Route of administration of contraceptives containing desogestrel/etonorgestrel and insulin sensitivity: a prospective randomized study

BackgroundThe study was conducted to investigate whether hormonal contraceptives administered via the oral and vaginal route exert a similar effect on insulin sensitivity (SI).Study DesignThis is a prospective, randomized study performed in the University Hospital. Subjects were healthy lean young women, needing a hormonal contraceptive, randomly allocated to receive for 6 months (a) an oral contraceptive (OC) containing 30 mcg ethinylestradiol (EE)/150 mcg desogestrel (DSG) (high-estrogen group; n=12), (b) an OC containing 20 mcg EE/150 mcg DSG (low-estrogen group; n=12) and (c) a vaginal ring contraceptive releasing, per day, 15 mcg EE/120 mcg etonorgestrel, the active DSG metabolite (n=12).SI and glucose utilization independent of insulin (Sg) were evaluated by the minimal model method. Modifications of total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were also evaluated.ResultsSg did not vary with any treatment. SI decreased during OCs (5.74±0.49 vs. 3.86±0.44; p=.0005), independently of the high/low-estrogen dose. SI did not decrease during vaginal ring use (4.64±1.03 vs. 5.25±1.36; p=.57; p=.019 vs. oral). Total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol increased (p=.02) during OCs, independently of the dose. Triglycerides increased during both oral (p=.01) and vaginal (p=.032) contraceptive use.ConclusionsThe present data indicate that in contrast to OC use, vaginal contraception with the ring does not deteriorate SI. The vaginal ring may represent an appropriate choice for long-term contraception in women at risk for developing diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome.