Primary infertility and oral contraceptive steroid use

M. A. Bagwell, S. J. Thompson, C. L. Addy, A. L. Coker, E. R. Baker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association between combined monophasic oral contraceptive (OC) use and primary infertility. Design: Case-control. Setting: Women serving as controls of the Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study. Participants: Women were 19 to 40 years of age at first conception or infertility diagnosis. Based on 24 consecutive months of unprotected intercourse without a recognized conception, 419 nulligravid women had primary infertility; controls were 2,120 fertile women. A calendar of each woman's reproductive history was used to determine fertility status and contraceptive use before infertility diagnosis or first conception. Main Outcome Measure: Primary infertility. Results: Combined monophasic OC use was associated with a lower frequency of primary infertility, particularly among younger (age 20 years) compared with older women (age 30 years) after adjusting for barrier method use and education. A similar association was found for duration of OC use. When adjusted for age at first conception or infertility and barrier method, both higher (>50 μg) and lower (≤50 μg) estrogen dose use were associated with decreased risk of primary infertility. Conclusion: Combined monophasic OC use was associated with a lower frequency of primary infertility.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1161-1166
Number of pages6
JournalFertility and Sterility
Volume63
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1995

Keywords

  • Monophasic combined oral contraceptives
  • and unprotected intercourse
  • primary infertility

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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