Effects on the hemostatic system and liver function in relation to Implanon and Norplant. A prospective randomized clinical trial.

In this prospective randomized clinical trial, two long-term contraceptive implants were studied with respect to hemostasis and liver function in 86 healthy young women. The two implants used were Implanon, containing the progestagen etonogestrel (the biologically active metabolite of desogestrel) and Norplant, the implant containing the progestagen levonorgestrel. The results of the trial showed that both implants had similar small effects on the hemostatic system that are not suggestive of a tendency towards thrombosis.

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein effects of transdermal administration of estradiol and estradiol/norethisterone acetate.

To evaluate the effect of transdermal sequential treatment with estradiol and estradiol/norethisterone acetate on lipoprotein metabolism, 25 postmenopausal women received treatment for 12 cycles of 4 weeks each (2 weeks estradiol 50 micrograms/day and 2 weeks a combined patch delivering norethisterone acetate 0.25 mg/day and estradiol 50 micrograms/day). Blood samples for lipoprotein analyses were drawn before treatment and in estrogen and combined phases in cycles 3 and 12.

Effects on the lipoprotein metabolism of an antiandrogen-estrogen oral contraceptive drug.

The effects on the lipoprotein metabolism of six cycles of treatment with 2 mg of the anti-androgenic progestogen Cyproterone acetate + 50 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol were prospectively studied in 22 healthy premenopausal women. The plasma level of cholesterol (C) was unchanged, while the levels of HDL-C and its subfractions HDL2-C and HDL3-C were significantly elevated after only one cycle. The LDL-C decreased after one month but then returned to pretreatment levels.

Plasma lipoproteins including high density lipoprotein subfractions during normal pregnancy.

In 19 healthy women the levels of plasma lipoprotein fractions were determined before conception, at exact gestational ages every six to 8 weeks during pregnancy, and eight weeks after delivery. The high density lipoprotein level was elevated in the 14th week and showed a maximum rise by 41% in the 28th week of pregnancy because of a doubling of the high density lipoprotein2 level. The low density lipoprotein level decreased in early pregnancy but then increased continuously.