Abstract
The effects of the low-dose oral contraceptive combination 0.150 mg desogestrel+0.020 mg ethinylestradiol (EE) on serum cholesterol (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and % HDL-cholesterol in total cholesterol), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), apolipoprotein A-I and glycosylated proteins and plasma antithrombin III activity were studied in 25 healthy fertile women. Blood samples were taken before treatment and after 1,3,6 and 12-15 treatment cycles. The contraceptive combination had no effect on total cholesterol, glycosylated proteins or antithrombin III activity. During treatment there were small but significant increases in HDL-cholesterol, % HDL-cholesterol in total cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I and a substantial increase in SHBG. Thus the combination 0.150 mg desogestrel+0.020 mg EE appears to have no adverse effects on lipid metabolism, serum glycosylated proteins and plasma antithrombin III activity.