Female sex hormones and the erythrocyte Sedimentation rate Results from a population study of women in Göteberg, Sweden

Abstract

A population sample of women initially aged 38—60 years was studied in 1968—69 and 1974—75. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was similar in women using oral contraceptives, in women who had stopped taking the pill and in the other women in the total population sample. No difference in ESR values was found between women taking different progestogen-oestrogen combinations. ESR was higher in postmenopausal women than in women of the same age who were still menstruating, the difference being statistically significant in the group of 50-year-old women. ESR was lower in postmenopausal women on oestrogen substitution than in other postmenopausal women of the same age. This difference was statistically significant in the group of 52-year-old women. We conclude that a discovery of high ESR values in women should not be explained by their usage of contraceptives pills or oestrogen substitution.

Key Words:

• erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• oestrogen substitution
• oral contraceptives
• menopause
• population study
• women