The effect of ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives upon mucoprotein content of cervical mucus.
OBJECTIVE
To report the effect of oral contraceptives (OC) on cervical mucoprotein content by evaluating quantitatively mucoprotein 1 (MUC1), mucoprotein 2 (MUC2), mucoprotein 5AC (MUC5AC) and mucoprotein 5B (MUC5B) levels.


METHODS
This prospective controlled study included 20 women of reproductive age who had requested OC. Cervical mucus samples were obtained from the women before use of the OC and after 2 months of OC use. The mucus samples were then evaluated quantitatively for MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC5B by ELISA by using specific antibodies.


RESULTS
MUC5AC mucoprotein predominated quantitatively both before and after OC use. After OC use, compared to before OC use, variable increases in the levels of all studied mucoproteins were recorded, but the increases in MUC1, MUC2 and MUC5B were statistically significant. The difference in the level of MUC2 was remarkable (+54.36 ± 31.88 ng/mL).


CONCLUSIONS
OC use may change the mucoprotein content (especially for MUC2) of cervical mucus and thus, may cause a highly viscous pattern of cervical mucus which may enhance the contraceptive efficacy of OC pills.
Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
Murat
M
Aksoy
Suleyman
S
Guven
Ilknur
I
Tosun
Faruk
F
Aydın
Cavit
C
Kart
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D055262:Mucin-2 / Q000187:drug effects*; D055257:Mucin-5B / Q000187:drug effects; D014783:Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects
D000736:Androstenes; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; C524625:MUC2 protein, human; C524578:MUC5B protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D055262:Mucin-2; D055257:Mucin-5B; C534342:drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol combination; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol