LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES ON LEIOMYOMA DEVELOPMENT IN PRE-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN
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Abstract
Leiomyoma, commonly known as uterine fibroids, is a prevalent benign tumor affecting women of reproductive age. Oral contraceptives (OCs) are widely used for birth control and other gynecological conditions, but their long-term effects on leiomyoma development remain contentious. This study aims to assess the long-term effects of oral contraceptive use on the development of uterine leiomyoma in pre-menopausal women. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted involving 100 pre-menopausal women aged 25-45 years from Allama Iqbal Hospital, Lahore. The participants were divided into two groups: those who had used OCs and those who had never used them. Data collection included medical history, BMI, blood pressure, contraceptive use, and ultrasound findings to detect leiomyoma. Statistical analysis, including logistic regression, assessed the relationship between OC use and leiomyoma incidence. The study found a significant association between higher body mass index (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) and leiomyoma incidence, with women in the case group having a higher mean BMI (25.6 ± 2.3) compared to the control group (23.4 ± 2.1) (P < 0.05). Additionally, hypertension was more prevalent in the case group (19.2%) than in the control group (14%) (P < 0.05). The case group, consisting of women diagnosed with leiomyomas, exhibited a significantly higher proportion of OC users (17.4%) compared to the control group (10.3%) (P < 0.05). The women currently using OCs had a significantly higher risk of developing leiomyoma (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.22-2.94, P < 0.05) than those who had never used OCs. The study concludes that long-term oral contraceptive use is associated with a higher risk of leiomyoma development in pre-menopausal women, particularly in those with higher BMI or hypertension.
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Abeerah Zafar
Senior Registrar of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, Sahiwal, Pakistan.
Aftab Khursheed
Medical Officer in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, Pakistan.
Anum Yousaf
Senior Registrar of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, Sahiwal, Pakistan.
Sehrish Muzafar
Senior Registrar of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, Sahiwal, Pakistan.
Tayyaba Yasin
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Shazia Naz
Demonstrator in department of biochemistry at Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal, Pakistan.
Rizwana Dilshad
Associate professor at Swedish College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan