Hemorrheology and fibrinolytic response in women taking oral contraceptive pills
Ishak, R.; Hassan, K.; Arshat, H.
Malaysian Journal of Reproductive Health a Publication of the Reproductive Research Centre of the National Population and Family Development Board Malaysia 5(2): 57-60
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0127-3213 PMID: 12315184 Document Number: 358161
The effect of low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs) on hemorheology and fibrinolytic response was investigated in 107 women attending the Malaysia Maternity Hospital in Kuala Lumpur. The OC contained 0.03 mg estrogen and 0.15 mg progestagen. Study subjects were divided into 3 groups. The 30 women in Group 1 took the low-dose OC for 3-6 months, while the 27 subjects in Group 2 took the pill for a duration of 1-2 years. Group 3 was comprised of 49 controls. The 3 groups were comparable in terms of age, weight, height, and parity and included Malays, Chinese, and Indians. No significant differences were noted between the 3 groups in any of the parameters analyzed (platelet aggregate ratio, fibrinogen levels, red blood cell deformability index, euglobulin clot lysis time, and full blood count). Since the level of estrogen in the OC analyzed in this study did not cause significant alterations in any of these blood parameters, it is concluded that low-dose OCs do not confer a risk of thrombosis in their users.