Contraception is a reliable way to prevent pregnancy until you are ready to have a child. When you decide that it is time to start trying to conceive, your pregnancy prevention methods will have to be discontinued. Or perhaps you have decided you no longer wish to bother with contraceptives. Whatever the reason, stopping a contraceptive is relatively simple. Some methods are easier to stop than others due to the way they work. Some methods may allow you to immediately begin trying to get pregnant but others may require a brief period of time between the contraception and conception.
Step 1
Stop using condoms, spermicides, sponge or diaphragm. Stopping these contraceptives in order to get pregnant is easy. Once the device is no longer put in place, sperm can make its way to the egg for fertilization.
Step 2
Finish your current cycle for hormone-based products like the pill, patch, or ring. After the third week of the contraceptive you should get your period. Do not begin a new pack of pills, apply a new patch, or insert a new ring. After your period you can get pregnant during your next ovulation. If you are discontinuing hormone-based contraceptives for any other reason, it is still important to try and finish the current cycle to avoid developing an irregular period or breakthrough bleeding. If you still wish to stop the contraceptives before the cycle is over, all you have to do is throw out the pills or remove the patch or ring. Be prepared for any possible side effects from the change in hormone levels.
Step 3
Schedule an appointment with your doctor to remove your intrauterine device (IUD). Whether you were using the hormone-containing IUD or the copper IUD, you are capable of getting pregnant during your next ovulation. Some women do not experience a period right away, but this is usually temporary.
Step 4
Do not get another contraceptive shot. The shot is effective for one to three months, depending on which form you received. Once this time has passed, you are free of pregnancy preventing hormones.
Tips and Warnings
- Your menstrual cycle may be irregular directly following the discontinuation of contraceptives containing hormones. This should only be temporary. Call your doctor if it lasts beyond one full cycle.
- Consult your doctor before trying to conceive after discontinuing hormone-based contraceptives.
