Progestational agents and blood coagulation

Two groups of women received a combination of 2.5 mg. 17-alpha-19-norethindrone acetate and 50 mcg. ethinyl estradiol. The drug was administered cyclically, and blood samples were analyzed at intervals for changes in blood coagulation factors. The first group consisted of 19 patients, all of whom were tested before, and some after 7, and 15 months, on the medication. The second group was composed of 40 women who had received the medication for a period exceeding 2 years. Statistically significant differences pointing toward hypercoagulability were evidenced in five parameters: platelet count, clot tensile strength, thromboplastin generation screen, and recalcification time of plateletpoor as well as platelet-rich plasma.