Prospective study on the cytological aspects of the nasal respiratory epithelium in premenopausal women taking 30 mcg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone oral contraceptive.
BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to determine the effects of the monophasic oral contraceptive (OC) containing 30 mcg ethinylestradiol (EE) and 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP) on the nasal respiratory epithelium in premenopausal women.


METHODS
Fifty premenopausal women participated in the prospective study. Baseline endovaginal ultrasound examination and blood test to measure serum progesterone to confirm an ovulatory cycle were performed. The cytologic changes on the nasal respiratory epithelium were evaluated with the maturation index, performed during the follicular, periovular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, and on the sixth cycle of pill intake.


RESULTS
The maturation indexes of the nasal smears were higher during both the follicular and periovular phases than during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (p<.05). Women on the OC pill had similar changes in the nasal epithelium as those seen during the follicular phase (p NS), and less than the periovular phase (p<.05) and higher than the luteal phase (p<.05). The maturation index of the nasal respiratory epithelium seems to depend on the variation of the ovarian steroids during the menstrual cycle and on the iatrogenic effects of oral contraception.


CONCLUSIONS
DRSP+EE seems to provoke cytological changes that are different from previously shown gestodene plus EE.
Caruso
Salvatore
S
Department of Microbiological Science and Gynecological Science, University of Catania, Ospedale S. Bambino, via Torre del Vescovo, Catania, Italy. scaruso@unict.it
Serra
Agostino
A
Grillo
Calogero
C
Agnello
Carmela
C
Di Mari
Lucia
L
Cianci
Antonio
A
D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D017697:Premenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000736:Androstenes; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; C035144:drospirenone