Infertility & Reproduction Health Center

Getting Pregnant Faster

Conception Misconceptions continued...

Finally, many women are concerned that coming off the birth control pill might affect their ability to get pregnant, but doctors say that generally there is little to worry about.

"The only issue with birth control pills is making sure you have at least one normal menstrual period prior to trying to conceive, which is important for the dating of the pregnancy," says Winer.

As far as safety goes, Goldstein says the steroids used in the pill are out of your body within a week or less -- so they won't affect your baby or stop you from getting pregnant.

"You may need to be off the pill for a few months in order to regulate your menstrual cycle and begin ovulating, but otherwise, once you stop using the pill, it should have no residual effects on your ability to get pregnant, " says Goldstein.

If, in fact, you are between the ages of 18 and 30 and you and your partner are relatively healthy and having regular intercourse, particularly during your most fertile times, doctors say you should conceive within 12 months or less. If more than a year goes by and you are not pregnant, check with your gynecologist about whether or not you or your partner could benefit from fertility testing.

Colette Bouchez is the author of Getting Pregnant: What You Need To Know and the forthcoming book Your Perfectly Pampered Pregnancy.