Stopping contraception

Coming off the pill

You can stop your pill at any point, you don’t have to wait to finish a packet.

Your periods may be irregular when you first come off the pill, and you should allow up to three months for your natural menstrual cycle to re-establish itself fully. This is because the pill contains the hormones that stop ovulation (the release of an egg) each month.

Taking the pill has not been linked to fertility problems and you can get pregnant as soon you come off it, even if your periods have not returned to normal yet.

IUD / coil removal

Your IUD can be removed at any time by a doctor or nurse.

If you're not having another IUD put in and you don't want to get pregnant, use additional contraception, such as condoms, for seven days before you have it removed. It's possible to get pregnant as soon as your IUD has been taken out.

Find out the costs and opening times of Le Bas contraception clinic on our contraception and cervical screening (smear test) clinic page

Vasectomy reversal

It's possible to have a vasectomy reversed, but the procedure isn't always successful and must be paid for privately. You have a better chance of reversal if it's done soon after the vasectomy.

If a reversal is carried out within 10 years of your vasectomy, the success rate is about 55%. This falls to 25% if your reversal is carried out more than 10 years after.

Even if a surgeon manages to join up the vas deferens tubes again, pregnancy may still not be possible, so you should be certain before going ahead with the vasectomy.

Speak to your GP if you're thinking about having your vasectomy reversed.