Impact of etonogestrel-releasing implant and copper intrauterine device on carbohydrate metabolism: a comparative study.

Background: We investigated the influence of an etonogestrel-releasing (ETG) implant and copper intrauterine device (IUD) on carbohydrate metabolism.

Study Design: In this nonrandomized, open-label, prospective controlled trial, 40 healthy women received an implant or IUD (20 per group). Outcome measures were fasting glucose, fasting insulin, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and glycosylated hemoglobin A(1)C (HbA(1)C) levels at baseline and after 6 and 12 months.

Results: The groups were similar in age, body mass index and laboratory parameters at baseline. Carbohydrate metabolism was not modified by the ETG implant at baseline and at 6 and 12 months (mean ± SD) (fasting glucose: 85.9 ± 5.13, 87.05 ± 5.36, 88.19 ± 5.05; insulin: 7.77 ± 2.42, 10.64 ± 9.4, 8.82 ± 3.73; OGTT: 94.8 ± 25.28, 96.5 ± 19.67, 99.47 ± 24.6; HbA(1)C: 5.27 ± .34, 5.55 ± .39, 5.7 ± 0.37). The same was true for the IUD (fasting glucose: 88.87 ± 7.2, 89.65 ± 5.86, 88.75 ± 4.79; insulin: 7.94 ± 3.6, 8.3 ± 4.1, 7.34 ± 3.02; OGTT: 96.85 ± 15.16, 97.48 ± 13.42, 91.3 ± 22.16; HbA(1)C: 5.41 ± .49, 5.75 ± .41, 5.9 ± 0.73).

Conclusions: The ETG-releasing implant did not affect carbohydrate metabolism in normal women after 12 months.