title: Antimüllerian hormone levels decrease in women using combined contraception independently of administration route.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of continuous use of oral (OC), transdermal, and vaginal combined contraceptives on the pituitary-ovarian axis and inhibition of follicular development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spin-off study of a prospective, randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two of 54 healthy women completed the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment with combined OCs (ethinyl E2 [EE] and desogestrel), transdermal patches (EE and norelgestromin), or vaginal rings (EE and etonogestrel) for 9 weeks continuously. Blood sampling was performed before and at 5 and 9 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in serum hormone levels induced by combined contraceptives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum antimüllerian hormone (AMH), FSH, inhibin B, LH, and E2 levels had decreased significantly in all study groups after 9 weeks of treatment. Significant declines were already detected after 5 weeks' use of combined contraceptives with regard to all hormone levels apart from those of serum AMH, where the decrease between baseline and 5 weeks was only moderate. Between groups, serum levels of AMH, inhibin B, LH, and E2 were comparable at baseline and after 5 and 9 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decrease of serum AMH levels during the use of all combined contraceptives indicates that folliculogenesis is arrested independently of administration route.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01087879.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Clinical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kallio
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Puurunen
authors.forename: Aimo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruokonen
authors.forename: Tommi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vaskivuo
authors.forename: Terhi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Piltonen
authors.forename: Juha S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tapanainen
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D003274:Contraceptive Devices, Female; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects*; D010091:Oximes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004967:Estrogens; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D010091:Oximes; C044815:etonogestrel; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D017135:Desogestrel; C449219:norelgestromin