Return to fertility after cessation of a continuous oral contraceptive.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the return to fertility among women planning to become pregnant after the use of a continuous regimen of levonorgestrel 90 microg and ethinyl E(2) 20 microg.


METHODS
Descriptive analysis of pregnancy outcomes after participation in a contraceptive trial.


METHODS
Multicenter trial.


METHODS
Participants in a phase 3 contraceptive trial who discontinued to become pregnant.


METHODS
Eligible subjects were contacted at 3 and 12 months after treatment discontinuation to determine if and when they had conceived.


METHODS
Kaplan-Meier analysis displaying the time until conception after oral contraceptive discontinuation.


RESULTS
In the phase 3 trial, 34 of 2,134 subjects cited a desire for pregnancy as a reason for discontinuation. Of these, 4 were already pregnant before stopping treatment, 4 initiated other contraception, and 5 were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 21 subjects at risk of pregnancy, the pregnancy rate was 57% at 3 months, 81% at 12 months, and 86% (18 of 21) (95% confidence interval 64% to 97%) at 13 months after discontinuation of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that a continuous oral contraceptive with levonorgestrel 90 microg and ethinyl E(2) 20 microg does not delay the return to fertility.
Barnhart
Kurt
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PENN Fertility Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. kbarnhart@obgyn.upenn.edu
Mirkin
Sebastian
S
Grubb
Gary
G
Constantine
Ginger
G
D000328:Adult; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D016912:Levonorgestrel