Conceiving after stopping Contraception

Many people adopt family planning methods with the intention of planning for their families. But is a woman’s fertility reliable after this?

Contraceptives are a necessary evil. We love them, we hate them. Reliable to a large degree, the downside is that one may not be sure how long it will take to restore regular menstrual cycles, the duration it will take to get pregnant and even how the method used will affect their pregnancy. Some insights into this are revealed below.

Which arc the best methods for family planning?
The best choice of method depends on the couple. If it is based on medical grounds, the couple will be advised at the clinic. Options are available for both sexes and the risk of impaired future fertility with use of family planning methods is low.

What other considerations are there in restoring fertility after stopping?
Generally no help is needed in restoring fertility and regular cycles. Most family planning methods e.g Pills, Norplant and coil will not hinder conception for long after stopping. Three monthly injections may in a few extreme cases delay conception for or so. A couple unable to achieve conception for more than a year generally requires investigation with an open mind since they may have infertility unrelated to family planning use.

Does the duration of contraceptive use affect restoration of fertility?
No it does not. Fertility is. however, affected by old age. After the mid-30s to 40s, the fertility rate drops remarkably. This is partially dependent on the quality of the female egg. male sperms and the health of the fallopian tubes though.

How is conception rate when family planning is not used?
Without use of family planning, approximately 90 per cent of couples become pregnant within one year. The remaining 10 per cent may have fertility problems which need to be addressed by fertility experts.

How do various methods work?

Pills
This is one of the most popular methods of contraception. Cycle destabilization after taking pills is reversible. Regulation of the cycle however can take up to nine months or longer. After use of pills, there is usually one or two months of delayed fertility. There is also the possibility of conceiving twins in the first cycle. In about 60 percent of the first cycles after pills stoppage, eggs are produced. Lack of periods for six months occurs in less than 1 per cent of women.

Pills do not conserve eggs or prolong fertility age. Eggs continue degenerating whether one is on the pill or not. In fact, they degenerate even during pregnancy and the numbers never increase. Pills however reduce incidences of tubal fertilization and endometriosis (displacement of the inner lining of the uterus).

Implants
Implants such as norplant or Jadelle have the same tendency as pills when removed. The return to fertility depends on the amount of residual active ingredients remaining, years of use. the length of time the implant was in place and how worn out the implant is at the time of removal.

Intra – uterine Device (IUD) and barrier methods
lUD’s include Copper T. copper 7 and lippescoop. Barrier methods are condoms, diaphragms, cervical cups and spermicides. They do not delay fertility after stoppage of use. lUD’s may be associated with increased tubal infection causing infertility in isolated cases.

Depo-provera injection
After injection, there may be delayed fertility even after stopping to use it for some women. The delay may range from three to 18 months on average.

END: PG17/8