Maintaining physiological testosterone levels by adding dehydroepiandrosterone to combined oral contraceptives: I. Endocrine effects
Publication date
2017-11
Authors
Coelingh Bennink, Herjan J T
Zimmerman, Yvette
Laan, Ellen
Termeer, Hanneke M M
Appels, Nicole
Albert, Adelin
Fauser, Bart CJM
Thijssen, Jos H H
van Lunsen, Rik H W
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Advisors
Supervisors
Document Type
Article
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cc_by_nc_nd
Abstract
Objective: To determine whether adding dehydroepiandrosterone to combined oral contraceptives (COCs) maintains physiological levels of free testosterone. Study design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-way crossover study conducted in 81 healthy women (age range: 20-35 years; Body mass index (BMI) range: 18-35 kg/m2) using oral contraceptives. Androgens, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) were measured, and free testosterone and the free testosterone index were calculated. Subjects discontinued oral contraceptive use for at least one menstrual cycle before being randomized to receive five cycles of ethinyl estradiol (EE) combined with either levonorgestrel (EE/LNG group) or drospirenone (EE/DRSP group) together with either dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (50 mg/day orally) or placebo. Subsequently, all subjects crossed over to the other treatment arm for an additional five cycles. Results: Both COCs decreased the levels of all androgens measured. Significant decreases (p
Keywords
Androgens, DHEA, Free testosterone, Oral contraception, SHBG, Reproductive Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Journal Article
Citation
Coelingh Bennink, H J T, Zimmerman, Y, Laan, E, Termeer, H M M, Appels, N, Albert, A, Fauser, B C J M, Thijssen, J H H & van Lunsen, R H W 2017, 'Maintaining physiological testosterone levels by adding dehydroepiandrosterone to combined oral contraceptives : I. Endocrine effects', Contraception, vol. 96, no. 5, pp. 322-329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2016.06.022