title: Effect of oral contraceptives on respiratory function.
abstract: The present study was carried out to assess the lung functions in oral contraceptive administered women. Lung function tests were carried out with Spirometer (Vitallograph Compact II). A significant increase in vital capacity (VC) was observed in these women as compared to normal control. There was also a significant decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec./vital capacity (FEV1/VC%) and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec./forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC%) among oral contraceptive administered women as compared to controls. Further, a significant increase in peak expiratory flow rate (PEF), reduction in forced expiratory flow rate (FEF75-85%) and FEF75% were observed among oral contraceptive administered women as compared to controls. The increase in VC and PEF might be due to the synthetic form of progesterone (progestins) present in oral contraceptive pills which causes hyperventilatory changes. Synthetic progesterone during luteal phase of menstrual cycle might increase the static and dynamic volumes of lung i.e. VC and PEF. But FEF75% showed a decrease which might be due to the lower neuromuscular coordination during breathing.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, 686 560.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Resmi
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kesavachandran
authors.forename: Shankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shashidhar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol