(100) The Effect of Oral Contraceptive Pill Type on Vulvovaginal Atrophy

Abstract Introduction Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), which are used by over a quarter of reproductive-age women in the United States (Daniels et al., 2015; Jones 2013), contain either both ethinylestradiol and synthetic progestin, or solely progestin. Through progestin-induced hepatic increases sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), OCPs have been found to reduce number bioavailable androgens within women’s bodies (Zimmerman 2014). Given that essential for maintenance healthy vaginal tissue (I. Goldstein, 2009), reduced androgen levels may adversely impact epithelium OCP users. While indeed associated with symptoms vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), such as pain dryness (Battaglia 2012), little is known about how these vary based on androgenicity OCPs. Objective The aim present study was compare rates VVA among three groups women: (1) using containing low doses (i.e., ≤25 μg) coupled an androgenic (2) antiandrogenic (3) naturally-cycling no history oral pill use). Methods Participants rated severity following 4-point Likert-type scale ranging from 0 (mild) 3 (severe): dryness, and/or vulvar irritation/itching, dysuria, sexual activity. also dichotomously presence absence bleeding Results Women taking (n = 50) were significantly more likely report activity than control group 59), χ2(2, 130) 9.759, p .007. One participant (1.69%) reported bleeding, compared ten (20%) group. Three participants (14.28%) endorsed however this result not significant. A MANOVA indicated significant between-group differences any remaining items itching/irritation, pain), F(2, 250) 1.098, .365, ANOVA confirmed there between total score, F(2) 2.093, .127. Conclusions There elevated users non-OCP sample. This finding could be attributable range factors previously linked use thinning (Kagan & Rivera, 2018), cervical ectopy (Patil Sharma, 2017), endometrium (Bright 2011). Disclosure No