Follicular growth during contraceptive pill or vaginal ring treatment depends on the day of ovulation in the pretreatment cycle.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the day of ovulation and the duration of a pretreatment cycle were related to the degree of follicular growth during subsequent contraceptive treatment.


METHODS
This randomized, open-label study was performed in 40 healthy female volunteers, who were randomized by a computer-generated list after stratification for the ovulation day in a pretreatment cycle. They received two cycles of NuvaRing (21 subjects) or a combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing 30 microg ethinylestradiol and 150 microg levonorgestrel (19 subjects). Follicular diameter and serum hormone concentrations (FSH, LH, 17beta-estradiol, progesterone) were measured every third day. Data from treatment day 20 onwards were used for analysis.


RESULTS
In the NuvaRing users, subjects with short cycles and early ovulations in the pretreatment cycle developed larger follicles during treatment than subjects with longer cycles and late ovulations. In the COC users, subjects with early ovulations in the pretreatment cycle developed larger follicles during treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The degree of follicular growth during treatment with a combined hormonal contraceptive is influenced by the duration of the pretreatment cycle and particularly by the duration of the follicular phase.
Dinox Medical Investigations, Groenewoudseweg 317, 6524 TX Nijmegen, The Netherlands. iduijkers@dinoxgroup.com
Ingrid J M
IJ
Duijkers
Carole H J
CH
Verhoeven
Thom O M
TO
Dieben
Christine
C
Klipping
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003274:Contraceptive Devices, Female; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D014621:Vagina
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone