Effects of a triphasic, low and high dose oral contraceptives on carbohydrate metabolism

ABSTRACT

The effect of a triphasic oral contraceptives, containing 30-40-30 ug ethinyl estradiol [EE] and 50-75-125 Levo-norgestrel [LNg], on carbohydrate metabolism was compared with that of a fixed low dose combination containing 30 ug EE plus 150 ug LNg, and that of a high dose one containing 50 ug EE and 500 ug dL-norgestrel [Ng]. The study included 30 women in each group at the same age. Fasting and post-prandial blood sugars were determined basally and after 6 and 12 months of pill taking. The high dose drug was the only one to cause a significant elevation in mean fasting sugar after 6 months, but by the end of one year the 3 drugs significantly elevated mean fasting sugar. Post-prandial sugar was significantly elevated by the 3 drugs after 6 and 12 months. The changes caused by the triphasic drug were the least changes