Serum lipid variations in women on copper intrauterine devices, triphasic oral contraceptives and monthly injectable contraceptives.

This is a longitudinal, prospective, comparative controlled study. Patient selection excluded smokers, overweighed, hypertensive, and aged greater than 34 years. 168 women were distributed by random list into four groups: A) fitted with inert IUD (control); B) with Nova T (Cu-IUD); C) received triphasic gestodene (OC); and D) monthly norethisterone enanthate 50 mg + estradiol valerate 5 mg (injectable). Serum lipid patterns were assessed at the beginning of contraceptive use and at 1, 6 and 12 months. The results of the Cu-IUD group did not show any difference with the control group. The OC group showed an increase of HDL and a significant lowering of LDL cholesterol at 6 months but this reverted by 12 months. On the other hand, in the injectable group, a sharp decrease of total lipids, total cholesterol and LDL was observed from the first month, lasting throughout 12 months, yielding significant difference with controls and also with pre-treatment values. In sum, the monthly injectable showed quite favorable patterns that would deserve further study, especially in view of the scarcity of hitherto available information concerning this formulation.