Abstract
Objective: Contraception has gained gradual popularity in many parts of the developing world including Pakistan. Despite this increase in acceptance, the birth rate remains high. Failure of contraception has been reported in the literature, which made us aim to conduct this study. The efficiency of hormonal contraceptives in the study area was assessed and this is the first report from Pakistan. Methods: A total of 200 women (aged 20-30 and 31-40 years; n = 100 each) with minimum consistent use of hormonal contraceptives in the form of pills (Combined oral contraceptives) for 12 months were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected from women of each age group and corresponding control groups (n = 100) from local hospitals and reproductive health service center. Serum levels of the fertility hormones viz leutinizing and follicle stimulating hormones were measured through ELISA technique. Results: Our data revealed that over all in the both age groups, 72% women had normal, 16% increased and 12% showed decreased levels of leutinizing hormone (p > 0.05) and 67% women showed normal, 33% showed decreased and no increased levels were found for follicle stimulating hormone (p > 0.05). No age-wise significant difference in response was observed among both the age groups tested. Conclusion: Statistically insignificant difference in serum leutinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone seen among both the age groups of hormonal contraceptive users and control group indicates less effective hormonal contraception response in the study area.
Highlights
Worldwide more than 100 million women choose hormonal contraception for family planning [1]
This study presents data about the use of hormonal contraceptives among women of different age groups (20 - 30 and 31 - 40 years) and the corresponding levels of fertility hormones viz leutinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Our findings indicate that over all, a fraction of total female population was using hormonal contraceptives in Khairpur
Summary
Worldwide more than 100 million women choose hormonal contraception for family planning [1]. In spite of the general usage of significantly effective contraceptive, it is reported that 49% of pregnancies occurred unintentionally in the USA [5]. Around half of the unintended pregnancies have been reported due to contraceptive failure [6]. Another study in France documents pregnancies in presence of consistent use of contraception where 82% of contraceptive users were using the pill or the intrauterine device (IUD) where 1/3 pregnancies were unintended, and the pregnancies occurred in 65% women at the time when they were on contraceptives [7]. In the present study, the usage and response of oral contraceptives in the women of Khairpur were evaluated
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