Does the Oral Contraceptive Pill Increase Plasma Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Levels in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study

OCP treatment of 6 months increases plasma ICAM-1, MCP-1, and TNF-α levels among women with PCOS, although OCPs significantly help in ameliorating features of hyperandrogenism and regularizing menstrual cycles. These cytokines correlate positively with many metabolic parameters including plasma glucose, lipids, and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance. Further investigation with well designed, randomized, longitudinal studies might help to ascertain the effect of OCPs on proinflammatory profiles among women with PCOS.