The Grown-Up's Guide to Birth Control

You're Thinking About Having a Baby

You want to use something that will allow you to get pregnant quickly when you're ready.

Your best choice The IUD -- you can get pregnant within a month of having it removed. Most hormone-based methods (the pill, ring, and patch) may restore fertility more slowly; sometimes it takes several months for your body's natural hormones to get back on schedule so you can get pregnant. On the other hand, you don't need to see a doctor to stop taking the pill or using a patch or ring.

What to avoid The progestin shot, known by its brand name, Depo-Provera. Although the shot is given in 12-week intervals, it can take you as long as a year to get pregnant after stopping the shots.

Talk to your doctor if you have trouble conceiving six months after suspending birth control.

Special considerations When you stop using a hormonal method that shuts down ovulation, such as the pill, it's good to have a "real" period before trying to get pregnant. The doctor uses the date you last ovulated to calculate your baby's due date.