title: Ovarian activity in obese and nonobese women treated with three transdermal contraceptive patches delivering three different doses of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of obesity on ovarian follicular suppression in women using low-estrogen dose contraceptive patches has not been determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Phase II, parallel-group, multicenter, three-cycle study evaluated three patches containing different ethinyl estradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LNG) doses. Serum levels of EE, LNG, sex hormone-binding globulin and progesterone were compared in 41 obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥30] and 75 nonobese (BMI <30) women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suppression of ovulation during the luteal phase was dose dependent, with the highest dose (AG200-15) preventing progesterone increases in all women (cycles 2-3). In the follicular phase, the lowest-dose patch had the highest rate of increased progesterone in nonobese subjects. Progesterone levels ≥3.0 ng/mL in the follicular phase were more common in obese than nonobese women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AG200-15 suppresses ovulation in obese and nonobese women. All three patches found increased progesterone in the follicular phase, albeit more in obese versus nonobese women.
authors.affiliation: Agile Therapeutics, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA. mfoegh@agiletherapeutics.com
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foegh
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.forename: Frank Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Stanczyk
authors.forename: Arkady
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Mishell
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D011374:Progesterone; D016912:Levonorgestrel