EFFECT OF HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES ON SERUM ELECTROLYTES AND BLOOD PRESSURE

Objective: To find out serum electrolytes and blood pressure in Pakistani females, using oral and injectable contraceptives. Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted at Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Army Medical College Rawalpindi and various family planning clinics of Rawalpindi and Wah from June 2002 to June 2003. Using convenient sampling technique, ninety women were included in the study. They were divided into three groups: Group A [Oral contraceptive users (n=30)]; group B [Injectable users (n=30)], both using contraceptives for more than 1 year; and Group C [Controls (n=30)], not using any form of contraceptives. Blood pressure was recorded. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for serum electrolytes. One way anova was used at 95% of confidence interval for comparing the data of various groups and p 0.05 was taken as significant. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated between variables. Results: Systolic blood pressure shows a significant difference in both groups A and B as compared to control (p 0.05) but diastolic blood pressure was higher in injectable users only (p 0.05) and group A was higher than group C but difference was not significant. Serum potassium was less in group A and B as compared to control but the difference was significant in group B (p 0.01) while in group A was non-significant (p 0.05). Serum sodium shows higher level in group A and B than control but the difference was statistically not significant Conclusion: In hormonal contraceptive users there are significant changes in blood pressure and electrolytes except serum sodium.