Impact of etonogestrel-releasing implant and copper intrauterine device on carbohydrate metabolism: a comparative study

BackgroundWe investigated the influence of an etonogestrel-releasing (ETG) implant and copper intrauterine device (IUD) on carbohydrate metabolism.Study DesignIn this nonrandomized, open-label, prospective controlled trial, 40 healthy women received an implant or IUD (20 per group). Outcome measures were fasting glucose, fasting insulin, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and glycosylated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels at baseline and after 6 and 12 months.ResultsThe groups were similar in age, body mass index and laboratory parameters at baseline. Carbohydrate metabolism was not modified by the ETG implant at baseline and at 6 and 12 months (mean±SD) (fasting glucose: 85.9±5.13, 87.05±5.36, 88.19±5.05; insulin: 7.77±2.42, 10.64±9.4, 8.82±3.73; OGTT: 94.8±25.28, 96.5±19.67, 99.47±24.6; HbA1C: 5.27±.34, 5.55±.39, 5.7±0.37). The same was true for the IUD (fasting glucose: 88.87±7.2, 89.65±5.86, 88.75±4.79; insulin: 7.94±3.6, 8.3±4.1, 7.34±3.02; OGTT: 96.85±15.16, 97.48±13.42, 91.3±22.16; HbA1C: 5.41±.49, 5.75±.41, 5.9±0.73).ConclusionsThe ETG-releasing implant did not affect carbohydrate metabolism in normal women after 12 months.