Primary Infertility and Oral Contraceptive Steroid Use

Authors

M. A. Bagwell
S. J. Thompson
Cheryl Addy, University of South Carolina - ColumbiaFollow
Ann L. Coker, University of South CarolinaFollow
E. R. Baker

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 women'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 micrograms) and lower (< or = 50 micrograms) 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.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1995

Notes/Citation Information

Published in Fertility and Sterility, v. 63, no. 6, p. 1161-1166.

Dr. Ann Coker had not been a faculty member of the University of Kentucky at the time of publication.

Repository Citation

Bagwell, M. A.; Thompson, S. J.; Addy, Cheryl; Coker, Ann L.; and Baker, E. R., "Primary Infertility and Oral Contraceptive Steroid Use" (1995). CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles. 228.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/crvaw_facpub/228