TEMPORARY INCREASE OF FSH-LEVELS IN HEALTHY, NULLIPAROUS, YOUNG-WOMENAFTER CESSATION OF LOW-DOSE ORAL-CONTRACEPTIVE USE

The effect of modern low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs) on the levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in young, healthy, nulligravid women was studied in two independent sampl es. Elevated FSH levels were seen in former OC users compared with nev er users regardless of menstrual cycle phase. The increase in FSH leve ls seemed to peak one year after cessation of OC use. This relationshi p was still significant after exclusion of women with low progesterone levels. LH levels were significantly higher in former users compared with never users in the first sample, but not in the second sample. Th e difference in FSH concentrations was very small. Single blood sample s were obtained from the subjects at each time point even though it is recognized that gonadotropin secretion is pulsatile. These results mu st be regarded as preliminary and unconfirmed due to small sample size .