Short-term effects of desogestrel and ethinyloestradiol on serum proteins in women.

The effects of the new progestagen desogestrel on the changes induced by ethinyloestradiol (EE) on the serum levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), transcortin, ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin were studied in healthy female volunteers. Desogestrel (0.125 mg or 0.250 mg) administered in combination with 0.050 mg EE was compared with 0.050 mg EE alone. After 7 and 14 days the three regimens induced similar changes in the serum levels of transcortin, ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin. Desogestrel at a dose level used in oral contraceptives did not inhibit the EE-induced increase in SHBG capacity while its influence on this parameter at twice the clinical dosage (0.250 mg) used was still minor. It can be concluded that with respect to the parameters studied desogestrel in the clinical dosage used has no detectable oestrogenic or androgenic effect.