The relation of growth hormone to altered carbohydrate metabolism in women taking oral contraceptives.

Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on a group of women before and during oral contraceptive administration and the plasma glucose, insulin, and growth hormone levels were studied. A significant impairment of glucose tolerance and an altered insulin response were observed in women taking oral contraceptives. The women had higher plasma growth hormone levels in the fasting state but this is not of primary aetiological significance in the development of altered carbohydrate metabolism.