Effect of oral contraceptives on markers of hyperandrogenism and SHBG in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
This randomized study's aim was to compare the effect of four oral contraceptives (OCs) containing 30 mcg of ethinylestradiol (EE) and different progestogens [drospirenone, (DRSP), chlormadinone acetate (CMA), desogestrel (DSG), gestodene (GSD)] on biochemical and hormonal parameters of hyperandrogenism and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).


METHODS
Forty women with PCOS (age 16-35 years) were recruited and randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups of 10 women each, treated, respectively, with 3 mg DRSP/30 mcg EE (Yasmin, Bayer Shering), 2 mg CMA/30 mcg EE (Belara, Grunenthal), 75 mcg GSD/30 mcg EE (Minulet, Wyeth Lederle) and 150 mcg DSG/30 mcg EE (Practil 21, Organon Italia). Blood samples were obtained on day 6-8 of the control cycle and day 6-8 of the third treatment cycle for assay of the following hormones: androsteredione (A), total testosterone (T), free T, SHBG, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS).


RESULTS
In all groups, mean concentrations of free T, total T and A dropped by 40-60%, and concentrations of DHEAS dropped by 20-50%. Formulations with DRSP and CMA caused a greater reduction of androgens and a progressive increase in serum concentrations of SHBG than those with DSG and GSD.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical studies need to be performed to determine effects of these OCs upon clinical signs of hyperandrogenism.
De Leo
Vincenzo
V
Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. deleo@unisi.it
Di Sabatino
Alessandra
A
Musacchio
Maria C
MC
Morgante
Giuseppe
G
Scolaro
Valeria
V
Cianci
Antonio
A
Petraglia
Felice
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D000736:Androstenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002715:Chlormadinone Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000494:pharmacology; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000097:blood*; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D000736:Androstenes; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D009652:Norpregnenes; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D002715:Chlormadinone Acetate; C033273:Gestodene; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D017135:Desogestrel; C035144:drospirenone