The effect of triphasic and biphasic oral contraceptive preparations on HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in young women

Abstract

Lipid changes were measured during two consecutive studies on efficacy, side effects, and metabolic changes of oral contraceptive (OC) preparations. The mean lipid values of women on OCs at the start of the two studies were compared to those of women who had not taken OCs for at least 3 months. It was found that LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) mean values of the women on OCs were higher than the mean values of women who had not taken OCs for at least 3 months. In study #1, women received the OC preparation Triphasil † . In study #2, women were randomised to one of 3 OC perparations (Triphasil, Ortho † 777 or Ortho † 10/11). HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL-C were measured over time at six months and at 12 months after receiving the study medications. The results show that HDL-C increased in women on Ortho 777 and 10/11 and decreased in women on Triphasil at six months, and these changes were not found at 12 months. The results showed change over time for the LDL-C mean values, in that women not on OCs at the start of the studies had increased LDL-C mean values, and women on OCs at the start of the studies had decreased LDL-C mean values. Further the LDL-C mean values in women not on OCs at the start of the studies who received Triphasil (containing the gonane progestin dl-norgestrel) increased over time, whereas the combined mean values of those who received Ortho 777 and Ortho 10/11 (containing the estrane progestin norethindrone) did not increase over time. The significance of these results is discussed. † for the steroid content of these preparations see footnote Table II. Since blood samples were taken at random during the menstrual cycle, analyses were performed to determine if this variable would have confounded the results. A weak negative correlation was found with LDL-C values in women after 6 months on the study medication. No other significant correlation was detected for this variable in the data.