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Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the levels of oxidative stress parameters in women using progestogen-only contraceptives and compare the levels with population of women not involved with contraceptive use. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 250 apparently healthy, non-pregnant, non- smoking women, aged between 18 and 50 years were recruited. 150 women served as the study subjects while 100 healthy non-pregnant women of the age bracket who have never used any contraceptive device constitute the control population. The subjects willingly consented to participate in the study. 5mls of whole blood was collected by standard venipuncture technique from each participant into dipotassium ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) bottle and plasma separated for the determination of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde and total antioxidant activity using standardized procedures. Values obtained were analyzed statistcally and significance was established at p < 0.05. Results: Result showed that significantly (p<0.05) elevated mean of 42.24 ± 6.23µ/mg protein and 45.02±6.07 µ/mg protein for catalase activity and 24.27±11.25 µmol/ml/mg protein and 29.58±9.87 for malondialdehyde level for non-contraceptive and contraceptive users were observed. No significant (p>0.05) variation in the means of other natural antioxidants was observed. Also no significant variation in the means of the antioxidants was found between the implant and injectable contraceptive users. Similarly, variation in age class and duration of use of contraceptives did not significantly (p>0.05) affect the activities of the antioxidants in the contraceptive users. However, the correlations of the antioxidant indices levels obtained from the hormonal contraceptives with the age of the subjects and the duration of use of the contraceptives showed that a moderate positive corelation (r = 0.344) and (r = 0.3258) of SOD and GPx was found with the duration of use of the implant contraceptives (combined) while a negative correlation (r = -0.388) was observed between CAT and duration of use the implant contraceptives respectively. Conclusion: These results though conflicting brings to the fore the observation that prolonged use of hormonal contraceptives may reverse the lipid peroxidation and tisssue damage initially experienced with hormonal contraceptive use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lipids and lipoproteins are central to the energy metabolism of the liver, and have continued to be important in clinical practice; basically because of their association with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). Abnormal lipid metabolism is linked to atherosclerosis due to rising incidence of abdominal obesity. Objective: To evaluate some cardiovascular disease risk status such as lipid profile of pregnant Normotensive and Hypertensive women and compare it with the corresponding levels in Non pregnant Normotensive women. Method: This study was conducted in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A total of 300 women were registered for the study after taking informed consent. 100 of them were pregnant hypertensives, 100 pregnant Normotensives and 100 Non pregnant normotensives as control. All relevant information was recorded on a predesigned questionnaire. Serum total cholesterol (TC), High-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol(VLDL-C) and Triglyceride levels were measured in the 200 women, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP & DBP) and BMI; and compared with that of the 100 non pregnant Normotensive women. Result: Total Cholesterol levels were not statistically significant between the subject groups and control. Mean values of TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and VLDL-C were significant at p<0.05. Age, BMI, SBP and DBP were also significant at p<0.05. BMI, SBP and DBP, TG, HDL and VLDL were statistically significant when HPW were compared with NPW. Age, BMI, SBP and DBP, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C were statistically significant when HPW were compared with NNPW. Only, BMI and TG were statistically significant at 19 P<0.05 when NPW were compared with NNPW. 90% of HPW at 38.72±6.56, 14% of NPW at 36.16±12.74, and 2% of NNPW at 31.38±0.88 were obese. HPW and NPW had higher ratios of TG: HDL (75% and 74%) compared to NNPW of 10%. NPW and NNPW had higher ratios of TC: HDL (65% and 48%) compared to HPW of 4%. NPW and HPW had higher ratio of LDL: HDL (17% and 14%) compared to NNPW of 13%. Conclusion: Lipoprotein levels and ratios are higher in hypertensive and Normotensive pregnant women, than in Normotensive Non pregnant women; thereby, exposing them to cardiovascular risks in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]