Blood glucose, serum insulin, serum growth hormone and serum glycosylated proteins during two years' oral contraception with low-estrogen combinations.

Body weight, fasting blood glucose (GP) (BFG), serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI), serum growth hormone (GH) and serum glycosylated proteins were longitudinally followed in 2 groups of women during two years' oral contraception. One group (n = 10) received a combination of 0.030 mg ethinylestradiol and 0.150 mg levonorgestrel and the other (n = 10) a combination of 0.030 mg ethinylestradiol and 0.150 mg of desogestrel. There was a significant increase in BFG during the study and the values were still rising, when examined 2 months after discontinuation of the pill. Two subjects, reaching the level of 5.5 mmol/l showed normal pretreatment values, when investigated one year later. After 6 months' use of either preparation, GH significantly increased, remained on that level throughout the study and returned to the pretreatment level after discontinuation of the pill. Body weight, IRI and GPP did not change significantly during the study.