Coming Off the Pill and Thinking About Getting Pregnant?

Jessica Nesbitt
May 10
6 min read

Updated: May 30

Here’s what most women aren’t told:

You don’t have to wait in the dark, hoping your period returns. You don’t have to guess, stress, or search alone at 2 AM.

If you’ve just come off birth control - or are thinking about it, you might be wondering what happens next. You might be feeling a little lost, a little curious, or a lot ready.

You’re not alone.

This phase often comes with no plan, no guidance, and no real answers. You’re told to stop your birth control and “just try” and maybe, just maybe, you’ll be taken seriously in a year if you don't get pregnant.

But you deserve better.

Because this transition, it’s not just physical. It’s hormonal, emotional, cyclical. It’s your body remembering how to speak in its own language again.

And now - before you’re actively trying to get pregnant, before stress sets in - is the most powerful time to begin listening to your body.

Let’s walk through how you can support your body in this next chapter - not with pressure, but with clarity, care, and a deeper kind of readiness.

Clear Space for Balance: Support Your Liver

Your liver plays a huge role in processing hormones. It’s responsible for clearing out both the synthetic estrogen from birth control and the estrogen your body makes on its own.

When liver pathways are sluggish, estrogen can build up. That’s when you may notice heavier periods, sore breasts, irritability, or a return of symptoms you hadn’t felt in years.

You can help your liver by supporting it through food and gentle lifestyle habits such as;.

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, arugula, and kale contain compounds that help your liver break down estrogen more efficiently.
Castor Oil Packs over the liver
Adding spices like garlic, and turmeric to your diet
Reducing alcohol, processed foods, and environmental toxin exposure

Client Story – PL, 29

“When I came off the pill, I thought my body would just figure it out on its own. But my periods were heavy, my mood was all over the place, and I felt so bloated and off. My doctor didn’t really have anything to offer me. Working with Dr. Jessica was a turning point. I was given the steps I didn’t even know I needed. Within a couple of months, I felt more like myself again. My mood improved, my cycle felt manageable, and for the first time I actually felt like my body was preparing for pregnancy.”

Why it matters for fertility: Efficient estrogen clearance supports healthy ovulation, reduces PMS, and helps regulate your cycle.

Rebuild from Within: Restore Your Gut

The pill doesn’t just affect your reproductive hormones. It also impacts your gut. Research shows it can alter the balance of bacteria, increase intestinal permeability, and reduce absorption of key nutrients.

You need a healthy gut to have balanced hormones. Estrogen is removed from the body through stool, and if your gut isn’t functioning well, that process can slow down or back up.

Start by adding more fiber-rich foods like chia seeds, berries, sweet potatoes, and lentils. Include fermented foods a few times a week - yogurt, sauerkraut, miso, or kefir can all help support microbial diversity. And keep an eye on stress. Chronic stress can weaken your gut lining, making it harder to absorb nutrients and clear hormones.

Patient Story – E.W., 32 "My digestion was a mess when I came off the pill. I was bloated all the time and had intense sugar cravings. I learned that the pill can affect gut health, and discovered I had on overgrowth of candida when I worked with Dr. Jessica. I started a protocol for reducing the candida and after about a 3 weeks, I could feel my bloating improve and my cravings were gone, I even lost some weight and my skin cleared up".

Why it matters for fertility: A balanced gut supports hormone detox, improves nutrient absorption, and reduces inflammation.

Nourish Deeply: Rebuild What’s Been Lost

Birth control is known to lower certain nutrient levels over time. That includes B vitamins (especially folate and B6), magnesium, zinc, selenium, and vitamin C. These nutrients are essential for hormone production, egg quality, thyroid function, and your body’s ability to handle stress.

If you’re trying to conceive, nutrient status matters.

Eat a variety of whole foods - leafy greens, nuts and seeds, eggs, legumes, fish, and high-quality meat. Make sure your prenatal includes activated B vitamins and minerals like zinc and selenium. If you’ve been on the pill long-term, you may also want to consider running some basic lab work to identify any gaps because you may need to add a supplement.

Client Story – L.Y., 35 "I didn’t realize how depleted I was until I came off the pill. I was exhausted and foggy, and nothing seemed to help. During my time working with Dr. Jessica, I learned how birth control can affect nutrients. With a few targeted changes, my energy came back, and I finally felt like I was doing something to support my fertility."

Why it matters for fertility: Low levels of B vitamins and minerals have been linked to poor egg development, early miscarriage, and reduced implantation rates.

Return to Rhythm: Begin Cycle Awareness

You may not ovulate right away after stopping the pill. And even once your period returns, it doesn’t always mean ovulation has. That’s why tracking your cycle is one of the most powerful tools you can use.

This isn’t about obsessing. It’s about observing.

You can begin by marking the first day of your period and noting how long your cycle is. Watch for signs of cervical mucus, which can tell you when your body is getting close to ovulating. You can also track your basal body temperature (BBT) to confirm ovulation after the fact.

Client Story – M.N, 27 "At first, I had no clue what was happening with my cycle because my period was not coming every month. Once I started tracking, it made so much more sense. I could see what was going on instead of guessing. I felt calmer, more in control. And when I finally saw that temperature shift and knew I had ovulated, I cried happy tears. It felt like such a win."

Why it matters for fertility: You can’t conceive without ovulation. Tracking helps you time intercourse, understand your fertile window, and notice if your luteal phase is long enough to support implantation.

Restore Harmony: Supporting Hormonal Flow

After the pill, many women experience what’s often called estrogen dominance. This means estrogen is high in comparison to progesterone. You may notice heavy periods, mood swings, breast tenderness, or spotting before your period.

To support hormone balance, focus on sleep, gentle movement, blood sugar regulation, and stress reduction. Make sure you’re eating enough to support ovulation—too few calories can suppress progesterone production. And give your body time. It may take several months to settle into a regular rhythm.

Client Story – S.E. 25 "When I came off the pill, I had intense PMS and spotting before every period. Dr. Jessica explained that my body probably wasn’t making enough progesterone yet. She gave me a detailed treatment protocol and by the fourth cycle, I finally had no spotting and fewer mood swings. That month, I got a positive pregnancy test."

Why it matters for fertility: Progesterone is needed to hold a pregnancy. If levels are too low, implantation becomes harder, and miscarriage risk goes up.

You Can Start Now - From a Place of Trust, Not Tension

Coming off birth control is more than a hormonal shift - it’s a chance to reconnect with your body, understand your cycle, and prepare for what comes next with support instead of stress.

You don’t need to wait until something feels “wrong.” You don’t need to navigate this on your own.

Inside the program I designed My Preconception Plan, I’ll walk with you from the moment you stop the pill to the moment you feel fully ready to try - equipped with insight, nourishment, and trust in your own timing.

This isn’t about rushing. It’s about honoring where you are, and supporting what’s coming.