Abstract
Red blood cell parameters were analyzed in a group of 3,736 women, which included 1,083 current, 1,079 past, and 1,574 never users of contraceptive drugs. After adiustment for age and menstrual blood loss, oral contraceptive users exhibited a slight but statistically significant elevation in RBC indices coupled with decreased hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell count (RBC). These findings are consistent with a folate and/or vitamin B12 deficiency that becomes more significant considering the high socioeconomic level of our subjects, but the hazard of a clinically significant macrocytic anemia in a healthy, well‐nourished woman using an oral contraceptive is probably minimal.
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