The effects of monophasic and triphasic oral contraceptives on ovarian function and endometrial thickness.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze and compare the effects of seven low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs) on ovarian function and endometrial thickness.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of users of one of five monophasic OCs, one of two triphasic OCs and a control group of non-users. Ovarian function, endometrial thickness and serum hormone levels were monitored during days 10-12 and 16-18 of the cycle.


RESULTS
Serum estradiol was suppressed in OC users to a greater degree during days 16-18 than during days 10-12, whereas serum progesterone during 16-18 was in the anovulatory range with each preparation. Ovarian activity as measured by follicular size was lowest with desogestrel-containing OCs, whereas greater activity was seen with triphasic levonorgestrel/ethinylestradiol and triphasic norgestimate/ethinylestradiol. Endometrial thickness in OC users was significantly smaller than in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
All preparations demonstrated profound suppression of ovarian activity and effectively prevented ovulation. Ovarian suppression with desogestrel/ethinylestradiol 150/20 did not differ from that of other OCs despite its lower ethinylestradiol content. The use of both triphasic OCs, having a relatively low progestogenic activity, was associated with a higher ovarian activity than that of the monophasic OCs.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Women's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Rabe
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Nitsche
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Runnebaum
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D019304:Ethinyl Estradiol-Norgestrel Combination / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009652:Norpregnenes; C109079:norgestimate, ethinyl estradiol drug combination; C055368:Femovan; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019304:Ethinyl Estradiol-Norgestrel Combination; D017135:Desogestrel