Carbohydrate metabolism in women using a triphasic oral contraceptive containing levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol for six months

A 6-month prospective study of carbohydrate metabolism was conducted in 29 healthy women using a triphasic oral contraceptive (OC) containing levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol. Each woman had a 3-hour glucose tolerance test before OC use and during the 6th month. The average age of the 29 participants was 22.3 years and the average parity was .8. The average weight was 68.4kg before the study and 69.9kg after not a statistically significant difference. There was no statistically significant change in either plasma glucose or insulin levels in the 6 months. The results corroborate the belief that lower doses of steroids in OCs will reduce the number of metabolic side effects and increase the safety of the method.