Normal sister-chromatid exchanges in oral contraceptive users.

Sister-chromatid exchanges in peripheral lymphocytes were examined in 115 healthy women, aged 15-43 years. 63 women were on no medication at all, and 52 women used oral contraceptives. 30 metaphases from each culture were scored for SCE. In accord with previous studies, cigarette smoking increased SCE. The use of oral contraceptives had no influence on SCE on non-smoking and in cigarette-smoking women. Thus the results did not indicate any potential mutagenic effect of oral contraceptives.