In the very rare case of having two pregnancies, the same risks of having twins or multiples apply. These include preeclampsia and premature delivery.
What Is The Contraceptive Implant
The implant, also known by the brand name Nexplanon , is a small plastic rod that is placed in the upper arm by a doctor or nurse, and is used for contraception, aka birth control.
The plastic device is about the size of a matchstick. The implant is a highly effective method of contraception but can have some side effects which can include changes to your periods, as well as tender breasts and mood swings for example.
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Surprise: Bc Could Actually Help Your Fertility
Heres some surprising scientific intel for you: Theres evidence that the birth control pill can be used to help people get pregnant. Before you say Huh? and start to worry, hear us out.
A 2008 study found that using birth control leading up to in vitro fertilization could actually make it easier to conceive quickly.
And in a 2000 study, by suppressing ovulation for months and then restarting it, some IVF users were able to conceive within just a few menstrual cycles. The existing research still mostly pertains to IVF, not natural conception.
That said, the birth control pill can also mask menstrual irregularities that may make it difficult to conceive. Some people have irregular periods in the first few months after they stop taking birth control.
If your periods were inconsistent before starting the pill due to polycystic ovary syndrome, stress, weight changes, or other causes, they may still be irregular once you ditch the contraceptive.
Before going off birth control, talk to your doctor about any specific concerns you have.
Check If Your Period Is Late
- Did your last period start more than four weeks ago?
- How far apart are your periods usually? .
Tip: Even if your cycle is inconsistent or longer than 32 days from one period to the next, if you are more than one week past your expected period, and you have been sexually active, there is a chance you could be pregnant.
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What To Do Next
If youre on the pill and think youre pregnant, the first step is a home pregnancy test. If its positive, stop taking the pill.
If you cant get a pregnancy test but think you may be pregnant, stop taking the pill and use a different form of birth control until you can confirm the pregnancy.
women with an IUD get pregnant each year, and the risk is highest within the first year after insertion. If youre the 1 in 100 women, youre probably wondering what happens if you keep your IUD.
The truth is that you may be facing . Theres no known increased risk of congenital abnormalities, but your risk of miscarriage and premature birth both go up.
What Is The Difference Between Perfect Use And Typical Use Of Birth Control
When people talk about birth control effectiveness rates, its critical to understand that there are 2 different rates: perfect use vs typical use. Typical birth control usage rates include human error and are often calculated for the first year of using a new birth control method. Birth control methods that require fewer instances of human intervention tend to be the most effective.
For example, the birth control pill is 99% effective when taken correctly, but what human being is perfect? The typical use of birth control affects the rate of failure such as forgetting a pill. For the most part, the pill is more like 91% effective typical use effective rate. Women can forget to take a pill, take a pill very late, or vomit after taking a pill . All of these factors and more can influence the effectiveness rate of the pill. When evaluating a birth control method, its important to look at the typical use rate of a given method before switching birth control.
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How Would You Know If You Were Pregnant While Taking The Pill
Pregnancy indicators on the birth control pill The following are some signs that you should look out for if you are concerned that you might be pregnant: experiencing feelings of illness, nausea, and/or vomiting Having a feeling that is different from your typical level of fatigue, exhaustion, or emotion: Breast discomfort or tenderness.
Why Does Ectopic Pregnancy Happen
While ectopic pregnancy is thought to occur due to damage, scarring or a blockage of the fallopian tube, the cause is often unknown. Around 50% of those who have an ectopic pregnancy have no known risk factors.
Factors that can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy include:
- Past pelvic inflammatory disease .
- Being over the age of 35 years.
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How Would I Know If I Have An Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy can first appear as a normal pregnancy with usual symptoms such as a missed menstrual period, morning sickness and breast tenderness.
Other early symptoms of ectopic pregnancy can include:
- Pain or cramps in the lower abdomen .
- Pain in the shoulder, neck, lower back and/or rectum.
- Light to heavy vaginal bleeding or spotting.
- Nausea and/or vomiting.
- Dizziness, weakness or fainting.
Ectopic pregnancy can cause the fallopian tube to burst. Symptoms include severe lower abdominal pain and feeling suddenly very weak and faint. This is a medical emergency. Call triple zero for an ambulance or go immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Sedation: a medicine used to cause a relaxed, sleep-like state so you are unaware of the procedure.
How Well Does The Birth Control Shot Work To Prevent Pregnancy
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.
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Blood Tests To Determine Pregnancy
Another way to take a pregnancy test is by having your blood tested for human chorionic gonadotropin , which is a hormone that is produced by the body during pregnancy. This test is called a beta-hCG test or quantitative hCG blood test. An hCG blood test for pregnancy is more common if you have not had a period and dont know when your last period was, or if you have been using hormonal birth control.
Will My Birth Control Pill Make Me Gain Weight
It depends on what type of pill youre taking. Some pills may cause weight gain by increasing your appetite others may cause water retention or bloating, which can make you look temporarily heavier on the scale.
However, many women will lose weight while on the pill because theyre less likely to suffer from PMS-related bloating and water retention.
Also, some studies suggest that oral contraceptives make it more difficult for your body to absorb fat from food, which helps explain why some people lose weight when they go off their pills
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Lots Of Women Take Birth Control Incorrectly
If women follow the exact instructions for taking birth control pills every day, at the same time they prevent pregnancy in 99 percent of all cases. But lots of people dont do that. In real life, birth control pills have a 9 percent failure rate. That means nine of every 100 women using birth control pills as their only means of contraception become pregnant in any given year.
