New research indicates birth control pill could cause long-term problems with testosterone. In the January issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, researchers have published a new investigation measuring sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) before and after discontinuation of the oral contraceptive pill. The research concluded that women who used the oral contraceptive pill may be exposed to long-term problems from low values of “unbound” testosterone potentially leading to continuing sexual, metabolic, and mental health consequences. Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is the protein that binds testosterone, rendering it unavailable for a woman’s physiologic needs. The study showed that in women with sexual dysfunction, elevated SHBG in “Oral Contraceptive Discontinued-Users” did not decrease to values consistent with those of “Never-Users of Oral Contraceptive”. Thus, as a consequence of the chronic elevation in sex hormone binding globulin levels, pill users may be at risk for long-standing health problems, including sexual dysfunction. Oral contraceptives have been the preferred method of birth control because of their ease of use and high rate of effectiveness. However, in some women oral contraceptives have ironically been associated with women’s sexual health problems and testosterone hormonal problems. Now there are data that oral contraceptive pills may have lasting adverse effects on the hormone testosterone. The research, in an article entitled: “Impact of Oral Contraceptives on Sex Hormone Binding Globulin and Androgen Levels: A Retrospective Study in Women with Sexual Dysfunction” published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, involved 124 premenopausal women with sexual health complaints for more than 6 months. Three groups of women were defined: i) 62 “Oral Contraceptive Continued-Users” had been on oral contraceptives for more than 6 months and continued taking them, ii) 39 “Oral Contraceptive Discontinued-Users” had been on oral contraceptives for more than 6 months and discontinued them, and iii) 23 “Never-Users of Oral Contraceptives” had never taken oral contraceptives. SHBG values were compared at baseline (groups i, ii and iii), while on the oral contraceptive (groups i and ii), and well beyond the 7 day half-life of sex hormone binding globulin at 49-120 (mean 80) days and more than 120 (mean 196) days after discontinuation of oral contraceptives (group ii).
