The pill - your questions answered

A: Studies have shown that the different causes of lack of menstruation or changes in menstrual patterns are the same between women who have recently taken the pill and those who have not, and that they occur with the same frequency so it is likely to be the PCOS rather than the pill that is affecting your cycle.

One study, looking at women aged 30 to 35 years who had not previously had a child, suggested that, after stopping the pill, 50 per cent took up to a year longer to conceive compared to those of the same age who had previously used a diaphragm. Conception rates were almost identical after 72 months, indicating no permanent impairment to fertility. However, few women aged 30 to 35 would want a delay of up to six years before conceiving once they had decided to start a family.

Only you and your partner can decide whether or not to bring forward trying to conceive. If there isn't any desperate hindrance to starting now, then it may be worth going for it. If you get pregnant straight away, great! If you do have difficulty in conceiving, at least you will have brought forward the time when investigations and assisted fertility techniques can be started.