More on the oral contraceptive study

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http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/HRT/tb/2423

Note the last few paragraphs:

The investigators suggested that prolonged exposure to the synthetic

estrogens found in oral contraceptives may trigger permanent changes

in gene expression that leads to the elevated levels of sex hormone-

binding globulin.

The authors cautioned that their study sample is small and that the

participants took a variety of oral contraceptives for various

lengths of time. It is not known then whether there is a dose-

response relationship.

However, on the basis of these results, the researchers suggested

that the next step should be whether a longer study would allow for

a reversal of these effects.

" Further research is needed to identify whether sex hormone-binding

globulin changes induced by oral contraceptives may or may not be

completely reversible after discontinuation of oral contraceptive

use and whether this leads to long-term sexual, metabolic, and

mental health changes in women, " they concluded.

Vornan