ABSTRACT
PIP: Occurrence of ovulation and corpus luteum function were determined in 16 women inserted with 6 silastic rods, each containing 34 +or- 2mg levonorgestrel, for 1 year. Records of all subjects indicated minimal menstrual disturbances. Mean +or- S.E. serum progesterone levels at days M -7 to M -4 of the menstrual cycle revealed: anovulation (7 subjects) with serum progesterone levels less than 3 ng/ml, inefficient corpus luteum (7 subjects) with progesterone levels of 3-5 ng/ml, and normal ovulation (2 subjects) with progesterone levels above 5 ng/ml. Mean serum estradiol levels determined in the 3 levonorgestrel subgroups were insignificantly different from each other as well as from mean estradiol levels determined in 24 normal ovulatory control women.^ieng
Subject(s)
Contraception , Contraceptive Agents, Female , Corpus Luteum , Levonorgestrel , Ovulation Detection , Reproductive Control Agents , Research Design , Research , Age Factors , Biology , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , Contraceptive Agents , Diagnosis , Estradiol , Family Planning Services , Genitalia , Genitalia, Female , Ovary , Parity , Physiology , Progesterone , Urogenital SystemABSTRACT
Serum levels of androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, and testosterone were determined by radioimmunoassay procedures in 25 female volunteers using subdermal levonorgestrel implants as a contraceptive. Mean serum androstenedione levels were increased after 1 and 6 months in comparison with preimplantation levels, the increase being significant only after 1 month. This could be attributed to increased production from the adrenal or ovaries and/or changes in clearance rate. Testosterone levels showed approximately 24% increase above basal values after 6 months' use of levonorgestrel implants, which was attributed to concomitant increases in androstenedione levels. The implication of these results is discussed.
