Lipoprotein changes in women taking low-dose combined oral contraceptive pills: a cross-sectional study in Basra, Iraq.

We assessed lipid and lipoprotein levels in 100 women taking low-dose COCs and a control group of 100 non-users attending the family planning centre Basra Maternity and Child Hospital, Iraq. Venous blood was collected after 12-14 hours fasting, and serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels were measured. Serum TG, HDL-C and VLDL levels were significantly higher and LDL-C levels lower in users than non-users but TC levels did not differ between the 2 groups. TG, HDL-C and VLDL levels rose with age and duration of use while LDL-C levels decreased; TC levels did not change.