Influence of an oral contraceptive containing drospirenone on insulin sensitivity of healthy women

Abstract Objectives Oral contraceptives (OCs) containing androgenic second and third generation progestins decrease insulin sensitivity (SI). In this study we investigated whether an oral contraceptive containing the anti-androgenic progestin drospirenone (DRSP) still alters SI. Lipid modifications were investigated as well. Study design Eleven young healthy women were allocated to receive for 6 months ethinyl-estradiol (EE) 30 μg plus DRSP (3 mg). SI and glucose utilization independent of insulin (Sg) was investigated by the minimal model method. Lipid modifications were also analyzed. Results SI did not vary during EE/DRSP (from 3.72 ± 2.62 to 3.29 ± 2.93; p  = 0.73). Similarly, values of Sg did not vary (from 0.03 ± 0.02 to 0.032 ± 0.014; p  = 0.87). An increase was observed in HDL cholesterol (9.4 ± 9.8 mg/dl; p  = 0.05) and triglycerides (46.9 ± 75.1 mg/dl; p  = 0.046), with no modification in LDL cholesterol (−4.64 ± 1.704 mg/dl; p  = 0.6). Conclusions EE/DRSP does not deteriorate SI. These results are reassuring for the long-term use of this association.