Effect of long-acting progestational contraceptive injections on the hemostatic mechanism

ABSTRACT

A battery of tests to monitor the haemostatic mechanism have been done in a group of 18 healthy women receiving two injectable contraceptives depot-medroxy-progesterone acetate [DMPA] and norethisterone oenanthate [NET-OEN]. There was a significant enhancement of thromboplastic activity, but with no appreciable effect on clotting and bleeding times. Plasma fibrinogen showed a significant increase in NET-OEN users and the euglobulin lysis time was significantly raised on DMPA users. In both groups, the prothrombin activity was significantly lower and the adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregability revealed a marked increase. These changes were suggested to be due to associated changes of phospholipid fractions, impairment of hepatocellular function and direct effect of progestational agents