Expert: Ramona Quilter - 4/4/2007

Question
I have a son who is 11 years old and I have been on birth control for the last 11 years.  If I stop the pill because I want another baby, what is the time frame of getting pregant?  Also, the father of the baby has had a vasectomy and he wants to try without the reveral procedure.  Is this even possible?  I don't think it is, but I need an answer to tell him.

Answer
I think the father will have to have a reversal as a vasectomy is considered permanent birth control.  The only way to know if it didn't work is for him to have sex with someone who isn't taking another form of birth control.  So you guys can try after you quit taking the pill but I wouldn't count on it.  It is a small percentage of vasectomies that do not work.

As for when you might get pregnant, there is no way to predict that at all.  You are older, your partner is older (I'm assuming this), and the pill has probably brought about fertility changes that may make it more difficult to get pregnant.  You can only try and see what happens.  There are no guarantees with regard to fertility and pregnancy.  It's not like a light switch that you can turn on and off.