Urinary estrogen levels in women on contraceptives in enugu, South-East Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Substantial evidence supports a causal relationship between the risk of human breast cancer and levels of endogenous estrogens.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the urinary estrogen of women on contraceptives and also compare the levels in two different classes of contraceptives; hence, the possible predisposition of such women to the risk of breast cancer.


METHODS
Urinary estrogen level was evaluated in 84 women attending family planning clinic in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria, who have been on contraceptive device for 10 years or less (≤10 years). They were aged between 21 and 50 years and were divide into three groups (21-30 years, 31-40 years, and >40 years). The control group consisted of 30 age-matched apparently-healthy women who were not on any contraceptive device.


METHODS
Estrogen was analyzed using Ecologenia(;) Estrogen (E1/E2/E3) microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, Batch No. T2GR4, from Japan Envirochemicals Ltd, Japan.


METHODS
Significant differences between means were determined by two-tailed Student's t-test using graph pad prism computer software program.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant increase (P=0.0462), in the mean urinary estrogen level of women on contraceptives when compared with the control. The highest amount of estrogen was excreted by the women in the 21-30 years age group. When the contraceptive devices were divided into two classes of intra-uterine device and oral/injectables, there was no statistical difference (P=0.8112) in the mean urinary estrogen output of the women.


CONCLUSIONS
The synthetic estrogen content of contraceptive device most probably contributed to the level excreted in the urine. The increased estrogen output observed in women on contraceptive device was not dependent on the class of contraceptive device used.
Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, PMB. 01129, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Ignatius C
IC
Maduka
Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, PMB. 5025 Awka., Anambra State, Nigeria.
Francis E
FE
Ezeonu
Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, G.R.A., Nigeria.
Emeka E
EE
Neboh
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Elvis N
EN
Shu
Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Ebele J
EJ
Ikekpeazu
Contraceptives; intra-uterine device; oral contraceptive; urinary estrogen; women