Journal article
Effects of the progestagen-only contraceptive implant Implanon on cardiovascular risk factors.
- Merki-Feld GS Clinic of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. gabriele.merki@usz.ch
- Imthurn B
- Seifert B
- 2007-09-15
Published in:
- Clinical endocrinology. - 2008
Adult
C-Reactive Protein
Cardiovascular Diseases
Contraception
Contraceptive Devices, Female
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Nitric Oxide
Progestins
Prostheses and Implants
Risk Factors
Young Adult
English
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiological studies on the cardiovascular risk of progestagen-only contraceptives are rare. With the present study we aimed to investigate the effect of the low-dose etonogestrel-releasing contraceptive implant Implanon on cardiovascular risk factors, including markers of inflammation.
DESIGN
Longitudinal study.
SETTING
Family planning centre of a University Hospital.
SUBJECTS
Thirty-six healthy, nonsmoking women with regular cycles (n = 18 controls without hormonal contraception; n = 18 cases requesting the insertion of Implanon.
MEASUREMENTS
Blood samples for the determination of C-reactive protein (CRP), nitric oxide (NO), sex hormones and plasma lipids were taken in the early follicular phase of the cycle in both groups. A second sample was taken 12 weeks after Implanon insertion or in the controls during the early follicular phase of cycle 4.
RESULTS
Implanon treatment caused a 36% decrease in CRP (P < 0.06) and a significant decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL) (P < 0.007), low density lipoprotein (LDL) (P < 0.001), cholesterol (P < 0.001), testosterone (P < 0.05) and SHBG (P < 0.002). Levels of NO, oestradiol and progesterone were not affected in either group. The cholesterol/HDL ratio did not change in Implanon carriers. There was a significant correlation between the cardiovascular risk factors CRP, cholesterol/HDL ratio and NO.
CONCLUSION
The progestagen-only implant Implanon does not exert a negative effect on the cardiovascular risk factors CRP, cholesterol/HDL ratio and NO. These results suggest that the use of a progestagen-only contraception does not increase cardiovascular risk factors in healthy young women.
Epidemiological studies on the cardiovascular risk of progestagen-only contraceptives are rare. With the present study we aimed to investigate the effect of the low-dose etonogestrel-releasing contraceptive implant Implanon on cardiovascular risk factors, including markers of inflammation.
DESIGN
Longitudinal study.
SETTING
Family planning centre of a University Hospital.
SUBJECTS
Thirty-six healthy, nonsmoking women with regular cycles (n = 18 controls without hormonal contraception; n = 18 cases requesting the insertion of Implanon.
MEASUREMENTS
Blood samples for the determination of C-reactive protein (CRP), nitric oxide (NO), sex hormones and plasma lipids were taken in the early follicular phase of the cycle in both groups. A second sample was taken 12 weeks after Implanon insertion or in the controls during the early follicular phase of cycle 4.
RESULTS
Implanon treatment caused a 36% decrease in CRP (P < 0.06) and a significant decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL) (P < 0.007), low density lipoprotein (LDL) (P < 0.001), cholesterol (P < 0.001), testosterone (P < 0.05) and SHBG (P < 0.002). Levels of NO, oestradiol and progesterone were not affected in either group. The cholesterol/HDL ratio did not change in Implanon carriers. There was a significant correlation between the cardiovascular risk factors CRP, cholesterol/HDL ratio and NO.
CONCLUSION
The progestagen-only implant Implanon does not exert a negative effect on the cardiovascular risk factors CRP, cholesterol/HDL ratio and NO. These results suggest that the use of a progestagen-only contraception does not increase cardiovascular risk factors in healthy young women.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2007.03046.x
- PMID 17854390
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/54305
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