Abstract
BackgroundThe impact of oral contraceptives (OCs) on the saliva diurnal pattern of metabolic steroid hormones remained unknown. Study designSaliva samples were taken from young healthy women (11 OC users, 10 non-OC users) to analyze cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone 4 times (days 1, 8, 15 and 22) over one menstrual cycle. ResultsOC use decreased saliva testosterone concentrations (p<.01) under all conditions of day and time, but not saliva cortisol. OC also decreased saliva DHEA concentrations during the first part of the day (p<.05), with a dampened amplitude in its diurnal pattern. ConclusionThe clinical relevance requires further study.
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