22 papers reviewed
Hormonal Birth Control Effects & Recovery
2018 · systematic review / meta-analysis · 1 of 22
Return of fertility after discontinuation of contraception: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Girum T, Wasie A · Contraception and Reproductive Medicine
Pooled 12-month pregnancy rate of 83.1% after stopping any reversible contraceptive across 22 studies and 14,884 women. Duration of use and progestin type did not significantly affect time to conception.
Read the paper ↗2020 · prospective cohort · 2 of 22
Pregravid contraceptive use and fecundability: prospective cohort study
Yland JJ et al. · BMJ
In 17,954 women (PRESTO study), delay in return to fecundability varied by method: injectables longest (5-8 cycles), patch (4 cycles), pill/ring (3 cycles), hormonal/copper IUD and implant shortest (2 cycles). Lifetime duration of use was not associated with fecundability.
Read the paper ↗2011 · comprehensive review · 3 of 22
Fertility after discontinuation of contraception: a comprehensive review of the literature
Mansour D et al. · Contraception
One-year pregnancy rates after stopping pills, implants, injectables, copper IUD, and LNG-IUS are broadly similar to rates after stopping barrier methods.
Read the paper ↗1984 · cohort · 4 of 22
Return of fertility after use of the injectable contraceptive Depo Provera: updated data analysis
Pardthaisong T · Journal of Biosocial Science
Median delay to conception approximately 5.5 months for DMPA vs 3 months for OCs and 4.5 months for IUD. DMPA users caught up to other groups by 3 years.
Read the paper ↗2025 · narrative review · 5 of 22
Return to fertility after subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate: a narrative review
Osoti A et al. · BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health
Median time to ovulation after last DMPA-SC injection is 212 days (~7 months). Approximately 97% ovulate within 12 months regardless of DMPA formulation.
Read the paper ↗2015 · cross-sectional · 6 of 22
Ovarian reserve assessment in users of oral contraception seeking fertility advice on their reproductive lifespan
Birch Petersen K et al. · Human Reproduction
AMH and antral follicle count were approximately 30% lower in current combined-OC users vs non-users, complicating ovarian reserve counseling while on the pill.
Read the paper ↗2020 · prospective cohort · 7 of 22
Ovarian reserve markers after discontinuing long-term use of combined oral contraceptives
Landersoe SK et al. · Reproductive BioMedicine Online
After stopping long-term COC use, AMH rose 53%, antral follicle count 41%, and ovarian volume more than doubled (132%), plateauing at normal values by approximately 2 months post-discontinuation.
Read the paper ↗2021 · cross-sectional · 8 of 22
Anti-Mullerian hormone levels among contraceptive users: evidence from a cross-sectional cohort of 27,125 individuals
Hariton E et al. · American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
AMH was 22-24% lower in current users of combined pills, implants, and vaginal ring vs non-users. Differences attenuated with time since last use.
Read the paper ↗2017 · retrospective cohort · 9 of 22
Long-term hormonal contraceptive use is associated with a reversible suppression of antral follicle count and a break from hormonal contraception may improve oocyte yield
Letourneau JM et al. · Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
A 4-7 month break from hormonal contraception nearly doubled oocyte yield relative to baseline AFC compared to no break.
Read the paper ↗2011 · prospective observational · 10 of 22
Characteristics of the menstrual cycle after discontinuation of oral contraceptives
Nassaralla CL et al. · Journal of Women's Health
Cervical mucus quality scores were reduced for the first two post-pill cycles, ovulation occurred later in cycle 2, and several biomarkers remained altered for at least two months after stopping.
Read the paper ↗2002 · prospective cohort · 11 of 22
Cycle characteristics after discontinuation of oral contraceptives
Gnoth C et al. · Gynecological Endocrinology
In 175 post-pill women vs 284 controls, 57.9% of first post-pill cycles were ovulatory with adequate luteal phase. Cycle length remained prolonged through cycle 9, with more frequent luteal insufficiency than controls.
