A prospective study of fertility and outcome of pregnancy after discontinuation of oral contraception in relation to elective orthopedic surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the risk of unwanted pregnancies, their outcome and the rate of resuming contraception after discontinuation of oral contraception (OC) prior to elective surgery.


METHODS
A six months prospective follow-up study.


METHODS
Orthopedic unit, operating on a total of 897 women during a period of 24 months.


METHODS
Seventy-eight healthy women in whom OC was stopped prior to elective orthopedic surgery.


RESULTS
Pregnancy rate, pregnancy outcome and reinstitution rate of OC.


RESULTS
Complete outcome data are available for 73 (93.5%) of 78 women who were asked to participate in the study. Five pregnancies were reported, giving a cumulated six month pregnancy rate of 6.8%. Three pregnancies were completed to term, one was ectopic and one terminated by induced abortion. Within six months after the operation the cumulative user rate of oral contraceptives was 74.2%. None of the women were readmitted to hospitals for severe illness during the study period.


CONCLUSIONS
The women resumed oral contraceptives relatively soon after their first post-operative menstrual cycle. This may explain why the pregnancy rate during the first six postoperative months appears low.
Dale
O
O
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Trondheim, University Medical Centre, Norway.
Skjeldestad
F E
FE
Rossvoll
I
I
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009985:Orthopedics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic; D011446:Prospective Studies
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal