Which reversible contraceptive method is associated with a delay in return to fertility after stopping?

• A. Nexplanon
• B. IUD
• C. Medroxyprogesterone injection
• D. Male sterilization

Answer: (C)

The key idea is how quickly fertility returns after stopping contraception. The injectable progestin method—depot medroxyprogesterone acetate—is known for delaying return to ovulation for an extended period after the last shot. Because it suppresses the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis and the drug lingers in the body for a while, it can take many months (often around 9–12 months, and sometimes longer) before ovulation resumes and fertility returns. That makes it the reversible method most commonly associated with a delayed return to fertility. Other reversible options tend to allow quicker resumption of fertility once stopped or removed: the implant allows rapid return after removal, and IUDs (copper or hormonal) likewise permit fertility to resume soon after removal. Male sterilization is not reversible, so it does not fit the pattern of a reversible method.