A comparative metabolic study of two low-estrogen-dose oral contraceptives containing desogestrel or gestodene progestins

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to compare the effects of low-estrogen-dose oral contraceptives containing desogestrel or gestodene progestins on metabolic risk markers for coronary heart disease. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional comparison of 70 women who used a formulation that contained 30 μg ethinyl estradiol and 150 μg desogestrel, 43 women who used a formulation that contained 30 ethinyl estradiol and 75 μg gestodene, and 54 women who did not use steroidal contraceptives was performed. RESULTS: Oral contraceptive users had higher concentrations of high-density lipoproteins than did women in the control group ( + 10% to +20%, p p p p CONCLUSIONS: The metabolic profiles induced by these oral contraceptives were remarkably similar and may reflect the activity of the estrogen component.