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What happens when I stop the pill?

What happens when I stop the pill?

Dr Louisa Draper

"You can become fertile immediately after stopping the pill. It is important to use a different contraceptive straight away if you do not want to get pregnant." - Dr Louisa Draper
Dr Louisa Draper

"You can become fertile immediately after stopping the pill. It is important to use a different contraceptive straight away if you do not want to get pregnant."

Dr Louisa Draper

View Contraceptive Pills
There are many reasons why you may want to stop the pill. Whether you are planning to switch to a different type of contraception or would like to start a family, you will find it helpful to know which effects quitting the pill can have on your body.


Last reviewed: 5/12/2019 by Dr Simran Deo

Contents

How quickly can I get pregnant?

When you stop taking the pill, the hormones which prevent pregnancy will leave your body when you do not take your next pill as instructed. This means that you can be fertile again immediately after stopping your pill – most women ovulate again within one month of stopping a combined pill or 17 days of stopping a desogestrel containing minipill. If you do not want to get pregnant it is important that you start using a different contraceptive straight away.

If you would like to conceive you can start trying as soon as you stop your pill, though if you wait until your first cycle is over this will make it easier for your doctor to estimate your due date accurately if you do get pregnant.

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How will it affect my periods?

Usually, women experience their first period within weeks of taking the last tablet. It is difficult to say what effect quitting the pill may have on your periods as this can be very different for different women. Most pills work by stopping an egg from being released from your ovary and therefore any bleeding on the pill or scheduled pill free breaks is usually not a period. If you had lighter and less painful bleeding on the pill it is possible that you find your periods more bothersome once you have come off the pill. However, this does not have to be the case.

A small number of women experience irregular periods for a while after they have stopped hormonal contraception. In some cases, it may take some time until the first period (though you may have a withdrawal bleed shortly after stopping the pill this is not usually a true period). If you do not have a period within four weeks you should perform a pregnancy test and visit your GP for a check-up.

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Are there any other side effects of stopping the pill?

As with any other hormonal contraceptive, stopping the pill will influence your hormonal balance. Any side effects you may have noticed while you were taking the pill should subside quickly. 

At the same time, any benefits of the pill, such as improved skin or lighter periods, may disappear within the following weeks as well. It is difficult to predict whether you will notice any side effects of stopping the pill or not, as every woman reacts differently. 

According to a small study, quitting the pill could also have an unexpected effect on your relationship. A report in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science Journal concluded that women who consider their partners very attractive experience improved marital satisfaction after stopping the pill. Women who were less convinced of their partner’s attractiveness reported decreased satisfaction with their partner after they had discontinued their pill.

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Mythbuster

Myth: You won’t be fertile for a while after stopping the pill.

Truth: The hormones will leave your body quickly after you have taken the last pill. You need to use contraception immediately after stopping the pill if you don’t want to get pregnant.

Myth: You need to stop taking the pill after a few years.

Truth: If your pill is working well for you and you aren’t experiencing any unpleasant side effects or have not been told by your doctor that you need to stop your pill or change pills then you can continue taking the combined pill until aged 50, or the minipill until age 55 (provided you don’t want to have children).

Myth: Stopping the pill will make my skin worse.

Truth: This is not true for everyone. However, if you suffered from acne before you started taking the pill it is possible that your skin problem returns after you stop taking the pill. However, this does not have to be the case.

Myth: You need to stop taking the pill when you reach 35.

Truth: Women over the age of 35 who smoke  are advised to stop taking the combined pill due to the increased risk of blood clots. They can still opt for a oestrogen-free minipill.

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