Oral hormonal contraceptives affect the concentration and composition of urinary glycosaminoglycans in young women.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Urinary glycosaminoglycans (uGAG) have protective effects against urinary tract disorders. Here we investigated whether oral hormonal contraceptives (OC) affect uGAG excretion.

METHODS

Urine specimens were from young women regularly taking: ethinyl estradiol + drospirenone, n = 9; ethinyl estradiol + cyproterone acetate, n = 9; and ethinyl estradiol + gestodene, n = 7. Controls were from ten women not taking OC. Total uGAG was assayed as hexuronic acid/urinary creatinine. Sulfated uGAG species was determined by electrophoresis.

RESULTS

Unlike controls, total uGAG in the two halves of the menstrual cycle was similar in the OC groups. Whole cycle uGAG was higher in the OC groups (p < 0.01), especially for ethinyl estradiol + cyproterone acetate (p < 0.005). The three OC produced decreases of approximately 50% in heparan sulfate (p < 0.02) and dermatan sulfate (p < 0.02), and a approximately 100% increase in chondroitin sulfate (p < 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

uGAG excretion is changed in women taking OC, and this might enhance the protective effects of these molecules against urinary tract disorders.