Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 10, 2754-2761,
October 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Prolonged use of oral contraception before a planned pregnancy is associated with a decreased risk of delayed conception
1 Department of Health and Social Care, Brunel University, Borough Rd., Isleworth TW7 5DU, 2 Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8EG and 3 Unit of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, Division of Child Health, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of total duration of oral contraceptive usage with time to conception. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 8497 planned pregnancies drawn from a population that recruited 85% of eligible couples in South-West England who were expecting a baby in a 21 month period. Self-completion questionnaires were administered at 18 weeks gestation to ascertain parity, paternity, co-habitation, use of the contraceptive pill, smoking and alcohol status, educational achievement, height, weight and time taken to conceive. Logistic regression was used to identify factors independently related to conception in 
12 months. RESULTS: Of the participants, 74% conceived in 6 months, 14% in 6–12 months and 12% after 1 year. Previous prolonged oral contraceptive usage was statistically significantly associated with a decreased risk of delayed conception. Prolonged use of oral contraception was also associated with improved fecundity independent of other factors. Selection bias due to particularly fertile women using oral contraceptives is unlikely because similar odds ratios were calculated for nulligravid women. CONCLUSIONS: Women who have prolonged use of oral contraceptives might be reassured that they will not be disadvantaged in terms of time taken to achieve conception.
Key words: epidemiology/fecundity/fertility/oral contraception/time to conception
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: alexandra.farrow{at}brunel.ac.uk
* Sadly deceased November, 1999.
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