C. Wongsrichanalai

Metabolic effects of depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate in long-term users: A cross-sectional study

Oral glucose tolerance test and determination of insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, total bilirubin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase and cortisol in blood were performed on 57 Thai women who had used depot‐medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) for 5 years or more and 24 healthy non‐DMPA users. Plasma insulin, alkaline phosphatase and morning cortisol levels were significantly higher in the DMPA users than in the non‐users. There were no significant differences for other laboratory tests. The findings suggest some effects of DMPA on carbohydrate metabolism and liver function in long‐term users.

Effects of daily 30 mcg d-norgestrel on growth hormone and cortisol

The effects of d-norgestrel on serum growth hormone and cortisol were determined in 9 healthy Thai women, who took 30 mcg d-norgestrel tablet daily for 12 months. Growth hormone (both fasting and during OGTT) and morning cortisol concentrations were measured before and after 6 and 12 months. It was found that growth hormone concentrations tended to decrease but were not statistically significant. Patterns of growth hormone in relation to glucose and insulin measured during OGTT were similar throughout the study. The morning cortisol values slightly increased after treatment. The limited data from this study suggested that d-norgestrel, at the daily dose of 30 mcg, did not significantly alter serum growth hormone and cortisol levels in the group of Thai women after one years time of use.