Its hard to actually when youre living a busy life, Cullins says. If you take these pills every single day, the chances of getting pregnant is 1 percent. But typically the chance is much higher than that, because people miss pills. This isnt just true with birth control pills. Its true with any prescription medication.
Birth control pills have a higher failure rate than other contraceptives, like intra-uterine devices or birth control rings.
The main difference: Pills have to be taken every day, which leaves more room for human error.
Do Contraceptive Pills Affect Pregnancy Tests
You might be thinking, Oh my God, it says Im pregnant, but wait, doesnt the pill have hormones in it that could affect test results?
Were afraid that the short answer is: no, the pill doesnt impact the results of pregnancy tests.
The pill contains the hormone oestrogen and progesterone, but the pregnancy test is only looking to detect the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin .
When to take your pregnancy test to get the right result is a whole other topic which you can read about here.
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How Do I Know If Im Pregnant
The only way to know for sure if youre pregnant is by taking a pregnancy test. You can go to your local Planned Parenthood, doctors office, or other community health center to get a pregnancy test, or you can buy a pregnancy test at your local drugstore.
When looking for a place to get a pregnancy test, beware of Crisis Pregnancy Centers. These fake clinics seem like medical centers, and may even offer free pregnancy tests, but theyre run by people who want to scare or shame you out of things like birth control and abortion, and often give misleading or wrong information about your pregnancy options.
Pregnancy tests detect a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine . Your body only makes this hormone if youre pregnant. Pregnancy tests are super accurate when you use them correctly. The pregnancy tests you get at the drugstore work 99 out of 100 times when you use them after you miss your period. Some pregnancy test brands say they work days before you miss your period, but these tests are less accurate before your period is due. Store-bought pregnancy tests are just as accurate as a urine pregnancy test that youd get at a doctors office.
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Getting Pregnant With The Patch Ring Or Shot
There are a few more options when it comes to birth control, and these include the patch, the vaginal ring and the Depo-Provera shot. Black says the failure rate for typical use of the patch and the ring is the same as the pill: eight percent. The Depo-Provera shot has a failure rate of just six percent with typical use.
With all three types of contraception, adherence is the biggest risk factor. They need to be used as directed to work effectively. Costescu says with the patch, which you replace once a week , one issue is that it may accidentally fall off. With the ring, he explains that replacing it on time is key. And it can only be removed for short periods of time if you want it to remain effective. Some women choose to remove the NuvaRing when theyre sexually active, and we recommend that it only be removed for up to three hours so, it cant be taken out, for instance, for an overnight date, he says.
Black adds that the same medications that make the pill less effective would have a similar effect on the patch and ring.
With Depo-Provera shots, Costescu notes, you must visit a health-care provider every three months to get the shot. He also says that the shot may be a good option if youre on anti-seizure medication, as the high dose of hormones that come with this type of birth control means those medications may not interfere with its effectiveness.
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What Other Information Should I Know
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to isotretinoin.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Is There Anything I Can Do To Further Reduce My Chances Of Getting Pregnant On The Implant
The most important thing is to remember to have your implant replaced after three years and to be aware that your risk of pregnancy can be increased if you are taking medications called enzyme-inducing drugs.
These include certain epilepsy and HIV treatments, and the over-the-counter remedy St Johns Wort, which people sometimes take to help with symptoms of low mood, depression and anxiety.
These drugs can cause decreased blood levels of progesterone, reducing the implants effectiveness.10 This is because they cause progesterone in the blood to be eliminated more quickly than would normally occur, making progesterone-only contraception less effective.
While using these medications, it is important to use other contraception and to continue using other contraception for 28 days after you finish using them.11
Featured image is of a person holding a pregnancy test. The test is the focus of the shot
If you are reading this article, the chances are that you already have the contraceptive implant, or are thinking of getting one. Contraceptive implants, often known by their brand name Nexplanon, are small, flexible plastic rods that are inserted under the skin in your upper arm. Once inserted, they can remain in place for up to three years.
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What To Know About Pregnancy If Youre Switching Your Birth Control
Even though getting your period back to normal takes some time, pregnancy in the first month after stopping the pill is still possible. Its good news if thats what youre aiming for but bad news if youre simply looking to switch birth control methods.
Here are some ways to prevent pregnancy while you make the switch:
The Ins And Outs Of Period Sex
So now we know it is possible to get pregnant on your period, its important you take the right precautions. When used correctly, barrier methods such as the condom are very effective at preventing pregnancy and also offer protection against STIs.
While many may think its gross or messy, having sex on your period is perfectly healthy and lots of women swear by it for a number of reasons. Due to a dip in progesterone, you may find your sex drive increases around menstruation. On top of this, orgasms can alleviate period cramps and cause the uterus to contract more, which in the end can mean shorter periods too.
While you might be expecting a Stephen King-style horror scene, you may actually be surprised by how little menstrual blood there is. The heaviness of your period is a very personal thing that varies from cycle to cycle, however, the average woman will only produce 6-8 teaspoons worth of blood during her entire period. That being said, you might want to have an extra towel on hand, or suggest things get steamy in the shower.
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How Effective Is It And Can You Still Get Pregnant On The Implant
In short, the implant is more than 99% effective. This means that fewer than 1 in 100 women with the implant will get pregnant each year.
There are some other factors to consider when using the implant as contraception, such as side effects and its use with other medications. Navigating contraception and pregnancy whether youre trying to conceive or avoid it can be a confusing journey, but it doesnt have to be! If youd like to chat to one of The Lowdowns doctors about your experience with the implant so far and what the best contraception might be for you, you can book a phone or Zoom appointment here.
