Impact of Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills on CD4 Count, Osmotic Fragility, Total and Differential White Blood Cells of Users in Antenatal Clinic in Port Harcourt

Abstract

The use of hormonal contraceptives is on the increase among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. In this study, effort was made to examine the influence of combined oral contraceptive on some white blood cells parameters in women attending family planning clinic. Data for this study were obtained through questionnaires administered on one hundred and twenty (120) respondents who were randomly and purposively selected. Blood samples were collected and analysed using appropriate techniques. One way ANOVA was adopted as the statistical analysis method for the study. It was found out from the study that combined oral contraceptive suppresses the immune system of users and may predispose them to infection. Thus, it is concluded from the study that oral contraceptives with high oestrogen could be harmful to users while low oestrogen contraceptive has shown potentials of reversing negative effects of high oestrogen contraceptives. It is recommended from this study that women should cut down on the use of oral contraceptives especially high oestrogen content oral contraceptives.