title: Laboratory criteria for menopause in women using oral contraceptives.
abstract: 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.
authors: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Hospital, Pennsylvania 15213-3180, USA.
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Creinin
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D004958:Estradiol; D017135:Desogestrel; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C017576:norgestimate