Altered growth hormone secretion during oral contraception.

Serum profiles of growth hormone (GH) were recorded for 24 h in 9 young healthy women before and during treatment with monophasic, combined contraceptives. During treatment, there was a change in GH secretion towards a pattern of smaller peaks at a higher frequency. The mean peak amplitude decreased from 11.2 to 7.3 mU/l, the mean peak area from 24.1 to 14.1 mU/l, and the mean interpeak interval from 4.3 to 3.0 h. The biological impact of altered GH secretion is well-known from animal experiments. A sex-steroid-induced change in GH secretion may be relevant for certain metabolic effects of oral contraceptives.