IMPACT OF ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES ON THE PERIODONTIUM: A HISTOLOGICAL STUDY

Background: Sex hormones play an important role in periodontal tissue integration. Oral hormonal contraceptive pills (OCPs) were developed over 50 years ago. Different studies reported higher progression rate of gingival inflammation in females using OCPs. The present study was performed to evaluate histologically the influence of oral contraceptives on periodontal tissues.
Materials and Methods: A total of thirty healthy female Wistar albino rats aging between 10 to 12 weeks and weighing 230 – 260 gm were enrolled in this study. The animals were divided into two groups, fifteen rats each. Group I (Control group), rats receiving no medication. Group II (Study group), rats received Microcept® monophasic combined oral contraceptive tablets for 36 days. Histological examination of the peridontium was accomplished using light microscopy.
Results: Light microscopic examination of the control group revealed that the gingival epithelium was parakeratinized stratified squamous epithelium with long pointed rete pegs. Pyknotic nuclei were seen in the keratinous layer. Concerning the study group, the gingival epithelium revealed orthokeratinzed stratified squamous epithelium with short and blunt rete pegs and absence of nuclei in keratinous layer. Dentin and cementum showed external resorption.
Conclusion: The current study showed that oral contraceptives exhibited histological changes on the periodontium which can be correlated to different clinical findings.