Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Fertility after contraception or abortion.

G R Huggins1, V E Cullins

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Francis Scott Key Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21224.

Fertility and Sterility
|October 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Human axillary extracts: Analysis of compounds from samples which influence menstrual timing.

Journal of chemical ecology·2013
Same author

The Filshie clip for laparoscopic adnexal surgery.

JSLS : Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons·2001
Same author

Buprenorphine treatment of pregnant opioid--dependent women: maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Drug and alcohol dependence·2001
Same author

Effect of academic affiliation and obstetric volume on clinical outcome and cost of childbirth.

Obstetrics and gynecology·2001
Same author

Human embryonic germ cell derivatives express a broad range of developmentally distinct markers and proliferate extensively in vitro.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2001
Same author

Economic and clinical outcomes of microlaparoscopic and standard laparoscopic sterilization. A comparison.

The Journal of reproductive medicine·2000

Oral contraceptives (OCs) show minimal correlation with congenital malformations. While risks exist with certain contraceptive methods, the overall risk of impaired future fertility appears low for most methods.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Contraception Safety
  • Obstetrics

Background:

  • Prior use of oral contraceptives (OCs) has been investigated for potential links to congenital malformations and fetal development.
  • Concerns persist regarding the safety of OCs during early pregnancy and their association with adverse outcomes.
  • The safety profiles of various contraceptive methods, including intrauterine devices (IUDs) and spermicides, are subjects of ongoing research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the correlation between oral contraceptive (OC) use and congenital malformations, including Down's syndrome.
  • To assess the risks associated with OC use during early pregnancy, particularly regarding fetal development and potential masculinization.
  • To review the incidence of complications following therapeutic abortion and the long-term effects of various contraceptive methods on fertility.
Keywords:
Abortion HistoryAbortion, InducedAbortion, LegalAbortion, SpontaneousAdhesionsAmenorrheaAnovulationBiologyChromosome AbnormalitiesClomipheneCongenital AbnormalitiesContraceptionContraceptive AgentsContraceptive Methods--complicationsContraceptive Methods--side effectsContraceptive UsageDiseasesFamily PlanningFemale ContraceptionFertility AgentsFertility Control, PostconceptionGenitaliaGenitalia, FemaleInfectionsInfertilityIud--complicationsLiterature ReviewMenstruation DisordersNeonatal Diseases And AbnormalitiesOral Contraceptives--side effectsOvarian EffectsOvaryPelvic InfectionsPhysiologyPregnancy ComplicationsPrevious PracticeReproductionReproductive Control AgentsReproductive Tract InfectionsRisk FactorsSexually Transmitted DiseasesSigns And SymptomsSpermicidal Contraceptive AgentsUrogenital SystemVacuum Aspiration

Related Experiment Videos

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature and reports on oral contraceptive (OC) use and pregnancy outcomes.
  • Analysis of data concerning congenital abnormalities, fetal development, and pregnancy terminations.
  • Examination of the incidence of pelvic infections, Asherman's syndrome, and post-contraceptive menstrual irregularities.

Main Results:

  • A very small correlation, if any, exists between prior OC use and congenital malformations like Down's syndrome.
  • Limited recent reports exist on fetal masculinization from OCs containing 1 mg progestogen in early pregnancy.
  • The incidence of postoperative infection, prematurity, and infertility after first-trimester abortion is generally low, though repeated terminations may increase infection risk. Post-pill amenorrhea is rare (<1%).
  • Intrauterine device (IUD) users have a higher incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), primarily linked to sexually transmitted diseases rather than the IUD itself.
  • Spermicide users show no increased risk of congenital anomalies, altered sex ratio, or early pregnancy loss.

Conclusions:

  • Oral contraceptives (OCs) demonstrate a minimal association with congenital malformations.
  • While caution is advised for pregnant patients using OCs, the overall risk of impaired future fertility with most contraceptive methods appears low.
  • The risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is higher with IUDs, but this is largely attributable to concurrent sexually transmitted diseases.