Clinical and metabolic effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol plus drospirenone in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), 10 days per month for 6 months, on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Sixty-three women with PCOS were randomized to receive MPA or ethinyl estradiol plus drospirenone. RESULTS: There were no changes in lipid or carbohydrate metabolism in the MPA group, but serum levels of luteinizing hormone (P<0.001) and total testosterone (P<0.003) significantly decreased, as did the free androgen index (P<0.02) and acne (P<0.03) and seborrhea (P<0.04) scores. In the ethinyl estradiol plus drospirenone group lipid and hormone values significantly increased whereas acne, seborrhea, hair loss, and Ferriman-Gallwey scores decreased. There was no statistically significant change in the total cholesterol to high-density cholesterol ratio in either group. CONCLUSION: Treatment of PCOS patients with MPA provided good menstrual cycle control, beneficial changes in hormonal values associated with hyperandrogenism, and no significant changes in lipid or carbohydrate metabolism.