Intravenous glucose tolerance after 18 months on progestogen or combination-type oral contraceptive.

The effect of long-term use of different oral contraceptives compounds was evaluated in two groups of 36 normal women on the basis of blood glucose and plasma insulin changes measured during i.v. glucose tolerance tests. Progestogen (ethynodiol diacetate) alone or a combination-type steroid compound (norethynodrel-mestranol) were used. After 18 months of ethynodiol diacetate therapy, a mild though obvious diabetogenic effect similar to that seen with norethynodrel-mestranol was observed.