Birth control is a method of pregnancy prevention that allows a woman to engage in sexual intercourse without risking the chance of becoming pregnant. Birth control is available in several different forms: pills, patches, injections, rings, intrauterine devices and implants. Although they're different in the amount of hormones introduced to the body, the function is the same.
When a woman decides to stop using birth control, the body sends a signal to the ovaries alerting them to "wake up" and begin preparing for ovulation. Ovulation is when the ovaries release a mature egg. This often occurs two weeks after stopping birth control. However, the exact time is hard to predict until her menstrual period returns to a normal pattern.
Once ovulation occurs, the egg travels down the Fallopian tube. If it's not fertilized, the egg will be expelled from the uterus with the next menstrual period. The first menstrual period usually arrives four to six weeks after stopping birth control.
The body may take up to six months to fully return to a normal reproductive pattern. Ovulation and menstrual periods may become unpredictable during this time. Spotting between menstrual periods is not uncommon. It's important that a woman keep sanitary supplies available at all times until her system returns to normal.
If a woman doesn't start her menstrual period within six weeks of stopping birth control, she should take a pregnancy test. Ovulation occurs before the first menstrual period, so it's possible to become pregnant directly after stopping birth control. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no research that concludes a pregnancy conceived directly after stopping birth control runs a greater risk of miscarriage or birth defects.
