Hematological Profile Changes Among Oral Contraceptive Users: A Narrative Review

Figures & data

Table 1 Changes in Red Blood Cell Parameters Among Oral Contraceptive Users

Parameter	OC Used	Result		Conclusion	Author
		Users	Non-Users
RBC × 10^12/L	COC	4.35 ± 0.48	4.14 ± 0.42	Increase	[61]
	Progestin only	–	–	Decrease	[63]
	COC	4.4 ± 0.51	4.6 ± 0.39	No difference	[69]
EVF (%)	COC	37.64 ± 2.46	36.52 ± 3.56	No difference	[60]
	COC	34.42	36.40	No difference	[65]
	COC	35.8 ± 3.27	37.3 ± 3.18	No difference	[69]
Hb (g/dl)	Not indicated	–	–	Increase	[30]
	COC	–	–	Increase	[61]
	COC	12.45	12.67	No difference	[46]
	COC	12.32 ± 0.81	11.93 ± 1.20	No difference	[60]
	COC	11.9 ± 1.14	12.1 ± 1.24	No difference	[69]
MCV	COC	87.04 ± 5.92	88.03 ± 4.56	No difference	[60]
	COC	81.4 ± 8.67	81.0 ± 7.73	No difference	[69]
MCH (pg)	COC	28.73 ± 2.16	28.47 ± 1.76	No difference	[60]
	COC	27.2 ± 3.32	26.7 ± 2.96	No difference	[69]
MCHC (g/dl)	COC	32.71 ± 0.90	32.55 ± 0.93	No difference	[60]
	COC	33.3 ± 0.93	32.9 ± 1.13	No difference	[69]
RDW (%)	COC	13.05 ± 1.35	12.89 ± 1.61	No difference	[60]

Note: The conclusions are derived from the respective authors listed.

Abbreviations: g/dl, gram per deciliter; pg, pico gram.

Table 2 Changes in Platelet Parameters Among Oral Contraceptive Users

Parameter	OC Used	Result		Conclusion	Author
		Users	Non-Users
Platelet ×10^9/L	COC	270.59	249.75	Increase	[65]
	COC	–	–	Increase	[67]
	COC	289.86	283.38	No difference	[46]
	COC	206.28 ± 39.08	196.65 ± 35.12	No difference	[60]
	COC	–	–	No difference	[66]
	COC	–	–	No difference	[68]
	COC	258 ± 100	294 ± 69	No difference	[69]
MPV	COC	–	–	No difference	[66]

Note: The conclusions are derived from the respective authors listed.

Abbreviation: L, liter.

Table 3 Changes in White Blood Cell Parameters Among Oral Contraceptive Users

Parameter	OC Used	Result		Conclusion	Author
		Users	Non-Users
WBC ×10^9 /L	COC	5.07	4.93	No difference	[65]
	COC	–	–	No difference	[66]
	COC	6.49	6.99	No difference	[46]
	COC	6.07 ± 1.29	6.19 ± 1.33	No difference	[60]
LYM%	COC	32.69 ± 3.83	32.81 ± 4.11	No difference	[60]
MON%	COC	8.04 ± 1.63	8.30 ± 1.82	No difference	[60]
NEU%	COC	56.12 ± 3.70	55.67 ± 4.14	No difference	[60]
EOS%	COC	2.35 ± 1.10	2.16 ± 0.83	No difference	[60]
BAS%	COC	0.91 ± 0.25	1.00 ± 0.34	No difference	[60]

Note: The conclusions are derived from the respective authors listed.

Abbreviation: L, liter.

Table 4 Changes in Coagulation Profile Among Oral Contraceptive Users

Profile	Type of OC Used	Result		Conclusion	Author
		OC Users	Non-Users
PT in second	COC	11.46	13.79	Decrease	[65]
	COC	-	-	Decrease	[67]
	COC	13.4	13.6	Decrease	[73]
	COC	12.8 ± 1.5	13.7 ± 2.05	Decrease	[75]
	COC	10.35	10.78	Decrease	[46]
	Both	14	13.4	No difference	[77]
	Not indicated	14.8 ± 1.2	14.8 ± 2.1	No difference	[76]
	COC	11.8 ± 2.27	12.4 ± 1.08	No difference	[69]
	Not indicated	14	13.5	No difference	[79]
APTT in second	COC	27.99	32.49	Decrease	[65]
	COC	40.9	41.9	Decrease	[73]
	COC	32.6 ± 1.92	33.7 ± 1.52	Decrease	[75]
	COC	25.9 ± 2.61	28.3 ± 2.76	Decrease	[69]
	Not indicated	31.3	33	Decrease	[79]
	Not indicated	33.1 ± 3.9	34.3 ± 4.9	No difference	[76]
	COC	-	-	No difference	[67]
	COC	29.83	30.46	No difference	[46]
TT in second	COC	17.57	20.45	Decrease	[65]
	COC	-	-	Decrease	[67]
	COC	11.9 ± 1.81	12.6 ± 1.27	Decrease	[75]
	Both	9.1	9.8	Decrease	[77]
Fibrinogen in mg/dl	COC	387.10	276.85	Increase	[65]
	COC	-	-	Increase	[67]
	COC	625	260	Increase	[74]
	COC	347 ± 80.9	305.9 ± 45.99	Increase	[75]
	COC	327.47	296.57	Increase	[46]
	Not indicated	161.4 ± 64.3	161 ± 71	No difference	[76]
	Both	266	249	No difference	[77]
D-dimer in ng/mL	COC	813.36	257.04	Increase	[65]
	Not indicated	1000	Negative	Increase	[79]
	COC	350 ± 0.07	210± 0.07	Increase	[83]

Notes: Negative D-dimer value is when the D-dimer level is below a predetermined cut-off threshold. The conclusions are derived from the respective authors listed.

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