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Reviews in Obstetrics and Gynecology logoLink to Reviews in Obstetrics and Gynecology
. 2009 Fall;2(4):246.

Pregnancy Rates After Oral Contraceptive Use

Athol Kent 1
PMCID: PMC2812881  PMID: 20111662

Rate of Pregnancy After Using Drospirenone and Other Progestin-Containing Oral Contraceptives

Cronin M, Schellschmidt I, Dinger J.

Obstet Gynecol 2009;114:616–622..

There are many anecdotal stories about rebound or delayed fertility after stopping oral contraceptives (OCs). The low estrogen dosages and newer progestins all have excellent contraceptive profiles and cycle control, and a large European study confirms their safety in terms of post-OC fertility.

Cronin and colleagues tracked nearly 60,000 OC users, including those on drospirenone pills, for their satisfaction with their contraceptive efficacy and their chances of pregnancy after discontinuing OC use. About 20% achieved a pregnancy in their first cycle after cessation and 80% after 1 year, irrespective of the type of OC used. These data are comparable to women wishing to conceive but not having been on OCs. Naturally, women are older when they stop contraception than when they started and age does have an effect on fecundity. OC use does not positively or negatively affect age-appropriate fertility.

Footnotes

These summaries are reproduced from the Journal Article Summary Service, a monthly publication summarizing clinically relevant articles from the recent world literature. Please see http://www.jassonline.com or e-mail atholkent@mweb.co.za for more information.


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