Time to Conception After Use of Contraception

Concerns that intrauterine contraception (IUC) may adversely affect fertility date back to the Dalkon shield, which was removed from the market in 1974. To evaluate associations between prior use of a variety of contraceptive methods and time to desired conception, 17,954 Danish and North American women completed follow-up questionnaires for up to 12 months between 2007 and 2019. The analysis adjusted for multiple factors associated with fertility (e.g., smoking, obesity, endometriosis, fibroids, frequency of intercourse). Couples attempting to conceive for >6 menstrual cycles at enrollment were excluded.

Overall, 56% of women conceived within 6 cycles and 77% within 12 cycles. Return to normal fertility was most delayed after recent use of …