Fertility and sterility
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Fertility and sterility · Jun 1984
Comparative StudySex hormone profiles in oligomenorrheic adolescent girls and the effect of oral contraceptives.
The hormonal profiles and the effect of oral contraceptives (OCs) on 16 oligomenorrheic and 10 regularly menstruating adolescent girls were studied. Testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and sex-hormone-binding globulin were determined on blood samples obtained during a control cycle, during OC treatment, and during the follow-up cycle after discontinuation of OC use. The oligomenorrheic girls had significantly higher concentrations of androstenedione and total and free testosterone than regularly menstruating girls during the control cycle. ⋯ For 2 to 4 weeks after treatment the oligomenorrheic girls had significantly lower levels of androstenedione, total and free testosterone, and luteinizing hormone than before treatment. In the control group there were no significant differences between pretreatment and posttreatment hormone concentrations. The risks and benefits of prescribing OCs for oligomenorrheic adolescent girls are discussed.