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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Effects of oral contraceptives on metabolic profile in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A meta-analysis comparing products containing cyproterone acetate with third generation progestins

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Abstract Background Although oral contraceptives (OCs) are the most common treatment in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), their effects and safety on the metabolic profiles of these patients are relatively unknown. In this meta-analysis the effects of the different durations (from 3 months to 1 year) of OC treatment using cyproterone acetate (CA) or third generation progestins on metabolic profile of patients with PCOS were assessed. Materials and methods PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect databases (2001–2015) were searched to identify clinical trials investigating the effects of OC containing CA or third generation progestins on metabolic profiles of women with PCOS. Both fixed and random effect models were used. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the progestin compounds used and on duration of treatment. Results Oral contraceptive (OC) use was found to be associated with a worsening in lipid profiles but no changes were observed in other metabolic outcomes, including body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin, homeostatic model for measuring insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and in blood pressure (BP) values. All studied OCs showed similar effects on lipid profiles but with different timings, with products containing CA, requiring 6 months to raise high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and 12 months to increase triglycerides (TG). On the contrary, products containing drospirenone (DRSP) or desogestrel (DSG) increased HDL-C after only 3 months but determined elevations of TG after 6 months. All OCs induced an increase in low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) after 12 months of use. Conclusions The study shows that, in women with PCOS, OC use is associated with significant changes in lipid profiles, including elevation not only in HDL-C but also in TG and LDL-C. All OCs studied showed similar effects but with different timings, with products containing CA generally requiring more prolonged use to increase serum lipids. Instead, OC use does not affect body weight, BP or glucose levels, with only some minor increase of fasting insulin levels.