Coming Off the Pill to Get Pregnant
Women may choose to use hormonal birth control for a wide variety of reasons. They may not wish to become pregnant at the present time or perhaps are done with childbearing altogether. Some may even take it to reduce menstrual cramping and period duration.
Though it has many benefits when it comes to family planning, some women may struggle with getting pregnant after birth control. To learn more about how to improve fertility when discontinuing use of birth control, read on.
Hormonal Birth Control
Hormonal birth control works by disrupting a woman’s menstrual cycle. Most are taken orally in pill form. The most common types are made up of both estrogen and progesterone. Though they have a great success rate when it comes to preventing pregnancies in its users, it does not come without some negative side effects:
The use of birth control may mask other underlying problems: Oral birth control works very well to reduce or eliminate both pain and irregularity during the menstrual cycle.
Though this offers relief to many women, irregular periods can be indicative of other issues. The cause could include the likes of uterine fibroids or pelvic inflammatory disease.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the cause is said to be lack of movement or blockage of Qi as well as blood deficiency.
Surprise ovulation: If birth control pills are not taken daily, it increases the chances of ovulation which increases the chances of an unplanned pregnancy.
Creating an imbalance in hormones: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), birth control pills can disrupt the natural balance of the body’s hormones. Taking birth control pills means introducing external hormones to your system.
Rather than allowing the body to maintain homeostasis, oral contraceptives may produce negative side effects thanks to this imbalance.
According to studies, it has the very unwanted side effect of increasing a woman’s risk of breast cancer by up to 20%.
These imbalances in hormones may also cause estrogen dominance, where there is an excess of estrogen in the body.
Thickening of cervical mucus: One of the ways oral birth control works is thanks to the progestins. These hormones will cause the cervical mucus to thicken so that sperm cannot reach the inside of the uterus. If the mucus remains thickened once the use of birth control pills has been discontinued, fertility may be affected.
Thins the uterine lining: Use of hormonal birth control also means that the lining of the uterus will thin. Thinning of the uterine lining, also known as endometrial lining, decreases a woman’s fertility.
Many women may find that there is a time in their life when they would like to getting pregnant after coming off the pill. When the time finally does come to go off the pill, they may find that the above issues arise.
Ovulation after birth control
Typically, ovulation after coming off the pill should resume again in the following two to four weeks. According to Columbia Health, return of the ovulation can depend on the age and how long they have been on the pill.
If the pill has been used for a long time, regaining a normal ovulation cycle might occasionally take a few months, so getting pregnant after birth control for years will even get harder. As soon as you are able to ovulate, you should be able to conceive.
What’s the natural solution for – Coming Off the Pill to Get Pregnant
Thankfully, women have many options to help them conceive after they stop taking the pill. Women may experience an irregular or absent period due to either blood deficiency or a blocked blood and Qi pattern. Luckily, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are plenty of natural options that will aid in fertility, and help those who are trying to get pregnant after birth control pill. These include:
- Detox and cleanse of the body: A woman’s body may become stressed as a result of taking artificial hormones. This can be taxing on the liver as it does its job to metabolize the pill. Liver stagnation can be a roadblock to fertility. To successfully conceive, it is important to ensure that liver Qi is moving smoothly.
- Acupuncture: The use of thin needles inserted into the various channels of the body helps to increases blood flow to the uterus. This will aid in regulating the menstrual cycle and building the uterine lining. It will also work to regulate ovulation.
- Chinese herbal formulas and herbs: Along with acupuncture, women who hope to conceive should include both blood nourishing and blood moving herbs. Herbs such as dong quai, wild yam, and ginseng are great for both moving and nourishing the blood.
- Moxibustion: This Traditional Chinese Medicine practice has been used for over 2500 years. It is a form of thermal stimulation that heats the various acupuncture points of the body through the burning of moxa wool. It warms the Yang while tonifying Qi.
- Food and Diet: When a woman is trying to conceive, it is imperative that she follows a healthy diet. It helps to increase the intake of what are known in TCM as warm foods. Warm foods include items such as brown sugar, red dates, and chili peppers. It is also important to eat and treat the body as if you are pregnant. That means complete elimination of alcohol, processed foods, and of course, no smoking.
- Exercise and Lifestyle Changes: Stress may cause liver Qi stagnation. A stressed liver means the body is not pulling the blood where it is needed to improve fertility. To combat stress, is essential to get plenty of sleep and an appropriate amount of exercise.
How soon can you get pregnant after the pill?
How long after coming off pill to get pregnant? It depends on your menstruation. Once you finish your pack of the pill, two to four weeks after stopping the pill, many women have their first period. After stopping the medication, your first period is a withdrawal bleed. After that, your subsequent menstruation will occur naturally.
You may get pregnant once your period returns to its normal cycle. Periods can be irregular for up to 3 months after stopping the pill, so getting pregnant straight after coming off the pill is not always the case. The pill can sometimes mask anomalies in the menstrual cycle which can affect your fertility journey.
Furthermore, when first stopping the pill, ovulation might be delayed, making it challenging to predict when you could become pregnant. Learn more about how to induce ovulation naturally with Chinese Medicine here.
What if Fertility Issues Do Not Resolve?
If you have come off birth control pills, reduced stressed, eaten a healthful diet, and introduced other TCM practices into your life only to find that you are still struggling with fertility, it is possible you have another underlying health issues that are causing it. These conditions include polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis. Both of these conditions can have an impact on a woman’s fertility. Speak with your practitioner about possible treatments.
Conclusion:
If you are planning to discontinue use of oral contraceptives or have already done so and are looking to conception after birth control, the above information will provide some natural options to improve your chances of pregnancy. Anyone who tries the above suggestions without success should consult with their practitioner to make sure there are no other underlying issues that may be contributing to infertility.
Dong Quai (Angelica Sinensis)
Dong Quai or Angelica Sinensis has been used for centuries in Chinese Medicine. It is rich in compounds with anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating effects, and the Dong Quai pills can be added to your daily routine for their many health benefits. Often coined as “women’s fertility herb” or “female ginseng” this powerful herb is used to balance female hormones and the menstrual cycle. It is also a great herb for male infertility, Dong Quai also has mild sedative properties for calming and relaxing the mind and body.
Woman’s Life Power
Woman’s Life Power by GinSen is a unique herbal blend supplement to support women trying to conceive. Expertly formulated by fertility experts to improve egg quality and balance hormones for the female body looking to conceive either naturally or through IVF. Ideal to add to your daily life these natural fertility supplements can help with fertility issues related to FSH, AMH levels, PCOS, and irregular ovulation. It works to increase the body’s natural fertility as well as helping menstrual irregularities and discomforts.
For more information about how Chinese medicine helps with coming Off the Pill to Get Pregnant, book your free consultation with our Chinese Medicine experts today
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We can’t guarantee the treatment result, as the symptoms of conditions are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. The treatment length and recovery time also varies for individual. Please visit our clinics website: GinSen where a specialists will discuss your care and provide a consultation, and the treatment will be designed to meet your individual needs.
