Effects of two oral contraceptive combinations, 0.125 mg desogestrel + 0.050 mg ethinylestradiol and 0.125 mg levonorgestrel + 0.050 mg ethinylestradiol on the adrenal function of healthy female volunteers.
The effects of the oral contraceptive combinations of 0.125 mg desogestrel + 0.050 mg ethinylestradiol (EE), and of 0.125 mg levonorgestrel + 0.050 mg EE on serum cortisol and the urinary excretion of 17-oxogenic steroids and free cortisol were studied in 16 healthy females. Adrenal responsiveness was studied by the metyrapone test. Both contraceptive combinations increased (P less than 0.001) serum cortisol concentrations but the rhythmic fluctuation at different times of the day remained unchanged. The urinary excretion of 17-oxogenic steroids was lower (P less than 0.01) during treatment than before or after treatment with both contraceptive combinations. The metyrapone test showed normal adrenal responsiveness during the treatment cycles. The urinary excretion of free cortisol was unchanged when desogestrel + EE was used, but increased (P less than 0.01) during treatment with levonorgestrel + EE. However, even then, the urinary free cortisol was within the normal range of the population. All the test results of hormone determinations normalized soon after finishing the contraceptive treatments. It is suggested that the abnormalities seen were due to an increased serum binding capacity of cortisol induced by EE and not a sign of pathological changes in adrenal function. No major differences in the biological effects of the two combinations tested were seen.
D015065:17-Hydroxycorticosteroids / Q000652:urine; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017135:Desogestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D008797:Metyrapone; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011372:Progestins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation
D015065:17-Hydroxycorticosteroids; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D009652:Norpregnenes; D011372:Progestins; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D017135:Desogestrel; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008797:Metyrapone