title: Short-term effect of oral contraceptive pills on some haemostatic parameters in healthy Nigerian women.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of low-dose combined oral contraceptive pill, Lo-femenal, on the following haemostatic parameters: platelet count (PC), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen, of apparently healthy Nigerian women over a period of three months. A total of sixty-seven women were recruited for the study consisting of forty-seven subjects and twenty age-matched controls, who were aged between 17 and 37 years. All haemostatic parameters were determined using standard haematological techniques described by Dacie and Lewis, before, and three months after continuous use of oral contraceptive pills in the subjects. The same parameters were determined three months apart in control subjects who were on oral contraceptive pills. Statistical analysis of data was done using the chi-squared test and statistical significance was based on p value < 0.05. The mean values of platelet count and fibrinogen were significantly increased (p=0.0000 and 0.0003 respectively), while the PT and TT reduced significantly (p=0.007 and 0.0000 respectively) after three months of contraceptive use. There was no significant difference in the value of APTT (p=0.17) before and after oral contraceptive use. No differences were observed in the values in the controls. The findings in this study indicate some degree of pro-coagulant activity in the subjects, and the need to properly assess and monitor haemostatic parameters in pills users before commencement and while on them.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of IlorinTeaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Babatunde
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Olatunji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined