title: Effect of oral versus transdermal steroidal contraceptives on androgenic markers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare biochemical androgen profiles in women treated with the contraceptive patch versus an oral contraceptive (OC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four healthy women were randomly assigned to receive 3 cycles of either the contraceptive patch (ethinyl estradiol [EE] 20 microg/d and norelgestromin 150 microg/d) or OC (EE 35 mug and norgestimate 250 microg). Blood samples were taken at baseline and end of treatment. Serum levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), total testosterone (T), androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide (3alpha-diol G) were quantified by immunoassay methods; free T was calculated. The paired t and Student t tests were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen women completed the study (patch, n = 10; OC, n = 9). Despite a 1.6-fold relative increase in SHBG levels with the patch versus OC (449% vs 274%, P = .03), free T decreased equally in both groups (patch 60%, P < .0001; OC 59%, P < .0001). DHEAS decreased by 26% in the patch group (P < .01) and 32% in the OC group (P < .001). 3alpha-diol G was reduced by 52% in the patch group (P < .0001) and 51% in the OC group (P < .0001). In addition, the OC was associated with significant decreases in A and DHT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The contraceptive patch had an effect comparable to the OC on several key androgenic markers. Given these biochemical findings, the contraceptive patch has significant potential as a therapeutic agent for disorders of androgen excess.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA. terryw@wharton.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Frank Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Stanczyk
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005003:Ethisterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010091:Oximes; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010091:Oximes; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D009644:Norgestrel; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; C017576:norgestimate; D005003:Ethisterone; C449219:norelgestromin