Coagulation profile in women of reproductive age using hormonal contraceptives: A descriptive study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21763887Keywords:
hormonal contraceptives, hemostasis, blood coagulation tests, fibrinogen, womenAbstract
Introduction: Hormonal contraceptives may be accompanied by changes in hemostatic variables, whose interpretation requires considering the type of formulation, clinical characteristics and laboratory reference values. Objective: To describe coagulation profile results in women of reproductive age using hormonal contraceptives who were seen at a hospital center in Asunción, Paraguay. Materials and methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted between September and October 2023. Thirty volunteers using hormonal contraceptives were included. A survey was administered and blood samples were analyzed with a complete blood count and global coagulation tests on an automated analyzer: prothrombin time, prothrombin activity, activated partial thromboplastin time, international normalized ratio, fibrinogen and platelet count. Results: Sixteen participants (53.3%) used oral contraceptives, seven (23.3%) injectables, three (10.0%) subdermal implants and four (13.3%) hormonal intrauterine devices. Prothrombin time was classified as decreased in 56.7% and within the reference interval in 43.3%. Prothrombin activity was increased in 50.0% and within the reference interval in 50.0%. Activated partial thromboplastin time was prolonged in 3.3% and within the reference interval in 96.7%. Fibrinogen was increased in 50.0% and within the reference interval in 50.0%. No relevant alterations of the international normalized ratio or platelet count were observed. Conclusions: In this descriptive series, alterations were observed in some global coagulation tests, especially prothrombin time, prothrombin activity and fibrinogen. Because of the absence of a comparator group, the sample size and the lack of inferential analysis, the results do not allow these findings to be attributed to hormonal contraceptive use or individual thrombotic risk to be estimated.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Shol Valleria Sanabria Martínez, Sol Noceda, Jazmín Olazar, Leniz Ortíz, Anahí Penayo, Gissel Riveros, Alfredo Verón, Carlos Héctor Molinas-Duré, Luz Guillermina Morales de Chenú (Autor/a)
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