How Long Does Birth Control Stay In Your System?

If you’re stopping birth control, you probably have some questions. You may wonder, “How long does birth control stay in your system?” “How long until the hormones are cleared from your body?” And, most of all, “When will I be fertile again?” The answer depends on a few things, especially what contraception method (type of birth control) you used. Understanding how each method works and how fast it wears off can help you know what to expect in the early days of stopping birth control.

Key Takeaways

• Most birth control methods don’t affect fertility forever.
• Once you stop using them—or remove a device—contraceptive hormones and their effects decline.
• The time it takes for ovulation and fertility to return differs by method.
• Fertility can return quickly after stopping pills or removing an implant or IUD.
• The DMPA birth control shot tends to have the longest delay in returning to fertility.
• If your periods don’t return, stay irregular, or you have severe pain or unusually heavy bleeding, speak with a healthcare provider.
• If you’re trying to conceive and pregnancy hasn’t occurred after 12 months of having regular unprotected sex (or 6 months if you are 35 or older), consider getting your fertility checked.

How Long Does Birth Control Stay in Your System?

The hormones blocking pregnancy are usually cleared shortly after you stop birth control. However, the return of ovulation, regular periods, and fertility may vary. Here’s a quick overview of how long different birth control methods stay active and how soon your fertility may return.

Most short-acting options clear within days. Longer-acting methods such as DMPA can affect ovulation for several months. A large review of over 14,800 women found that 83.1% got pregnant within a year of stopping birth control. By the year mark, fertility wasn’t really impacted by what type or how long they’d been on birth control.

Know more: Do You Ovulate on Birth Control | Everything You Must Know

What Should You Expect After Birth Control Pills?

Birth control pills are reversible, short-acting contraceptives. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there’s no delay in the return of fertility once you stop taking the pill.

There are two types of oral contraceptives. One contains two hormones, progestin and estrogen. The other, known as the “mini-pill,” has progestin only.

Half-life is the time it takes for the amount of a drug in your body to decrease by half (50%). From there, the concentration continues to decrease with time. The half-life of ethinyl estradiol (synthetic estrogen) is around 18 hours (plus or minus 4.7 hours). For levonorgestrel (synthetic progestin), the half-life is about 36 hours (plus or minus 13 hours). As a result, the hormones in birth control pills don’t stay high enough to block pregnancy for very long after you stop taking them. After stopping the pill, you could ovulate again within a few days. But it can take a few cycles for your period to become regular again. One review found that after stopping progestin-only pills, it takes around 5–6 months to get pregnant.

Another review showed a 72% to 94% rate of conception at 12 months after stopping oral contraceptives. Any delay in fertility immediately after stopping the pill was generally temporary and mainly limited to the first few months.

What Happens After the Patch or Ring?

Like birth control pills, the patch and vaginal ring are short-acting hormonal contraceptives. Once you stop using them, they no longer release new hormones into your body. If you remove the patch or ring and don’t put another one on in time, there’s a chance you could get pregnant.

A large study found that those who recently stopped using the patch had an average delay of about four menstrual cycles before getting pregnant. That means it took couples who used the patch, about four months longer to get pregnant after stopping compared to those who had relied on condoms before trying. Those who removed the vaginal ring had an average delay of about three cycles. It’s helpful to hear averages. But remember, your experience may be different. There’s no guarantee that ovulation or conception will happen after 3-4 cycles. It could be a longer or shorter time for you.

How Long Are IUDs Effective After Stopping?

Hormonal IUDs release a progestin, mostly within the uterus. They provide contraception for several years, depending on the device. Once the IUD is removed, you could get pregnant anytime.

One study found that users of hormonal and copper IUDs had the shortest average delays in the return of fertility. It only took about two menstrual cycles. Another recent review showed that more than 75% of hormonal IUD users conceived within one year of stopping. Specifically, one study in the review found that:

• 8.4% conceived within one month
• 35.8% within three months
• 80% within one year

These stats were for those discontinuing a 52-mg levonorgestrel IUD.

How About the Copper IUD?

The copper IUD is non-hormonal. Instead, it stops the sperm from fertilizing the egg. As a result, there aren’t any hormones that need to be cleared from your system. As soon as you take it out, any contraceptive effects are gone. You could get pregnant right away. Fertility returns rapidly after removing any type of IUD. In one study, copper IUD users had an average delay of two menstrual cycles before the return of normal fertility patterns. Again, your experience may differ from general statistics.

Know more: Can You Ovulate With an IUD? Here’s the Truth

What Happens After Removing the Birth Control Implant?

The birth control implant continuously releases hormones when it’s in place. But once you take it out, hormone levels fall rapidly. As a result, research suggests that most users ovulate within about three weeks. Different studies have shown different outcomes. In one study, ovulation returned for over 90% of implant users within three weeks. There’s a good chance of pregnancy within a year of removing the implant. Most research shows a pregnancy rate of 70% to 90%. Basically, the implant’s hormone levels fall quickly after removal. But the timing of ovulation, periods, and pregnancy can vary from person to person.

What If You Stop Taking the Birth Control Shot (Depo-Provera/DMPA)?

The birth control shot is different from most other hormonal methods. Its effects can last much longer after the last injection. A single dose of Depo-Provera® keeps you from ovulating for 4 to 5 months at a time. As a result, it may take several months for ovulation and menstruation to return. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it takes about 10 months after the last injection for normal ovulation and periods to return. Another large study also found that injected birth control had the longest delay in the return of fertility. Users of the shot waited five to eight menstrual cycles longer to become pregnant after stopping.

What Are the Side Effects of Birth Control?

Stopping birth control can cause some side effects as your body adjusts. The same is true for getting back on birth control. Knowing what to expect when you begin birth control can help you understand what’s normal and what’s not.

The pill, patch, and ring cause mostly mild side effects that usually fade after a few months. Side effects may include:

• Breakthrough bleeding
• Breast tenderness
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Mood changes

These birth control methods also lead to a slightly higher chance of blood clots, heart attack, or stroke. People who already have risk factors for these conditions are more likely to develop them while using birth control. Your healthcare provider can suggest the right type of contraception for you based on your medical history.

With hormonal IUDs, some people notice:

• Headaches
• Breast tenderness
• Mood changes
• Acne
• Irregular bleeding/spotting

These side effects are more common in the first few months after insertion. They should improve as your body adjusts. With the copper IUD, heavier bleeding and more painful periods may happen in the first several months. Again, these side effects should become less noticeable with time.

If you get the implant (Nexplanon), the most common side effect is irregular or unpredictable bleeding. Other potential side effects include:

• Headaches
• Mood changes
• Acne
• Breast pain
• Some women also gain weight after getting the implant.

For users of the shot (DMPA/Depo-Provera), menstrual irregularity happens to pretty much everyone at first. There’s also a notable weight gain risk. Staying on the shot for more than two years can lead to bone density loss. Fortunately, bone density may improve after stopping the shot.

Side effects can make you wonder how birth control will impact your health and fertility long-term. But these side effects generally don’t mean that birth control is causing any lasting changes to your fertility.

You should reach out to a healthcare provider if you stopped birth control and find:

• Your periods haven’t returned
• Your cycles remain very irregular
• You develop very heavy bleeding or severe pelvic pain
• You’re trying to conceive and are concerned about delayed ovulation
• You have a history of conditions that may affect fertility, such as irregular periods, PCOS/PMOS, endometriosis, or thyroid disorders

Does Birth Control Permanently Affect Fertility?

The bottom line is, no. Current evidence doesn’t show that hormonal birth control causes permanent infertility. Fertility generally returns after stopping contraception, although the timing varies by method and from person to person. For most women, the chance of pregnancy within a year of stopping any form of birth control is very high. This is true even if you were on birth control for several years before trying to get pregnant.

Some methods delay the return of ovulation, fertility, and regular periods. The longest delays are associated with use of the DMPA birth control shot. If you notice unusual symptoms or it seems to be taking too long to get pregnant, ask your healthcare provider if there might be another issue at play. Sometimes being on birth control masks conditions like PCOS/PMOS or endometriosis, which can affect fertility.

Other factors that could be impacting your ability to conceive include:

• The regularity of your menstrual cycle (when not on birth control) – this refers to your cycle length as well as how long your periods last and how heavy they are
• Your age
• Your overall reproductive health and medical history
• How frequently you have sex
• Lifestyle factors (like stress, sleep, diet, and exercise)

The combination of a healthy lifestyle and support from your healthcare team will raise your chances of a healthy pregnancy after stopping birth control.

Know more: Can Birth Control Make You Infertile? What You Should Know

Conclusion

If you’re trying to conceive, stopping birth control is usually just the beginning. Your fertility can return after stopping contraception, although the timing varies from person to person and by method. So give your body a little time to find its rhythm again and know that it may take a few cycles before you conceive.