Abstract

AbstractA retrospective correlation was made regarding the incidence of glucose deterioration in 36 multiparous women after the prolonged use of norethindrone acetate (2.5 mg) combined with ethinyl estradiol (0.05 mg). Comparison was made with 37 other women of similar age, parity, and weight, who were untreated, but who applied for a general medical study. Glucose abnormalities were higher in the treated group. The t values for the comparative hourly studies were generally less than 0.01. Borderline (six cases) or abnormal (three cases) oral glucose tolerance occurred in nine treated patients. In contrast, the corresponding figures for 37 controls were five and two. The t values for the hourly glucose tolerance values of treated patients measured during and after progestogen therapy ranged from 0.034 to 0.08. Forty-four percent of the treated patients had elevated triglyceride levels and normal cholesterol values. Results of these studies were normal for the untreated patients. It was the opinion that age, obesity, and family history were more important in the aggravation of glucose abnormality than the drugs used for oral contraception.