Pages: (67-72 )
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of combined oral contraceptive pills and progestin-only injectable contraceptives on liver function. Sixty consenting subjects aged 30-45 years were enrolled for this study from Isolo Lagos State, Nigeria following ethical approval obtained from Babcock University Health Research Ethics Committee (BUHREC). The study comprised of twenty women who have been taking combined oral contraceptive pills for more than one year and twenty women who have been receiving progestin-only injectable contraceptives for more than one year. Twenty-age-and sexmatched non-contraceptive users from the same geographical location were selected as controls. The in-vitro assay of serum Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was performed using Randox Kit. Data analysis was conducted using ANOVA and post-hoc at 5% level of significance for all test of hypothesis. The results showed that for each parameter measured for the two experimental and control groups, the serum activities of AST
(56.5±19.7; 53.7±15.8 and 42.8±9.4), ALT (26.9±13.0; 24.5±10.7 and 17.4±5.6) and ALP (78.8±26.3; 81.2±22.9 and 60.1±14.2) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in oral and injectable contraceptive users than with the controls respectively. This study concluded that the use of combined oral contraceptive pills and progestin-only injectable contraceptives could cause disturbed liver function. Individuals using these contraceptives should be constantly monitored.
Keywords: Liver function, Combined oral contraceptives, Progestin-only injectable contraceptives, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase.,