Estrogenic effect of gestodene- or desogestrel-containing oral contraceptives on lipoprotein metabolism
article
In a randomized comparative study, changes in lipoprotein metabolism during the use of two low-dose oral contraceptives with similar doses of ethinyl estradiol but with different progestogenically active compounds were evaluated for their effective estrogen/androgen balance. Sixty-eight healthy women who did not take hormonally active drugs or were pregnant the previous 3 months took either 75 μg of gestodene + 30 μg of ethinyl estradiol or 150 μg of desogestrel + 30 μg ethinyl estradiol during 12 cycles. During the first three cycles serum levels of the following parameters increased: triglycerides, cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein A1, A2, and B. Additional increase was observed in apolipoprotein B only after three and six cycles. The induced changes were not significantly different in the two groups, and the levels generally remained within normal limits. The changes seen with both pills reflect a mild estrogenic dominance. On the basis of current knowledge, moderately altered lipoprotein metabolism is not expected to impose an extra risk of atherosclerosis.
Topics
BiologyComparative StudiesContraceptionContraceptive Methods--side effectsEndocrine SystemEstrogens--side effectsFamily PlanningHormonesLipid Metabolic Effects--changesLipidsOral Contraceptives--side effectsPhysiologyResearch MethodologyStudiesAdultArteriosclerosisComparative StudyContraceptives, Oral, CombinedContraceptives, Oral, HormonalDesogestrelEthinyl EstradiolFemaleHumanLipoproteinsNorpregnenesProgestational Hormones, SyntheticRandom AllocationReference ValuesRisk FactorsSupport, Non-U.S. Gov't
TNO Identifier
231094
ISSN
00029378
Source
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 163(1 Part 2), pp. 358-362.
Pages
358-362
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