The Effect of Oral Contraceptives on Serum Lipids

Abstract

In the latter part of pregnancy total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and free fatty acids increase progressively. A study involving 375 women aged 19-30 taking various oral contraceptives, both combined and sequential, showed a mean value of 712 mg/100 ml blood of total lipids as contrasted with 596 mg/100 ml for controls. Serum triglycerides also showed marked elevation -- 122 mg/100 ml as compared with 70 mg/100 ml for controls. However, there was no significant change in the level of cholesterol. There was no significant difference between the combined and sequential users or between users of pills of different steroid composition. Total serum lipids and triglyceride levels were similar to those seen in the last 2 trimesters of pregnancy; however, in pregnancy the cholesterol level also increases. Estrogens are known to elevate serum triglycerides, and in hypercholesteremic subjects, estrogen administration lowers serum cholesterol concentrations.