[The effect of physical training on the pharmacokinetics of steroidal contraceptives]

In 8 female sports students (runners) aged 20 and 21 years and 10 women between 20 and 40 years of age, who regularly underwent body building training, serum levels of ethinylestradiol (EE2) and levonorgestrel (LNG) have been determined under conditions of exercise as well as in rest, prior to and following the intake of 1 tablet of Gravistat (0.05 mg EE2, 0.125 mg LNG). Blood samples were obtained at points 0, 2, 6 and 24 hours. Exercise (5000 meter running and intensive body building training of one hour duration, respectively) was started immediately after intake of the steroid combination. There were no significant differences in the serum concentration levels obtained during exercise and rest. But exercise consistently resulted in a slight decrease of EE2 and LNG serum concentrations and the area under curve values.