Effects of the progestagen-only contraceptive implant Implanon® on cardiovascular risk factors

  1. Gabriele S. Merki-Feld1,
  2. Bruno Imthurn1,
  3. Burkhardt Seifert2

Article first published online: 20 AUG 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2007.03046.x

Issue

Clinical Endocrinology

Clinical Endocrinology

Volume 68, Issue 3, pages 355–360, March 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Merki-Feld, G. S., Imthurn, B. and Seifert, B. (2008), Effects of the progestagen-only contraceptive implant Implanon® on cardiovascular risk factors. Clinical Endocrinology, 68: 355–360. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2007.03046.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Clinic of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Zurich and

  2. 2

    Biostatistics Unit ISPM, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

* Dr G. S. Merki-Feld, Clinic of Endocrinology, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Frauenklinikstr. 10, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland. Tel.: +41 44 255 5009; Fax: +41 44 255 4376; E-mail: gabriele.merki@usz.ch

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 AUG 2007
  2. Article first published online: 20 AUG 2007
  3. (Received 30 March 2007; returned for revision 18 May 2007; finally revised 2 August 2007; accepted 7 August 2007)

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Summary

Objective  Epidemiological studies on the cardiovascular risk of progestagen-only contraceptives are rare. With the present study we aimed to investigate the effect of the low-dose etonogestrel-releasing contraceptive implant Implanon® on cardiovascular risk factors, including markers of inflammation.

Design  Longitudinal study.

Setting  Family planning centre of a University Hospital.

Subjects  Thirty-six healthy, nonsmoking women with regular cycles (n = 18 controls without hormonal contraception; n = 18 cases requesting the insertion of Implanon®).

Measurements  Blood samples for the determination of C-reactive protein (CRP), nitric oxide (NO), sex hormones and plasma lipids were taken in the early follicular phase of the cycle in both groups. A second sample was taken 12 weeks after Implanon insertion or in the controls during the early follicular phase of cycle 4.

Results  Implanon treatment caused a 36% decrease in CRP (P < 0·06) and a significant decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL) (P < 0·007), low density lipoprotein (LDL) (P < 0·001), cholesterol (P < 0·001), testosterone (P < 0·05) and SHBG (P < 0·002). Levels of NO, oestradiol and progesterone were not affected in either group. The cholesterol/HDL ratio did not change in Implanon carriers. There was a significant correlation between the cardiovascular risk factors CRP, cholesterol/HDL ratio and NO.

Conclusion  The progestagen-only implant Implanon does not exert a negative effect on the cardiovascular risk factors CRP, cholesterol/HDL ratio and NO. These results suggest that the use of a progestagen-only contraception does not increase cardiovascular risk factors in healthy young women.

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