Contraceptive use, both oral and parenteral, is associated with increased arterial stiffness in young healthy women

Purpose: Previous studies on the impact on arterial health of contraceptive use, or across the menstrual phases, have yielded differing results. Furthermore, there is little research on the differences based on the delivery method of the contraceptive, oral vs parenteral contraceptives. In this study, we examine arterial health using three different clinical physiological measures of arterial function and structure in contraceptive users and non-users. Methods: Young, healthy, non-smoking, women, between 18.0-25.9 years of age were enrolled in the study (n = 577). Menstrual phase and contraceptive use and type were assessed by questionnaire. Arterial stiffness was measured using pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx). Arterial thickness was measured using carotid-intima media thickness (cIMT). Venous blood samples were analysed for various biomarkers, which were used in multivariate regressions to adjust for the effects of contraceptive use on the vascular measures. Results: Contraceptive users had a significantly higher PWV than non-users. The menstrual phase did not significantly impact PWV. The type of contraceptive, oral or parenteral, did not impact PWV. AIx and cIMT did not differ between any studied groups. Systolic blood pressure, Body Mass Index, serum lipids, C-reactive protein, and sex hormone binding globulin concentrations were higher in the contraceptive using group, but in multivariable models, adjusting for age, these biomarkers had only limited impact on the positive association between contraceptive use and PWV. Conclusion: Contraceptive users have higher PWV than non-users already in young healthy women.