Iron stores in users of oral contraceptive agents.

A comparison of serum ferritin and other parameters of iron status was made between 46 women taking oral contraceptive agents (OCAs) for two or more years continuously and 71 women who never took OCAs. The mean serum ferritin level for the OCA users was 39.5 +/- 21.5 ng/ml and the control group mean level was 25.4 +/- 15.96 ng/ml, which is significantly different at p less than 0.001. Serum transferrin, serum iron, TIBC, MCH and MCHC levels were significantly greater for the OCA users group. Significantly lower RBC and hematocrit levels were found for OCA users while other parameters, hemoglobin, MCV and percent transferrin saturation, were not significantly different. No major differences in subject characteristics and dietary traits were evidenced, except a difference in reported menstrual cycle losses and a higher heme iron content in the diet of the OCA users.