In this study the influence of low-dose oral contraceptives (OC) on the different components of the fibrinolytic system before and immediately after maximal exercise was examined in a group of 18 moderately active women. Nine women using OC and nine control women performed a maximal effort treadmill protocol. Comparison of the resting parameters revealed higher plasma FbDP, plasminogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin and protein C concentrations, and lower PAI activity in the OC group. No differences were observed in plasma concentrations of t-PA antigen, t-PA activity, PAI antigen, antithrombin III, and protein S. Acute maximal exercise resulted in significant increases in t-PA antigen, t-PA activity, t-PA/PAI complexes, and FbDP in both groups of subjects, while PAI activity was reduced. No significant differences were found for the change in those parameters between control and OC users. Exercise induced no variation in any of the groups for PAI antigen, alpha 2-antiplasmin, plasminogen, protein C, or protein S. Our data suggest that changes in the fibrinolytic system induced by physical exercise are not affected by oral contraceptives.