Effect of ethinylestradiol dose and progestagen in combined oral contraceptives on plasma sex hormone-binding globulin levels in premenopausal women.

The effect of a combined oral contraceptive (COC) on sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels may be an indicator for venous thrombosis risk of the COC involved [12]. SHBG is a plasma glycoprotein primarily produced in hepatocytes that binds the sex steroid hormones testosterone and 17beta-estradiol but not ethinylestradiol. Users of COC containing a third generation progestagen have higher SHBG levels than second generation progestagen users [12] reflecting the difference in venous thrombosis risk. (c) 2012 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.