The effect of oral contraceptive use on sympatic nerve activity in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Objective

High sympathetic nerve activity, is thought to be a cardiovascular risk factor, has been shown to correlate with circulating high testosterone levels. However its role on the pathophysiology of the polycystic ovarian syndrome has not been clearly established. The aim of our study is to compare the sympathetic nerve activity between polycystic ovarian syndrome and control group and to determine whether the use of oral contraceptives for contraception has any effect on this activity.

Materials and methods

Our study has designed as a prospective, case–control study including patients diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Antropometric measurements were calculated, hormone levels were measured and sympathetic skin response and heart rate variability measurements were performed in the laboratory to assess sympathetic activity before starting oral contraceptive pill therapy and at the end of 1 month follow up.

Results

In the baseline condition LH/FSH ratio, LH, DHEAS, and total testosterone levels were significantly higher in women with PCOS. After 1 month of treatment, reductions in Ferriman–Gallwey score, ovarian volumes, number of follicles, LH/FSH ratio, LH, and androgen hormone levels were statistically significant. The mean values of sympathetic skin response amplitude and R–R analysis-Valsalva test were higher in PCOS group as compared to the control group. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Similarly, no statistically significant difference in SSR latency and R–R analysis-standup test were demonstrated between PCOS and control groups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study supports the increased sympatovagal activity in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

摘要

目的：高交感神经活性被认为是心血管疾病的危险因素, 且已被证明与循环中的高睾酮激素水平相关。然而, 其在多囊卵巢综合征病理生理学中的作用尚未明确阐明。我们研究的目的是通过比较多囊卵巢综合征组和对照组之间的交感神经活动来确定使用口服避孕药避孕是否对这种活动有任何影响。

材料和方法：我们的研究设计为包括多囊卵巢综合征患者的前瞻性病例对照研究。在开始口服避孕药治疗前和1个月随访结束时, 分别在实验室计算人体测量值、测量激素水平以及测量交感神经皮肤反应和心率变异性, 以评估交感神经活性。

结果：在基线条件下, 多囊卵巢综合征患者的LH/FSH比率、LH、DHEAS和总睾酮水平显著升高。治疗1个月后, Ferriman-Gallwey评分、卵巢体积、卵泡数、LH/FSH比率、LH和雄激素水平的降低具有统计学意义。PCOS组交感神经皮肤反应幅度和R–R分析Valsalva试验的平均值高于对照组。然而, 这些差异无统计学意义。同样, 在多囊卵巢综合征组和对照组之间, 交感神经皮肤反应潜伏期和R–R分析站立试验的差异也均无统计学意义。

结论：总之, 我们的研究支持多囊卵巢综合征患者交感神经活动增强。

Keywords:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• combine oral contraceptive
• sympathetic activity
• heart rate variability

关键词:

• 多囊卵巢综合征
• 联合口服避孕药
• 交感神经活动
• 心率变异性

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.