The effects of hormone implants on serum lipoproteins and steroid hormones in bilaterally oophorectomised women.

Serum lipoproteins were measured over a period of 6 months in 14 oophorectomised women treated with oestrogen implants (50 mg oestradiol-17 beta) and 17 oophorectomised women treated with oestrogen/testosterone implants (50 mg oestradiol-17 beta, 100 mg testosterone). Both types of implant caused only minimal changes in lipoprotein metabolism. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased with both types of implant and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol rose with the oestrogen implants. HDL subfractions were also measured. The oestrogen implants caused a transient rise in HDL2 cholesterol levels at 2 months and a slower rise in HDL3 cholesterol. The oestrogen/testosterone implants had no effect on HDL fractions. The results indicate that hormone implants do not cause the profound changes in lipoproteins associated with oral hormone therapy.