Contraceptive methods and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in Tehranian women: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Combined oral contraceptive (COC) users were reported to be at high risk for vascular thromboembolism and cardiovascular diseases. This cross-sectional study was aimed at determining the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in COC users and non-users in Tehran in 1999. The subjects were 2480 married women aged 15-49 years among the 15 000 participants in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. The method of contraception (COCs, intrauterine devices (IUDs), condoms or coitus interruptus) was determined by questionnaire. Blood pressure, height and weight were measured. A 12-14 h fasting blood sample was taken for the determination of serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Two-hour postprandial plasma glucose, after 75 g oral glucose, was measured. Coitus interruptus, COC, condom and IUD were used in 48, 11, 4 and 5% of the individuals, respectively; 32% used no contraception. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL rates were within normal limits in all groups. No significant differences were observed in blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL between COC users and non-users. The present findings reveal the safety of COC pills in a group of Tehranian women. We recommend usage of COC pills in these women with respect to the background and confounding factors.