Women who conceived within 4 months of cessation of oral contraceptives have five times more postdatism (term plus 14 days or more) compared to the non pal users. Also postdatism is severe if they conceive within 4 months of cessation of oral contraceptives. In pill users, routine induction. at term plus 14 days would result in unacceptably high induction rate, iatrogenic prematurity and possibly high caesarean rates. This is the conclusion of a prospective study of 186 pill users of which 37 were postdate out of 1496 pregnancies.