SERUM INSULIN AND INTRAVENOUS GLUCOSE TOLERANCE IN ORAL CONTRACEPTION

Abstract

The carbohydrate metabolism was investigated in 27 normal fertile women and a 26-year-old diabetic woman during long-term cyclical treatment with a daily dose of 5 mg of 6-methyl-6-dehydro-17α-acetoxy-progesterone (megestrol acetate) + 0.1 mg of 17α-ethynyl-oestradiol-3-methylether (mestranol). All subjects were treated for contraceptive purposes, and the treatment period was 12 months. Each subject was tested 3 times: 1) before treatment started, 2) after 12 months of treatment, and 3) one month after withdrawal of treatment. The carbohydrate metabolism was investigated by determination of the following 4 parameters: a) the fasting blood glucose, b) the k-value in the intravenous glucose tolerance test, c) the fasting serum insulin, and d) the response in serum insulin after an intravenous glucose stimulus. In the 27 non-diabetic women no significant changes were observed in any of the 4 above-mentioned parameters. The k-value was slightly, but not significantly, decreased and the 3 other parameters were completely unchanged during treatment. The diabetic woman showed a significant increase in fasting blood glucose and a slight decrease in the k-value during the treatment period. Her insulin dose was not changed during treatment. On the basis of the present investigation it is concluded that cyclical treatment with megestrol acetate + mestranol has no effect on the carbohydrate metabolism in normal fertile women with no family history of diabetes.