And so you're coming off the depo shot and at present want to get pregnant. How long does information technology have to get pregnant afterwards depo? And is at that place anything you can practice to speed it up? Dr. Mare explains wait fourth dimension expectations and more in this commodity.

Past Dr. Mare Mbaye

Getting meaning later on any type of hormonal birth control is a topic that comes upward oft in the office. There are so many misconceptions nigh how nativity command can bear upon fertility and whether or non it needs to be "apple-pie" out of the body (hint: it doesn't—you tin can read all about it here ). I get questions about the depo -provera shot specifically, though, considering as a longer-acting medication, timing matters a piddling more when it comes to pregnancy.

What is depo?

Beginning off, what is depo and how does information technology work? Depo-provera (aka depot medroxyprogesterone acetate or DMPA) is a common form of progesterone-simply birth control shot that can be great for those who want something quick and effective without the hassle of daily or weekly administration. The active hormone is progestin, which is only a man-made version of our natural progesterone hormone. High levels of progesterone signal the ovaries to stop ovulating and likewise crusade the cervical mucus to thicken, preventing sperm from e'er reaching an egg if ovulation does occur. It'due south given every bit a shot once every iii months in the office, making information technology very user-friendly. The depo shot creates a reserve or depot (hence the proper name—clever, right?) of progestin in the torso at the site of the injection that delivers a steady amount of hormone, which is why the doses tin can exist spread out so far. About 50% of women on depo will stop having their menstruation subsequently near one year.

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Effectiveness, but with 1 large downfall

This is the large reason why I e'er enquire women who are not done having children and desire to keep depo how presently they would like to be meaning once more. If the answer is in a year or less, then depo is usually not my starting time option, even if yous're but getting one shot. This is because of how unpredictable the return to normal fertility and a regular menstrual cycle tin can be. While yous tin can definitely go pregnant 3 to four months after a depo shot wears off, not everyone does. It can sometimes have up to 10 months or more to ovulate again, and it can take up to xviii months for normal periods to restart .

Getting significant afterwards depo

This is the big reason why I always inquire women who are non done having children and want to go on depo how presently they would like to be meaning once more. If the answer is in a yr or less, then depo is normally non my first choice, even if you're only getting one shot. This is considering of how unpredictable the return to normal fertility can exist. While y'all tin can definitely get pregnant iii to four months after a depo shot wears off, not anybody does. It can sometimes take up to ten months or more to ovulate once again, and information technology can accept up to eighteen months for normal periods to restart .

The good news? Chances of pregnancy are all the same cracking, even if it may have a petty more time. Pregnancy rates at the one year mark afterwards stopping depo are over eighty%, and at the two year mark they're over 90%  (which is the normal fertility rate).

Coming Off Depo The Depo Shot Unique Experience for Everyone

Why do some women have longer than others to return to normal fertility? We don't know for certain. In that location are likely many factors that contribute to each adult female's response to a depo provera contraceptive injection , making it hard to pinpoint 1 specific issue. Just like anything else in life, every patient has a unique experience

I important factor to consider, though, is weight. The FDA includes on the depo characterization that women of a healthy weight tend to return to normal fertility faster than those who are overweight and obese. This has to do with absorption of progesterone which differs based on each person's metabolism. With the newer, subcutaneous version of depo (compared to the intramuscular shot), the filibuster in ovulation appears to exist substantially decreased, with one study showing return to ovulation for 97% of women who received subcutaneous depo.

Women of a healthy weight tend to return to normal fertility faster than those who are overweight and obese.

On the other hand, the fourth dimension frame  of depo provera CI use does non seem to matter. Your private return to normal fertility is the same whether y'all've had half dozen months of depo shots or six years.

Speeding Upward Ovulation When Getting Off The Depo Shot

Then what tin yous do to speed up your return to ovulation afterwards getting off the depo shot ? Unfortunately, not much. This is e'er hard to hear, but the body has to have the time it needs to metabolize commonly. There are no  cleanses, diets, or supplements that will brand the procedure go faster. In fact, some of those things may have ingredients that could potentially be harmful to a new pregnancy.

There are no cleanses, diets, or supplements that will brand the process go faster. In fact, some of those things may have ingredients that could potentially be harmful to a new pregnancy.

Thankfully, knowing when things are back to normal is much easier than waiting for information technology to happen. You tin exist certain you're ovulating ordinarily again when yous resume your regular periods or by testing for ovulation using ovulation tests . However, this does not  mean you can't become pregnant before your periods come back—ovulation occurs about two weeks before whatever menses , so pregnancy tin can occur before yous actually have that kickoff menstruum.

Natalist Ovulation Test

Use the wait time to gear up for pregnancy

Hurrying up and waiting is never fun, only the time can be used finer to prepare as all-time equally possible for pregnancy. Here are some means:

  • Start taking a prenatal vitamin .
  • Plan ahead and end your depo shots well in accelerate of when you want to get pregnant. An alternate course of nativity control may be a good thought in the interim.
  • Practice regularly, and eat a balanced diet to help increase your metabolism and maintain a healthy weight. Moderate weight loss in overweight patients has the added benefit of boosting fertility.
  • Accept regular, unprotected intercourse in one case you're ready to conceive. As mentioned before, if your periods haven't returned or are not regular, you may nonetheless get pregnant.
  • Make sure you are using FDA-cleared fertility lubricant that will not harm sperm.
  • Employ ovulation predictor kits (aka OPKs or ovulation tests) to figure out when ovulation returns and so you can fourth dimension intercourse effectively. The course of nascency command yous were previously using does not change the efficacy of these methods.

All of these are safe, salubrious ways to optimize yourself for pregnancy when coming off the depo shot.

As always, use your doctor when y'all have concerns, but especially if it'south been 24 months since your last depo shot, and you're still not having regular periods or if you haven't conceived 12 months afterwards having normal periods again (if y'all're 35 or over, contact your provider after 6 months instead).

Learn more virtually getting meaning after all forms of nascency control.