Combined Oral Contraceptives Increase High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein but Not Haptoglobin in Female Athletes.

Background No studies have examined the effects of oral hormonal contraception on chronic low-grade inflammation as assessed by stratified levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in athletes. We explored the impact of combined oral contraceptives (OCs) on serum hsCRP, haptoglobin, triglycerides and cholesterol in white female athletes.