Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate and endothelial function before and after acute oral, vaginal, and transdermal estradiol treatment.

Young women using depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) contraception have low circulating estrogen and elevated synthetic progestin. Low estrogen and certain progestins have been shown to impact endothelial function even in young healthy women. The purpose of this study was to investigate how DMPA affects endothelial function and serum biomarkers of cardiovascular risk before and after acute oral, vaginal, and transdermal estradiol treatments.

A combined oral contraceptive containing 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 3.0 mg drospirenone does not impair endothelium-dependent vasodilation.

Background: Ethinyl estradiol (EE) increases endothelium-dependent vasodilation in young women, but certain progestins paired with EE in combination oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) have been shown to antagonize the vasodilatory effects of EE. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate how endothelial function, serum biomarkers and resting blood pressures change across an OCP cycle in women using a monophasic OCP formulation containing the progestin drospirenone.

Study Design: Twelve women were studied during two hormone phases of their OCP cycle: once at the end of 3 weeks of active pills (30 mcg EE and 3.

Ethinyl estradiol-to-desogestrel ratio impacts endothelial function in young women.

Background: Ethinyl estradiol (EE) and progestins have the ability to alter endothelial function. The type of progestin and the ratio of EE to progestin used in oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) may determine how they affect the arterial vasculature.

Study Design: In this study, we investigated endothelial function across a cycle in very low dose (VLD) and low dose (LD) combination EE and desogestrel (DSG) OCP users during two phases: active (VLD=20 mcg EE/150 mcg DSG; LD=30 mcg EE/150 mcg DSG) and pill-free.

Endothelial function, endothelin-1, and fibrinogen in young women using the vaginal contraceptive ring.

Objective: To assess the effects of the vaginal contraceptive ring cycle on indices of cardiovascular health and risk by studying healthy women during the active hormone phase compared with the ring-free phase of a standard 21/7-day cycle.

Design: Observational prospective cohort; 4 weeks' duration.

Setting: Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon.

Estrogen, medroxyprogesterone acetate, endothelial function, and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in young women.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is widely known for its use in combination hormone therapy for postmenopausal women. However, MPA is also commonly used in young women for contraception and treatment of a number of gynecological conditions. Despite its widespread use, the cardiovascular effects of MPA in young women are unclear.

Endothelial function across an oral contraceptive cycle in women using levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol.

Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are a popular contraception method. Currently, lower-dose ethinyl estradiol formulations are most commonly prescribed, although they have been linked to increased arterial vascular risk. The aim of this study was to investigate endothelial function in healthy young women using lower-dose ethinyl estradiol OCPs.

Menstrual cycle and sex affect hemodynamic responses to combined orthostatic and heat stress.

Women have decreased orthostatic tolerance compared with men, and anecdotal evidence suggests women are more susceptible to orthostatic intolerance in warm environments. Because estrogen and progesterone affect numerous physiological variables that may alter orthostatic tolerance, the purpose of our study was to compare orthostatic tolerance across the menstrual cycle phases in women during combined orthostatic and heat stress and to compare these data with those of men. Eight normally menstruating women and eight males (22 +/- 4.

Effects of menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive use on calf venous compliance.

Numerous studies have shown that the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone have multiple effects on the vasculature. Thus our goal was to investigate the effects of estrogen and progesterone on calf venous compliance by looking for cyclic changes during the early follicular, ovulatory, and midluteal phases of the menstrual cycle and during high and low hormone phases of oral contraceptive use. Additionally, we wanted to compare the venous compliance of normally menstruating women, oral contraceptive users, and men.