Evaluation of genetic damage in human lymphocytes of women using oral contraceptives

The genotoxic effect of low dose oral contraceptive pills on the frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) was investigated on 43 healthy females classified as; 15 women received pills containing 150 microg desogesterel and 30 microg ethinyl estradiol, 14 women received pills containing 250 microg Norgestamine and 35 microg ethinyl estradiol and 14 women received pills containing 75 microg gestodene and 30 microg ethinyl estradiol. The pills were taken orally as a single daily usage in a monthly cycle of 3 weeks and one week off during twelve consecutive menstrual cycles. Also 15 healthy women with regular menstrual cycle not receiving any hormonal therapy were included as a control. There was no statistically significant difference in CA, SCE when healthy women were compared with women taking oral contraceptive pills (p>0.05). Also no statistically significant difference was detected when comparing between the 3 different types of oral contraceptives (p>0.05). Our data suggest that the 3 types of oral contraceptive pills used during twelve consecutive menstrual cycles do not induce chromosomal aberrations or sister chromatid exchange in peripheral blood lymphocytes of women.