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Women with sexual dysfunction maintained elevated levels of sex hormone-binding globulin even after they discontinued use of oral contraceptives, according to Dr. Claudia Panzer of Boston University Medical Center and her colleagues.
In a retrospective study of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels before and after discontinuation of oral contraceptive use, researchers examined 124 premenopausal women with sexual health complaints. The women were divided into three groups: “continued-users,” 62 women (mean age 32 years) who had been on OCs for more than 6 months and continued taking them; “discontinued-users,” 39 women (mean age 33 years) who had been on OCs for longer than 6 months and discontinued them; and “never-users,” 23 women (mean age 36 years) who had never taken OCs.
SHBG was a significant four times higher in the continued-user group, compared with the never-user group (152 nmol/L vs. 41 nmol/L). But despite a decreased level of SHBG in the discontinued-user group, the level remained significantly higher than in the never-user group for more than 120 days, according to the investigators (J. Sex. Med. 2006;3:104–13). (See graphic.)
SHBG elevation induced by OCs may lead to long-term sexual, metabolic, and mental health changes, the investigators said.
ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS
Women with sexual dysfunction maintained elevated levels of sex hormone-binding globulin even after they discontinued use of oral contraceptives, according to Dr. Claudia Panzer of Boston University Medical Center and her colleagues.
In a retrospective study of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels before and after discontinuation of oral contraceptive use, researchers examined 124 premenopausal women with sexual health complaints. The women were divided into three groups: “continued-users,” 62 women (mean age 32 years) who had been on OCs for more than 6 months and continued taking them; “discontinued-users,” 39 women (mean age 33 years) who had been on OCs for longer than 6 months and discontinued them; and “never-users,” 23 women (mean age 36 years) who had never taken OCs.
SHBG was a significant four times higher in the continued-user group, compared with the never-user group (152 nmol/L vs. 41 nmol/L). But despite a decreased level of SHBG in the discontinued-user group, the level remained significantly higher than in the never-user group for more than 120 days, according to the investigators (J. Sex. Med. 2006;3:104–13). (See graphic.)
SHBG elevation induced by OCs may lead to long-term sexual, metabolic, and mental health changes, the investigators said.
ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS
Women with sexual dysfunction maintained elevated levels of sex hormone-binding globulin even after they discontinued use of oral contraceptives, according to Dr. Claudia Panzer of Boston University Medical Center and her colleagues.
In a retrospective study of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels before and after discontinuation of oral contraceptive use, researchers examined 124 premenopausal women with sexual health complaints. The women were divided into three groups: “continued-users,” 62 women (mean age 32 years) who had been on OCs for more than 6 months and continued taking them; “discontinued-users,” 39 women (mean age 33 years) who had been on OCs for longer than 6 months and discontinued them; and “never-users,” 23 women (mean age 36 years) who had never taken OCs.
SHBG was a significant four times higher in the continued-user group, compared with the never-user group (152 nmol/L vs. 41 nmol/L). But despite a decreased level of SHBG in the discontinued-user group, the level remained significantly higher than in the never-user group for more than 120 days, according to the investigators (J. Sex. Med. 2006;3:104–13). (See graphic.)
SHBG elevation induced by OCs may lead to long-term sexual, metabolic, and mental health changes, the investigators said.
ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS