The effects of oral contraceptives on androgen levels and their relevance to premenstrual mood and sexual interest: a comparison of two triphasic formulations containing norgestimate and either 35 or 25 μg of ethinyl estradiol

This study compared two oral contraceptives (OCs) with the same triphasic regimen of progestin (norgestimate 0.18, 0.215 and 0.25 mg) but differing doses of ethinyl estradiol (EE) - 25 and 35 microg EE - in their effects on androgens, mood and sexual interest in women starting on OCs.Total testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), together with measures of mood...