[Contraception with cyclic administration of buserelin and gestagens: increase in testosterone and free testosterone...

During contraception with the LH-RH analogue buserelin, some women developed mild androgenic symptoms. Therefore, we investigated in 10 women various hormonal serum parameters during one cycle of treatment with daily 300 micrograms buserelin intranasally (day 1-22) and 5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) orally (day 16-22), and, after a washout cycle, during another cycle of treatment with daily 300 micrograms buserelin intranasally (day 1-15) and 5 mg norethisterone acetate (NETA) orally (day 16-22). The serum parameters were investigated on day 1, 15 and 21 during the 4 hours after administration of the drugs. During the treatment, LH release was significantly reduced, whereby additional MPA had no effect whatsoever, while NETA profoundly suppressed LH. During treatment with buserelin and MPA, the average oestradiol levels remained unaltered, but were significantly suppressed by 65% during intake of NETA. Contrary to 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, which did not change, serum testosterone was significantly increased by 30% when buserelin was given with or without MPA, while NETA had no effect. During both regimens, the serum concentrations of SHBG were reduced by 15 to 25%, and those of free testosterone were increased by 30 to 50%. These alterations in hormonal parameters may have contributed to the development of seborrhoeic symptoms and acne of the facial skin which were observed in 6 of the 10 women treated with intranasal buserelin for contraception.