Effect of oral contraceptives on serum prolactin: a longitudinal study in 126 normal premenopausal women.
A prospective longitudinal study was carried out in 126 normal premenopausal women aged 18-34 years to determine the effect of oral contraceptives containing less than 50 micrograms of oestrogen on serum prolactin concentration. The mean prolactin concentration in patients receiving oral contraceptives (n = 80) rose from a control level of 8.9 ng/ml to 10.2 ng/ml at 3 months (P less than 0.05) and 10.9 ng/ml at 12 months (P less than 0.001). In a parallel group of patients (n = 46) who used intrauterine devices for contraception, no significant change in serum prolactin concentration was observed over the same period. It is concluded that currently available oral contraceptives have a small but significant stimulatory effect on prolactin secretion in normal women.
Hwang
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D019304:Ethinyl Estradiol-Norgestrel Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000494:pharmacology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D004338:Drug Combinations; C020416:norethindrone acetate, ethinyl estradiol, ferrous fumarate drug combination; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D019304:Ethinyl Estradiol-Norgestrel Combination; D011388:Prolactin; D009640:Norethindrone