Coming off the pill

The amount of time it takes to clear the pill from your system depends on many factors, including: your age, how long you were on the pill, what kind of pill you were on, as well as your general health. There’s no evidence that any residual elements of the pill will damage a fetus if you do conceive in the first three months, and some women conceive in their first cycle off the pill. But waiting for a few months before you start trying for a baby does have its advantages.

For a start a break between coming off the pill and trying to conceive will give you the chance to reacquaint yourself with your natural cycle so you can date a pregnancy more accurately if it does happen later. You can also use those three months to prepare the rest of your body for pregnancy by starting taking the right supplements (most importantly folic acid), having a preconception health check (including checking for immunity from Rubella), improving your diet, cutting back smoking and alcohol and starting a fitness regime if need be.