N Vibarel-Rebot1, N Rieth1, F Lasne2, C Jaffré3, K Collomp4. 1. Laboratoire CIAMS, Université Paris Sud-Université Orléans, France. 2. Département des Analyses, AFLD, France. 3. Laboratoire M2S, Université Rennes 2, France. 4. Laboratoire CIAMS, Université Paris Sud-Université Orléans, France; Département des Analyses, AFLD, France. Electronic address: katia.collomp@univ-orleans.fr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The impact of oral contraceptives (OCs) on the saliva diurnal pattern of metabolic steroid hormones remained unknown. STUDY DESIGN: Saliva samples were taken from young healthy women (11 OC users, 10 non-OC users) to analyze cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone 4 times (days 1, 8, 15 and 22) over one menstrual cycle. RESULTS: OC use decreased saliva testosterone concentrations (p<.01) under all conditions of day and time, but not saliva cortisol. OC also decreased saliva DHEA concentrations during the first part of the day (p<.05), with a dampened amplitude in its diurnal pattern. CONCLUSION: The clinical relevance requires further study.
BACKGROUND: The impact of oral contraceptives (OCs) on the saliva diurnal pattern of metabolic steroid hormones remained unknown. STUDY DESIGN: Saliva samples were taken from young healthy women (11 OC users, 10 non-OC users) to analyze cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone 4 times (days 1, 8, 15 and 22) over one menstrual cycle. RESULTS: OC use decreased saliva testosterone concentrations (p<.01) under all conditions of day and time, but not saliva cortisol. OC also decreased saliva DHEA concentrations during the first part of the day (p<.05), with a dampened amplitude in its diurnal pattern. CONCLUSION: The clinical relevance requires further study.