CARBOHYDRATE-METABOLISM STUDIES AFTER ONE-YEAR OF USING AN ORAL-CONTRACEPTIVE CONTAINING GESTODENE AND ETHINYL ESTRADIOL

The objective of the study is to evaluate the effects of a gestodene-c ontaining oral contraceptive on carbohydrate metabolism. The design of the study is prospective. The setting is at University of South Flori da Outpatient Unit. The patients consisted of twenty-three normal wome n desiring contraception. Serum glucose and insulin levels were measur ed during a three-hour glucose tolerance test at control time and afte r one year of drug use. Results: All of the one-year glucose values we re significantly elevated as well as the fasting and three-hour insuli n values. These changes were mostly confined to women over 26 years of age and not in the younger 18 to 23 year olds. An oral contraceptive containing 75 mu g of gestodene and 30 mu g of ethinyl estradiol can s ignificantly alter carbohydrate metabolism in older women.