Effects of combined desogestrel-ethinylestradiol treatment on lipid profiles in women with polycystic ovarian disease

Abstract

A longitudinal study was conducted to determine the effect of combined desogestrel-ethinylestradiol treatment on lipid profiles in 28 women with polycistic ovarian disease. Mean patient age was 26.3 years (range, 16 to 36 years). Mean patient weight and height were 59.2 kg and 153.8 cm, respectively. After initial assessment, all patients were treated with a cyclical pill containing 150 μg desogestrel and 30 μg ethinylestradiol. Clinical, hormonal, and lipid determinations were evaluated after 3 and 6 cycles of treatment. The results revealed that, during the treatment course, serum luteinizing hormone, testosterone (T), free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate decreased significantly, while serum follicle-stimulating hormone and prolactin levels did not change. Increased levels of total triglyceride, alpha, and prebeta lipoproteins, and decreased levels of beta lipoproteins, were observed. The ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, although showing no significant change, had a tendency to decrease. This lipoprotein change seems to have a favorable rather than an adverse effect on the patients.