Virginia Research Day 2025

Medical Student Research Clinical

11 Vascular Impact of Oral Contraceptives: A Comparative Analysis of Uterine and Ovarian Artery Indices via Doppler Ultrasound

Brooke Nelson; Benita Luke; Rachel Thomas; Hannah Kasper; Bradley Kasper; Carrie Champine, DO; Cathy Callahan, MD Corresponding author: bnelson@vcom.edu

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus

Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs) and Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) have been widely used by reproductive-aged women for both contraceptive and therapeutic purposes since the 1960s. As a negative side effect profile of certain long-acting reversible contraceptives (such as Copper IUDs) began to increase, so did the body of research surrounding the vascular effects that these contraceptives have on the female reproductive anatomy. A similar investigative movement never occurred for OCPs, however, leaving their impact on the vascular anatomy under investigated. The goal of this study was to deepen the understanding of the effects of OCPs in relation to the blood flow within the female reproductive system, specifically the uterine and ovarian arteries.

Fifty-three reproductive-aged females (ages 18 31) were recruited from VCOM-Virginia and the Bluefield College Master of Biomedical Sciences program. All participants were screened to ensure regularity of menstrual cycles, lack of previous reproductive pathology, and either use of OCPs or non-medical contraceptive methods. Transabdominal doppler ultrasound was then utilized by a certified gynecologic registered diagnostic medical sonographer to capture pulsatile and resistance indices of the uterine and bilateral ovarian arteries. These indices were chosen as they were the focus of the existing literature surrounding IUD vascular impact. This study is currently in the data analysis phase; therefore, results are limited, however, it appears that

though each metric was slightly lower in the OCP group, there is not a statistically significant difference between the pulsatile and resistance indices of the uterine nor ovarian arteries between women taking OCPs and those utilizing non-medical contraceptive methods. Results from this study will contribute to the small body of research surrounding the physiologic effects of OCPs. Additionally, there is potential to help further explain the effects that OCPs have on the menstrual cycle, specifically the menstrual period and associated symptoms. This study was approved by VCOM-IRB, protocol number 2063743-5.

137 2025 Research Recognition Day