Plasma Lipid and Lipoprotein Alterations During Oral Contraceptive Administration

The oral contraceptive, Ovulen* (ethynodiol diacetate and mestranol) has been found to increase plasma triglyceride by 76% in a group of premenopausal women. The elevation in triglycerides was associated with increases in pre-β-lipoprotein. Within this group, 7 women with cholesterol levels averaging 160 mg/100 ml showed a 44% rise in cholesterol, and then continued at the same level as the 12 women whose cholesterol averaged 207 mg/100 ml without change during therapy. Phospholipids rose significantly to 19% above control values. Mechanisms for the lipid elevations are discussed.