The effects of oral contraceptives on reproduction.

Early reports linking the use of contraceptive steroids to congenital malformations have not been substantiated. There is a delay in the return of fertility after cessation of oral contraceptive use, but this may be concentrated in childless women aged 30 to 34. Oral contraception does not influence the rate of infertility. After the cessation of oral contraceptive use, there is no increase in the incidence of spontaneous abortion in subsequent pregnancies, nor is there an increased risk of pregnancy complications. Women who use oral contraceptives do not breast-feed as long as nonusers, but no differences can be detected between the growth and development of the children of oral contraceptive users and nonusers. There is no relationship between oral contraceptive use and pituitary adenomas, or between oral contraceptive use and subsequent amenorrhea.