The effects of a once-a-week steroid contraceptive (R2323) on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in women during three months of use.

Forty-four women were prospectively evaluated with a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test while they used a new weekly oral contraceptive drug, R2323. The blood tests were carried out before the drug was administered and again 3 months after its use. Both blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were measured. In the 40 women with a "normal" control glucose tolerance test, it was found that only the 1-hour blood glucose value was significantly elevated after 3 months of drug use and the plasma insulin values were unchanged. The tests of three of the four women with borderline abnormal to abnormal control test curves converted to normal with 3 months of treatment and that of one remained unchanged. The fasting plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were unchanged over the 3 months' time. These results suggest that this steroid contraceptive has no effect on lipid metabolism. It also has minimal adverse effects on normal carbohydrate metabolism and may possibly improve abnormal metabolism.