Effect of Implanon® on serum lipids, liver function tests and hemoglobin
levels
B. Dilbaz, O. Ozdegirmenci, E. Caliskan, S. Dilbaz, S. Gungor, A. Haberal
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SSK Maternity and Women’s
Health Teaching Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
Introduction: Implanon® is a single rod, 4 cm in length and 2 mm in
diameter, containing approximately 68 mg of etonogestrel in a polyethylene vinyl
acetate copolymer membrane. Published studies about the effects of Implanon® on
lipid, liver function metabolism and hemoglobin levels are limited.
Aims and methods: This prospective study aimed to assess the possible
effects of Implanon® on serum lipids, liver function tests and hemoglobin
levels over a 6-month period. A total of 82 healthy volunteers of childbearing
potential, aged 19 to 41 years, were enrolled in the study. Serum concentrations
of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST),
alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels were tested before and
at 6 months after insertion. Baseline mean parameters were compared with mean
parameters at 6 months for statistical significance using paired samples t test.
Results: Mean age of the patients was 27.5+4.8 years. The mean
duration of time from their last pregnancy was 24.3+37.3 months. The
gravidity and the parity of the patients were ranging from 1 to 8 and from 0 to
3, respectively. All the baseline parameters tested were within the laboratory
reference ranges. Mean changes in TC, HDL, ALT and Hb levels were statistically
significant. Baseline mean TC and HDL levels were 166.63 and 50.2 mg/dl and
decreased to 153.91 and 43.04 mg/dl 6 months later, respectively, which were
statistically significant (p=0.001, p=0.000). Although mean TG, VLDL and LDL
concentrations tended to decrease during the study, these slight decreases from
baseline levels were nonsignificant. An increase in mean ALT level was observed
at 6 months which was statistically significant (p=0.03). Mean baseline value of
ALT was 17.9 mg/dl and 20.9 mg/dl at 6 months. A slight increase was also seen
in mean AST levels but this increase was not nsignificant (p=0.1). Statistically
significant elevations in Hb levels were observed (p=0.03). Baseline mean value
of Hb was 13.23 g/dl. It increased to 13.59 g/dl at 6 months.
Conclusion: Implanon® has a positive effect on hemoglobin and TC
levels. Although a decrease in HDL-C was observed, this change was not a serious
concern as HDL-C did not fall a risky values.
