The increase in leucocyte count during menstruation is a function of granulocytes

Abstract

Menstruation is an endocrine mediated physiologic cyclical bleeding per vagina in a non-pregnant woman of the reproductive age group. Blood is a good culture medium for bacteria and as such, menstruation can affect leucocytes count. This study is aimed at evaluating leucocytes count during menstruation. Fifty-eight volunteers which included twenty-eight menstruating test subjects and thirty non-menstruating control subjects were used for the study. Ethical clearance and informed consent were obtained for the study. Leucocytes count were determined according to standard laboratory method. The total leucocyte count of 5,240±62.34 cells/mm³ for control was significantly lower (p<0.05) than counts of 6,120 ±52.73 cells/mm³ and 6,207±65.08 cells/mm³ for days one and two of menstruation respectively.The granulocyte count of 3,269±41.55 cells/mm3 for control was significantly lower (p<0.05) than counts of 4,003 ±35.49 cells/mm³ and 4,245±44.72 cells/mm³ for days one and two of menstruation respectively. There was a significant difference between the granulocyte count for control and menstruating women. The increase in total leucocyte count observed during menstruation is a function of the granulocytes, which includes neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils.

Keywords: Leucocyte, Granulocytes, Agranulocytes, Menstruation