Q:

If I've been on birth control for several years in a row, will it be harder for me to get pregnant when I eventually go off the pill?

I've been on the pill for 8 years, and have heard that it might be important to take breaks from being on it so that it's not harder to get pregnant later on. I'm not experiencing any negative side effects that I know of from the pill, so I'd like to just stay on it without taking a break.
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Answers (10)

EXPERT
Evelyn Resh MPH,CNM (Certified Sexuality Counselor & Nurse-Midwife) answered (6/24/2012)
It is often the case that the longer you're on birth control pills, the longer it will take you to resume a normal ovulation cycle once you stop taking them. For example, if you've been taking the pill for 10 years it will take longer to start ovulating again each month than if you stopped after only being on the pill for two years. But, it is not necessary to take breaks from taking the pills in order to improve your actual chances of getting pregnant. Needing to take breaks from the birth control pills because it's healthier is a commonly held misconception. Also, there are benefits from staying on the pill without taking breaks, like a reduced risk of breast cancer because of interrupted ovulation.
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EXPERT
Dr. Andrea Ruman, MD (Internist) answered (7/17/2012)
Most of the reversible methods of contraception available today including combination birth control pills (ie containing both estrogen and progesterone)offer a prompt return of fertility after discontinuation. After stopping a contraceptive, a woman may expect an average delay in return to fertility of 3 to 6 months with oral contraceptive pills.
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EXPERT
Dr. Sophia Yen (Adolescent Medicine board certified, pediatrician) answered (8/1/2012)
There is no need to go off the pill to take "breaks to preserve your fertility."  Most people will get pregnant within 1-3 months of going off the pill. and if you had PCOS (1 in 10 women do) BEFORE you went on the pill, the MOST fertile time would be immediately when you come off the pill. so WATCH out if you go off the pill, you may be MOST fertile at that time!

I was on the pill for 15+ years and got pregnant within 3 months of coming off.
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EXPERT
Sara E. Rosenquist, Ph.D., ABPP (Sexual and Reproductive Health Psychologist) answered (7/25/2012)
It may be important to know that there are long term effects of OCPs that are not good.  This chapter is a very enlightening one:
Korda, J., S. W. Goldstein, et al. (2010). The role of androgens in the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women. Treating Sexual Desire Disorders: A Clinical Casebook. S. Leiblum. New York, Guilford Press: 201-218.
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EXPERT
Sara E. Rosenquist, Ph.D., ABPP (Sexual and Reproductive Health Psychologist) answered (8/1/2012)
If you do have difficulties there are solutions out there.  The greater difficulty could be preserving the vaginal architecture and sexual desire/functioning.  OCPs are known carcinogens past about 5 years. 
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TheMimi answered (6/27/2012)
I wouldn't worry too much about it. I got pregnant my second month off BC and I'd been on it for almost 12 years. Everyone is different, but I know a lot of women who got off it with the plan to get pregnant in about 6 months and were pregnant within 1-3 cycles.
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Molly P answered (7/1/2012)
I too was on the pill for a long time—13 years!—and got pregnant 10 days after going off it. Anything is possible!
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SuzieL answered (6/27/2012)
Most of my married close girlfriends all say they plan to go off for about 6 months before trying to get pregnant.
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dgdhd answered (4/10/2013)
I was on the pill since 10 years and I get pregnant in 4 months so....
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Anonymous answered (5/9/2013)
hello there girls im thinking of going on the pill for 7years while i study im just 19 is there any side effects on will it effect my health/sex drive or periods...hope some one can help:s x
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