Oral contraception and cardiovascular risk factors during adolescence

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to analyze the pattern of oral contraceptive (OC) use in teenagers and to examine the relationship between OC use and other cardiovascular risk factors. The study was conducted in 24 Belgian secondary schools. Most students (1526 adolescents aged 12-17 years) agreed to participate (participation rate: 83.6%). Smoking, physical activity habits, menarche, and OC use were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Total cholesterol level, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were also measured. Fourteen per cent of mature girls (14%, n ϭ 92) were OC users. Two-thirds of them (66.3%, n ϭ 61) were taking OC which contained either gestodene or desogestrel. Blood pressure and BMI were similar for OC users and non-users. Total cholesterol level was significantly higher in OC users than in non-users (191 mg/dL versus 172 mg/dL). Logistic regression model confirmed the significant influence of OC use on total cholesterol level (OR ϭ 3.08). OC users were also often smokers (39% versus 20% for non-users). In conclusion, the present study has found significant relationships between OC use and cardiovascular risk factors i.e., high total cholesterol and smoking. The first implication is a need for further research on lipoprotein profile in young OC users. Secondly, the combined use of OC and smoking in teenagers calls for preventive actions.

Hormonal Contraceptive Use Among Adolescent Girls in Germany in Relation to Health Behavior and Biological Cardiovascular Risk Factors

“…This prevalence estimate is consistent with results obtained from a previous interview survey conducted among 14-17-year-old girls in Germany, despite methodological differences in study design [22]. Our results are also similar to prevalence estimates reported by other western European countries [11,23,24].…”

“…An association between HC use and unhealthy lifestyle, in particular current cigarette smoking, was found in our study as well as in others [11][12][13][14]29]. Clustering of behavioral cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents has been previously observed to be associated with an adverse biological cardiovascular risk profile [13].…”

“…Clustering of behavioral cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents has been previously observed to be associated with an adverse biological cardiovascular risk profile [13]. Previous studies conducted among adolescents reported an association of HC use and elevated SBP, DBP, serum total cholesterol and LDL-C [11,[13][14][15][16]. Studies that were conducted in the 1970s and 1980s found decreased HDL-C levels among HC users as compared with nonusers [16,30].…”

“…Events such as venous thrombosis, stroke, and myocardial infarction occur rarely in adolescents, thus, hard endpoint studies would require extended follow-up far into adulthood. Previous epidemiological studies on HCs and cardiovascular risk in adolescents focused on behavioral risk factors relevant to cardiovascular risk or surrogate endpoints, such as blood pressure and serum lipids [11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

Randomized controlled study of the influence of two low estrogen dose oral contraceptives containing gestodene or desogestrel on carbohydrate metabolism

“…The use of oral contraceptives by healthy young women usually results in a slight reduction in glucose tolerance. Although changes in blood glucose and insulin levels are often statistically significant, they are usually within the normal range and most fluctuations reported do not appear to be clinically relevant [1,2].…”