A holistic evaluation of risks associated with the use of progestogen-based hormonal contraceptive among reproductive age women in Ilorin: Hematological and biochemical perspectives

Background: Despite the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (HCs) in birth control, many women remain hesitant to adopt it, while some are abandoning it due to concerns about potential side effects. These fears are often driven by conflicting reports in the existing literatures regarding the risks associated with their use, particularly concerning long-term health impacts on critical organs and systems. In view of this background, this study evaluated likely progestogen-based hormonal contraceptives (PHCs) associated risk among the inhabitants of Ilorin metropolis.

Methods: A total of 325 participants comprises of 220 PHC users and 105 non-users were recruited for the study, their socio-demographic were obtained using questionnaire. Comprehensive hematology and coagulatory parameters as well as various organ’s specific biomarkers and anthropometric data were evaluated among the two groups using standard methods and procedures. Quantitative and qualitative variables were expressed in mean ± SD and percentage respectively. Student’ test and descriptive analysis was used for the comparisons. Logistic regression was used to assess the independent effect of PHCs on coagulation factor alteration, controlling for potential confounders. SPSS version 26.1 was used for the statistical analysis, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Result: The outcome revealed higher frequency of abnormalities in both the rate and the duration of menstrual blood flow in PHC users than non-users. The result also showed that mean RBC count was significantly higher among PHCs users (p=0,010), while both aPTT and Protein-S were significantly reduced in the PHC users than that of non-users (p = 0.002) and (p = 0.004) respectively. 

Conclusion: This finding concludes that both short and long-term usages of PHC is not associated with anemia, inflammation, renal, and cardiac. However, it’s resulted in mild thrombotic and hepatic injury.