Key result
Women using oral contraceptives containing ethinyloestradiol and norethisterone had significantly lower mean HbA1 levels (7.27%) compared to those using barrier methods (7.64%) (P<0.01).
Why the study?
Do combined oral contraceptives affect glycosylated haemoglobin levels in Caucasian women aged 20-40 years?
Cross-Sectional (n=164)
Yes
Do combined oral contraceptives affect glycosylated haemoglobin levels in Caucasian women aged 20-40 years?
Contraceptive pills containing ethinyloestradiol and norethisterone are associated with lower glycosylated haemoglobin levels compared to barrier methods or pills with laevo-norgestrel.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Associated lower HbA1c with specific OCs should not change practice; leaves open causal glycaemic effects in cross-sectional data.
Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA), was measured in 164 Caucasian women aged 20-40 years who were using: (1) barrier contraceptive methods; (2) contraceptive pills with 30 micrograms ethinyloestradiol and 150 micrograms laevo-norgestrel; (3) contraceptive pills with 30-35 micrograms ethinyloestradiol and 0.5-1 mg norethisterone. Mean +/- 1 s.d. values for the three groups were 7.64 +/- 0.69, 7.56 +/- 0.56 and 7.27 +/- 0.74 respectively. Groups (1) and (2) did not differ significantly from one another but the mean value for group (3) was significantly lower than for the other groups (P less than 0.01). Age, percentage ideal body weight and smoking did not influence HbA, but the value was higher for parous than for nulliparous women (P = 0.02). These findings can be explained in terms of the known effects of oestrogens and progestogens on fasting blood glucose.
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Oakley et al. (1982) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy women requiring contraception (n=164). Combined oral contraceptives (ethinyloestradiol and norethisterone) vs. Barrier contraceptive methods was evaluated on Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1) (p=<0.01). Women using oral contraceptives containing ethinyloestradiol and norethisterone had significantly lower mean HbA1 levels (7.27%) compared to those using barrier methods (7.64%) (P<0.01).
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