title: Influence of low-dose oral contraception on peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets at particular phases of the hormonal cycle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of low-dose oral hormonal contraception on the immune system during certain phases of the hormonal cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, nonrandomized, controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic research setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with regular menstrual cycle using hormonal oral contraception (OC; Cileste, 250 microg of norgestimat and 35 microg of ethinylestradiol, or Marvelon, 150 microg of desogestrel and 30 microg of ethinylestradiol) and women not using hormonal or other forms of contraception.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were determined by flow cytometry on the first day of menstruation (day 1), in the follicular phase (day 8), midcycle (day 15), and in the luteal phase (day 22).
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of lymphocyte subpopulations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women using OC had significantly higher levels of CD3+ CD8+ cells throughout their pill cycle compared to controls. Furthermore, women taking Cileste had lower levels of natural killer (NK) cells during their cycle and also women taking Marvelon but only from days 8-15. Within the pill cycle of Cileste we observed an increase in CD20+ and CD20+ CD5+ cells from days 1-8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytotoxic lymphocytes, which are responsible for first-line immune defense, and B cells, which are involved in autoimmune disorders, are affected by OC.
authors.affiliation: Division of Special Gynecology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Auerbach
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hafner
authors.forename: Johannes C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D019304:Ethinyl Estradiol-Norgestrel Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008215:Lymphocytes, Null / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004338:Drug Combinations; C109079:norgestimate, ethinyl estradiol drug combination; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D019304:Ethinyl Estradiol-Norgestrel Combination; D017135:Desogestrel