Comparative Effects of Injectable and Oral Hormonal Contraceptives on Lipid Profile

Background and AimsThe continual use of hormonal contraceptives among women within reproductive age has been on the increase. The effects of these contraceptives on lipid metabolism vary depending on the type of hormonal contraceptive. This study was carried out among Nigerian women, to compare theeffects of injectable hormonal contraceptives to that of combined oral contraceptives on lipid profile (triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low density lipo-protein-cholesterol).MethodsThe lipid profile of a total of 83 women (50 of whom were non-users of contraceptives while the remaining 33 used different hormonal contraceptives; 26 of them used the injectable hormonalcontraceptives while 7 used oral contraceptives) were estimated using enzymatic methods except low density lipoprotein- cholesterol (LDL-C) which was by calculation.ResultsThere was a significant change (p < 0.05) in triglyceride (TG) and LDL-C levels, and no significant change (p > 0.05) in total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in women on oral contraceptives, while in injectable hormonal contraceptive users, there was significant change (p < 0.05) in HDL-C and LDL-C, and no significant change in TG and TC levels. The Castelli risk index I and II (TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C) were more reduced in women using injectable contraceptives (1.65 and 0.45, respectively) than in oral contraceptive users (1.80 and 0.56,respectively).ConclusionThe result indicated that the use of injectable hormonal contraceptives is more beneficial than combined oral contraceptives among these women.