bjective To study the influence of oral
contraceptives on cervical epithelium,serum and red blood cell folate levels of users
and to observe the changes after treatment with folic acid. Metbods Morphology of cervical epithelium,serum folate and red blood r cell folate levels were stud- ied in 101 women who had used oral
contraceptives for over 6 months and 33 intrauterine devices users served as controls,29 women using oral contraceptives with cervical
megaloblastic changes were treated with folic acid(5mg daily)for 3～4weeks and followed up for observation on morphological changes of cervical epithelium. Results The mean nuclear diameter of cervical epithelial cells was larger in the oral contraceptive group than that in the control group(P<0.001).Megaloblastic changes in cervical epithelium occured in 29 women in the oral contraceptive group(28.7%).There was significant difference in the occur-rence of cervical megaloblastic changes between the two groups(P<0.01).The level of red blood cell folate was lower in the oral contraceptive group than that in the control group(P<0.05).There was no difference in serum folate,hemoglobin and neutrophil nuclear index between the two groups(P >0.05).The mean nuclear diameter of cervical epthelial cells decreased signiflcantly (P<0.001)and multinuclear and vacuolar changes disappeared after folic acid therapy in 26 women with megaloblastic changes. Conclusions Oral contraceptives reduced folate storage in the the body and resulted in megaloblastic changes in cervical epithelium,This condition was improved with folic acid therapy.