The effect on fecundity of pill acceptance during postpartum amenorrhea in rural Bangladesh

Abstract

The length of the interval from last live birth to the subsequent pregnancy was studied for 121 contraceptive pill acceptors who were in postpartum amenorrhea at the time of acceptance and 121 matched nonacceptors in a prospective study in Matlab, Bangladesh. Half of the pill acceptors discontinued use within seven months, and as a group the pill acceptors had a significantly shorter interval to the next pregnancy than the matched nonacceptors. These findings suggest that unless continuation rates can be improved, it is better not to encourage women in rural Bangladesh to start the contraceptive pill during postpartum amenorrhea