![]() Brant says, “and it could take even longer for your period to come back.” Side effects of stopping birth control “In some people, it takes more than three months for the hormones to wear off,” Dr. But be aware that your periods and fertility may take more than the initial three months to return. To go off of this form of birth control, just don’t get your next shot. Pregnancy prevention shots like Depo-Provera® essentially provide your body with a hefty dose of birth control intended to stay in your system for three months - which makes going off this type of birth control a bit more nebulous than the rest. Regardless, you can probably expect some light spotting and cramping in the meantime. Your healthcare provider may be able to give you a more accurate estimate based on exactly what kind of birth control you’ve been using and whether you had regular cycles before starting birth control. “Expect your period to come any time between the day you have it removed and four weeks from then,” Dr. It depends on whether you used a hormonal or non-hormonal IUD, where you are in your current menstrual cycle, how long it takes the hormones to leave your body, etc. It’s hard to tell say how soon your period will return after having an IUD or hormonal implant removed. “Now you need to have a healthcare provider to remove it, and you’ve turned a non-urgent issue into something much more time-sensitive.” “It’s unlikely to be seriously harmful, but the main risk is that you pull on the IUD string and it dislodges but doesn’t come out, which can be crampy and painful,” Dr. Tempted to try to remove your IUD on your own? Although one study found that 1 in 5 women is able to successfully take out her own IUD, Dr. If you have a hormonal implant or an intrauterine device, you’ll have to make an appointment with your healthcare provider to get it taken out. If you’re using an IUD or a hormonal implant If you need to stop it sooner - for example, in case of negative side effects - try to consult with your healthcare provider first, just to be safe. “In order to not screw up your period, just finish your current round of birth control and then switch to your new form of birth control or stop using it entirely,” she says. Still, she suggests finishing out your current cycle, rather than stopping in the middle of it, because you can usually expect to have your period within a few days of stopping. “If you’re on a form of birth control that you control yourself, there’s no harm in stopping whenever you want to stop,” Dr. If you’re using oral contraceptives (“the pill”), a birth control patch or a vaginal ring, you can actually stop cold turkey. Here’s how to safely stop using birth control and what’s likely to happen when you do.Īdvertising Policy If you’re on the pill, the patch or the ring Once you’ve identified your reasons for stopping birth control, the way you go about stopping it will be dependent on the form of birth control you use. Your healthcare provider can troubleshoot side effects and help you identify a better form of birth control for your body’s needs. “I generally encourage people to stay on it until they get in to a doctor to talk about other methods,” Dr. Brant suggests finishing out your current round so long as your side effects are not significantly impacting your quality of life. If you’re experiencing negative side effectsĪlthough it’s safe to quit your birth control mid-cycle, Dr. That means you don’t need to go through a birth control-free interval in order to make the switch - and you could become pregnant if you choose to do so. “You can go right from one method to another,” Dr. ![]() Tired of taking the pill every day and want to try something else? No matter the form of birth control, you’re currently using, it’s safe to transition to a different method without taking a break between them. “The last thing you want to do is stop using your birth control before you’re ready to get pregnant but then end up getting pregnant right away.” If you want to switch to a different form of birth control “The most common misconception is that you need to go off birth control months in advance of trying to get pregnant, and that’s just not true,” Dr. That means you could become pregnant soon after stopping your birth control, so make sure you’re ready. In most instances, fertility returns very quickly after stopping birth control - within a few days of starting your period. Why do you want to go off of birth control?īefore you stop using your birth control, think through your reasoning, which will help determine when to stop using it. Ob/Gyn Ashley Brant, DO, talks about how to go off of your birth control and what to expect afterward. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. ![]()
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