International Journal of Medical Laboratory Research (IJMLR)

HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES USE AND THE FEAR OF CERVICAL CANCER AS ITS AFFECT THE NIGERIAN POPULATION GROWTH

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Imeobong Joseph Inyang, Mfoniso Udonkang, BASSEY IYA E, Aniekan EYO, Stanley Anyanwu, Enosakhare Asemota, Omashiem loveth

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ABSTRACT: This study on cervical cytology of women on contraceptives in Calabar Metropolis was conducted as there was a need to dismiss or confirm the widespread attribution of the increased risk of cervical cancer to the use of hormonal contraceptives. The prevalence of contraceptive use in Nigeria is 11-13%. However, the high mortality rate of 20-40%  attributed to this low prevalence is to a large extent a result of the acclaimed myths of the effect of hormonal contraceptives use and the risk of cervical cancer. The study seeks to ascertain if there is any abnormal cytological change in the cervix of women using hormonal contraceptives in Calabar Metropolis that could lead to cervical cancer. Random sampling techniques were employed by trained research assistants. Cervical smears were collected from 70 women using hormonal contraceptives and 96 women who did not. The smears were prepared, stained and reported for cervical dysplasia using the Bethesda system. The results obtained showed that 98.6% of the test subjects and 92.6% of the control subjects had smear negative for squamous intraepithelial lesion, while 1.4% of test subjects and 4.2% of control subjects had low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion.  Papanicoloau smear results showed that 38.6% of test subjects and 29.5% of control subjects had inflammatory smears. This study has shown that there is no association of cervical dysplasia with hormonal contraceptives use as there were more cases of cervical dysplasia among control subjects as compared to the test group and almost equal incidence of inflammatory smears in both groups.

KEYWORDS: Cervical cancer, Hormonal contraceptives, Pap smear, Cervical cytology.

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