Oral Contraceptive Pill Treatment Alters Gene Expression of Inflammatory Markers in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Women
February 2023
in “
BMC women's health
”
TLDR Birth control pills change the activity of certain inflammation and blood clotting genes in women with PCOS.
The study examined the effects of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) on gene expression in 50 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), comparing 25 OCP-treated women to 25 drug-naive women. Results showed that OCP treatment significantly increased the mRNA expression of inflammatory markers ICAM-1 (2.54-fold), TNF-α (2.05-fold), and MCP-1 (1.74-fold), while PAI-1 expression remained unchanged. These changes correlated with higher BMI, triglycerides, blood glucose, and insulin levels, suggesting that OCPs may exacerbate inflammatory and metabolic disturbances in PCOS patients, despite their benefits in reducing hyperandrogenism and regularizing menstrual cycles.
