Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
Collection, Isolation, and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Samples
Published on: July 6, 2014
Antimüllerian hormone levels decrease in women using combined contraception independently of administration route
Sanna Kallio1, Johanna Puurunen, Aimo Ruokonen
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Clinical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
Objective:
To compare the effects of continuous use of oral (OC), transdermal, and vaginal combined contraceptives on the pituitary-ovarian axis and inhibition of follicular development.
Design:
Spin-off study of a prospective, randomized trial.
Setting:
University clinic.
Patient(S):
Forty-two of 54 healthy women completed the study.
Intervention(S):
Treatment with combined OCs (ethinyl E2 [EE] and desogestrel), transdermal patches (EE and norelgestromin), or vaginal rings (EE and etonogestrel) for 9 weeks continuously. Blood sampling was performed before and at 5 and 9 weeks of treatment.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Changes in serum hormone levels induced by combined contraceptives.
Result(S):
Serum antimüllerian hormone (AMH), FSH, inhibin B, LH, and E2 levels had decreased significantly in all study groups after 9 weeks of treatment. Significant declines were already detected after 5 weeks' use of combined contraceptives with regard to all hormone levels apart from those of serum AMH, where the decrease between baseline and 5 weeks was only moderate. Between groups, serum levels of AMH, inhibin B, LH, and E2 were comparable at baseline and after 5 and 9 weeks of treatment.
Conclusion(S):
The decrease of serum AMH levels during the use of all combined contraceptives indicates that folliculogenesis is arrested independently of administration route.
Clinical Trial Registration Number:
NCT01087879.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH release.
01:22Birth Control Methods
01:21Intrauterine Drug Delivery Systems
01:30Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...
01:28Menopause
01:27Ovarian Cycle