title: Pituitary and ovarian hormone activity during the 7-day hormone-free interval of various combined oral contraceptive regimens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to investigate changes in luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) during the hormone-free interval (HFI) of 6 combined oral contraceptives (COCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained from 62 women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When COCs were grouped by ethinyl estradiol (EE) dose, there was a significant positive mean slope for LH and FSH during the HFI for the 30- and 35 mcg-EE doses, whereas 20 showed a gradual nonsignificant slope. All E2 slopes were significant. P remained suppressed with all doses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A more rapid rebound of gonadotropin levels is found with higher doses of EE during the HFI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed a more rapid rebound of pituitary hormone levels among women using higher-EE-dosage formulations, which was demonstrated by the statistically significant slope for mean LH and FSH from day 1 to day 7 of the HFI. The degree of suppression did not vary across progestin generations. It remains to be established whether women who experience side effects during their HFI may benefit from using a COC with a lower EE dose to minimize changes in endogenous pituitary hormone levels.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033. Electronic address: jessicaatrio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atrio
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
authors.forename: Aaron H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Azen
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033; Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
authors.forename: Frank Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Stanczyk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: Contraceptive efficacy; Estradiol; Ethinyl estradiol; Gonadotropins; Hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis; Progesterone