The effect of low-dose combined oral contraceptive containing 100 ug levonorgestrel on plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 concentrations.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of a combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing 20 ug ethinyl estradiol (EE) and 100 ug levonorgestrel (LNG) which is currently used on plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) concentrations.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Twenty-five women who had not used any COC for at least three months before the initiation of the study were enrolled in the control group. Twenty women who had been using COC containing 20 ug EE and 100 ug levonorgestrel LNG for at least three months prior to the study were enrolled in the LNG/EE group. Serum samples for PAI-1 and other biochemical parameters were obtained at the early follicular phase (cycle day 2-5).

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in PAl- 1 concentrations between the LNG/EE and control group (group LNG/EE: 62.4 +/- 30.2 ng/ml; control group: 58.7 +/- 26.0 ng/ml).

CONCLUSION

Although we observed similar PAI-1 concentrations in both groups, there is need for further interventions to evaluate the clinical relevance of our findings.