COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF 2 ONCE-A-MONTH INJECTABLE STEROIDAL CONTRACEPTIVES (MESIGYNA(R) AND CYCLOFEM(R)) ON GLUCOSE-METABOLISM AND LIVER-FUNCTION

A 1-year, longitudinal, multicenter study was undertaken to monitor th e effects of two once-a-month: injectable contraceptive preparations, Mesigyna(R) (norethisterone enanthate, 50 mg, and estradiol valerate, 5 mg) and Cyclofem(R) (medroxyprogesterone acetate, 25 mg, and estradi ol cypionate, 5 mg) on carbohydrate metabolism and liver function. A t otal of 357 volunteers fr om four centers (Hangzhou, Havana, Jakarta, and Shanghai) were monitored during one pretreatment cycle, at the end of the ninth injection interval and during one posttreatment cycle, a pproximately 3 months after the 9-month period of treatment was comple ted. Both preparations induced minor changes in glucose tolerance, wit h a slight elevation of glucose response and minimal changes in insuli n response to a glucose challenge. These changes were greater with Mes igyna but were of no clinical relevance in either group. With regard t o liver function, both preparations induced a rise in bilirubin, a dec rease in alkaline phosphatase, and no change in enzyme serum levels. H owever, these changes were of small magnitude and levels remained well within the normal range in all subjects. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science In c. All rights reserved.