Teens, the Pill, the Shot, and Cardiovascular Risk

Interesting finding about the beneficial effect of hormonal birth control (the Pill, and the shot) on carotid artery intima-media thickness in teen users:

Hormonal contraception does not appear to affect cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents, Jennifer G. Kapella, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

In a study that enrolled 50 adolescent subjects just starting on oral contraception, 22 subjects starting depot medroxyprogesterone acetate [Depo-Provera], and 53 control subjects, hormonal contraception had no effect on cholesterol levels, and may have had a slightly beneficial effect on carotid artery intima-media thickness over a period of 18 months, said Dr. Kapella of the department of pediatrics at the MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

There was a slight decrease over the 18 months in intima-media thickness in the control subjects, and a greater decrease in the subjects on either form of hormonal contraception. There was no difference in the decrease between the types of contraception used in the study.

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Overall, the study found a mean 2% drop in thickness at 12 months and a mean 6% drop at 18 months, equal to about 0.02 mm.

Previous studies of intima-media thickness in adolescent girls have found no change over time, while in adolescent boys there appears to be a progression in thickness over time, Dr. Kapella said.

By way of comparison, a 0.02-mm decrease in intima-media thickness is what is seen in statin trials of similar duration, she added.