Read the paper ↗2012 · comparative cohort · 12 of 22
Endometrial histopathology, ovarian changes and bleeding patterns among users of long-acting progestin-only contraceptives in Egypt
Laban M et al. · European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care
DMPA produced endometrial atrophy in 84% of users vs 28% with Implanon. Ovarian follicular activity persisted in 72% of Implanon users vs only 12% of DMPA users, showing HPO suppression depth varies substantially by method.
Read the paper ↗1981 · review / analysis · 13 of 22
The fallacy of the postpill amenorrhea syndrome
Archer DF, Thomas RL · Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology
No proven causal post-pill amenorrhea syndrome exists. Amenorrhea after stopping OCs generally reflects unmasking of a pre-existing ovulatory disorder (PCOS, hypothalamic amenorrhea, thyroid disease) rather than a pill-caused condition.
Read the paper ↗2013 · narrative review · 14 of 22
Oral contraceptives and changes in nutritional requirements
Palmery M et al. · European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
Reviews evidence for COC-associated reductions in folate, vitamins B2/B6/B12/C/E, and magnesium, selenium, zinc. Recommends considering targeted supplementation, particularly with poor baseline diet.
Read the paper ↗2013 · prospective repeated-measures · 15 of 22
Biological variability and impact of oral contraceptives on vitamins B6, B12 and folate status in women of reproductive age
McArthur JO et al. · Nutrients
OCP users had significantly lower serum B12 (172 vs 318 pmol/L, p=0.042). Approximately 50% of OCP users had B12 below reference range despite being asymptomatic.
Read the paper ↗2009 · cross-sectional comparative · 16 of 22
Effect of contraceptive pill on the selenium and zinc status of healthy subjects
Fallah S et al. · Contraception
OC users had significantly lower serum zinc. Selenium was reduced but not statistically significant.
Read the paper ↗2022 · narrative review · 17 of 22
Counteracting side effects of combined oral contraceptives through the administration of specific micronutrients
Basciani S, Porcaro G · European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
Reviews repletion approaches for COC-associated micronutrient reductions including B-vitamins, C, E, zinc, magnesium, and selenium. Provides framework for targeted supplementation protocols.
Read the paper ↗2016 · cohort · 18 of 22
Use of estrogen-containing contraception is associated with increased concentrations of 25-hydroxy vitamin D
Harmon QE et al. · Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Estrogen-containing contraceptive users had approximately 20% higher serum 25(OH)D, and levels fell after discontinuation. Likely a vitamin D-binding-protein effect rather than true status change. Vitamin D does not belong on a standard HBC depletion list.
Read the paper ↗2013 · systematic review / meta-analysis · 19 of 22
Hormonal contraception is associated with a reduced risk of bacterial vaginosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Vodstrcil LA et al. · PLOS ONE
Both combined and progestin-only HBC were associated with significantly reduced prevalence, incidence, and recurrence of bacterial vaginosis across 55 studies.
Read the paper ↗2017 · narrative review · 20 of 22
Estrogen-gut microbiome axis: physiological and clinical implications
Baker JM et al. · Maturitas
Gut bacterial beta-glucuronidase activity deconjugates and reactivates estrogens, creating a bidirectional gut-hormone relationship (the estrobolome). Relevant to understanding how exogenous hormones alter gut flora and how gut health affects hormone metabolism post-discontinuation.
Read the paper ↗2021 · cohort · 21 of 22
Association of oral contraceptives and tubal ligation with anti-Mullerian hormone
Langton CR et al. · Menopause
In 1,420 women from the Nurses' Health Study II, longer cumulative OC duration was associated with lower AMH in a significant dose-response relationship (p-trend=0.036), even measured years after use. However, this did not translate into earlier menopause in the larger parent cohort.
Read the paper ↗2021 · RCT · 22 of 22
The effect of selenium and vitamin E supplementation on anti-Mullerian hormone and antral follicle count in infertile women with occult premature ovarian insufficiency
Safiyeh FD et al. · Complementary Therapies in Medicine
90 days of combined selenium + vitamin E significantly increased AMH, antral follicle count, and mean ovarian volume vs placebo. Supports antioxidant repletion for ovarian recovery.
Read the paper ↗A paper's presence documents the evidence reviewed; it does not mean Filia endorses every intervention or conclusion.