Correlation between Duration of Oral Contraceptives and Hypercoagulability in Bangladeshi Women

Abstract

This study was done to assess the hypercoagulability and the risk of thromboembolism in women taking oral contraceptive pill for prolonged period of time. This cross sectional study was done in the department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from Jan 2012 to Dec 2012. Ninety female subjects with the age range from 25-45 years, were taken as a study population. Among them, 60 women taking oral contraceptives for prolonged period of time ( > 1 years) were included for the study group and age matched 30 women of OCP nonusers were taken as a control. Study subjects were divided into two groups according to their duration of oral pill use: group BI ( 1 to 5 years users) were 30 women and group B2 ( >5 to 10 years users) were 30 women. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were estimated in all groups. Statistical analysis was done by unpaired Student's ? t' test and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient test. In this study, the mean (*SD) PT levels in group B1 & B2 were shortened than that of group A which were statistically highly significant (P < 0.001). Within the study groups, PT levels were positively correlated (r=+0.027) with the group B1 and negatively correlated (r= -0.163) with the group B2. But both the relationships were statistically non significant. The mean (+SD) AM' level in group B1 was shortened than that of group A but the result was not statistically significant. The mean (*SD) AM' level in group B2 was shortened than that of group A but the result was statistically highly significant (P<0.001). Within the study groups, APPT levels were negatively correlated with the group B1 (r= -0.268) and also group B2 (r= -0.122). But both the relationships were statistically non significant. My present study revealed that prolonged duration of OCP use ( at least for 5 years) increases the risk of hypercoagulable state and thromboembolism in women.