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HEALTH REPORT EXPERT ADVICE Getting pregnant after the pill Q: I've been on the Pill for 10 years. How long will it take me to get pregnant after I stop taking it? A: Although you could get pregnant immediately, it usually takes two or three cycles, on average, for a healthy woman's fertility to fully return. Ninety percent of women resume normal ovarian function within 6 months, says Dr. Alan Birnkrant, an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at George Washington University Hospital. "Age has a stronger impact on fertility than the length of time on the Pill," he says. For instance, when you're in your 20s, you have a 94 percent chance of getting pregnant within 1 year of trying. After you hit 30, your odds of conceiving within 12 months drop by 3 to 5 percent each year; by your late 30s, your chances are 50 to 65 percent. A woman over age 35 should consult a fertility expert if she's not pregnant after 6 months of trying, Birnkrant advises. It's smart to swap the Pill for condoms, a diaphragm, or another barrier method about 3 months before you start seriously trying to conceive. If you don't, you might wind up with twins: The first month a woman is off the Pill, her ovaries are more likely to release two eggs instead of one. Before you plan to get pregnant, ask your doctor about taking a multivitamin with at least 400 mcg of folic acid to decrease the risk of birth defects. - Rodale Copyright 2006. All rights reserved by New York Times Syndication Sales Corp. This material may not be published, broadcast or redistributed in any manner. |
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