Laboratory criteria for menopause in women using oral contraceptives.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate laboratory criteria for menopause in women talking oral contraceptives (OC).


METHODS
Prospective, uncontrolled pilot study.


METHODS
San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California, and Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.


METHODS
Twenty-eight menopausal women.


METHODS
Fourteen menopausal women received triphasic 35 micrograms ethinyl E2 and 180-215-250 micrograms norgestimate, and 14 menopausal women received monophasic 30 micrograms ethinyl E2-150 micrograms desogestrel.


METHODS
Serum FSH, LH, and E2 levels were evaluated on days 14 and 28 (day 7 of the pill-free interval) of the third cycle of pills.


RESULTS
Twelve women in each group completed the study. Fifteen (62.5%) subjects still had a serum FSH < 30 mIU/mL (30 IU/L) on the 7th day of the pill-free interval of the third pill package. All subjects had a serum FSH:LH ratio > 1 and 20 of 21 (95%) subjects had E2 < 20 pg/mL (73 pmol/L) at the end of the pill-free interval of the third cycle.


CONCLUSIONS
Measuring FSH on the 7th day of the pill-free interval is not a sensitive test for menopause. Serum FSH:LH ratio > 1 or E2 < 20 pg/mL (73 pmol/L) on the 7th day of the pill-free interval may be a more appropriate marker of menopause in women using OC in the later reproductive years.
Creinin
M D
MD
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Hospital, Pennsylvania 15213-3180, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D004958:Estradiol; D017135:Desogestrel; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C017576:norgestimate