SERUM LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEINS DURING TREATMENT WITH ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES CONTAINING NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC OESTROGENS

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Abstract
Increased serum triglycerides, cholesterol and pre-.beta.- and .beta.-lipoproteins are considered significant pathogenic factors regarding the possible thrombotic side-effect of treatment with oral contraceptives of the combined type containing synthetic estrogen. With the purpose of investigating the influence of natural estrogen (estradiol-17.beta. + estriol/norethisterone acetate) vs. synthetic estrogen (ethinylestradiol/norethisterone acetate) on serum lipids and lipoproteins in young women compared to independent and individual controls, controlled double-blind investigation was performed in 33 women in a total material and 18 women in a selected group. Significant changes were quantitative increases in serum triglycerides (P < 0.001) and .beta.-lipoproteins (P < 0.01) during treatment with synthetic estrogen, while in contrast no such change was observed in subjects on natural estrogen, which was found to decrease serum cholesterol (P < 0.05), phospholipids (P < 0.05) and .alpha.-lipoprotein (P < 0.05). Quantitative estimation of serum lipoproteins apparently was more valuable than relative estimation by electrophoresis. Oral contraceptives containing natural estrogens may induce less significant and, qualitatively, more benign changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins than preparations containing synthetic estrogen.