Three comparisons of the same women in an observational study (follicular, luteal) and during a randomised, placebo controlled trial of moderate dose triphasic oral contraceptive (Synphasic) compared with the placebo group
| Oral contraceptive group | Placebo | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follicular | Luteal | Treatment | Follicular | Luteal | Treatment | |
| Values are mean (95% confidence interval). | ||||||
| *significant time main effect (p<0.05). | ||||||
| **significant group x time interaction (p≤0.05). | ||||||
| AST, Anerobic speed test; RER, respiratory exchange ratio; BTPS, body temperature and pressure saturated. | ||||||
| Weight (kg) | 60.2 (54.3 to 66.2) | 60.6 (54.5 to 66.8) | 61.2 (55.0 to 67.5) | 59.9 (54.0 to 65.8) | 59.9 (53.7 to 66.0) | 59.8 (53.5 to 66.0) |
| Body fat (%) | 16.5 (12.7 to 20.4) | 16.9 (13.9 to 20.0) | 17.5 (13.7 to 21.3) | 17.4 (13.5 to 21.3) | 17.1 (14.0 to 20.1) | 16.9 (13.0 to 20.7) |
| Sum of skinfolds (mm) | 68.8 (55.7 to 81.9) | 73.1 (59.9 to 86.4) | 79.2 (63.6 to 94.8) | 80.1 (67.0 to 93.2) | 78.9 (65.7 to 92.2) | 76.3 (60.7 to 92.0)** |
| Oestradiol (pmol/l) | 138.7 (88.4 to 189.0) | 442.1 (324.6 to 559.6) | 347.6 (136.4 to 558.7) | 133.7 (83.4 to 184.0) | 412.6 (295.1 to 530.1) | 364.4 (153.3 to 575.6)* |
| Progesterone (nmol/l) | 1.3 (1.0 to 1.6) | 40.1 (26.9 to 53.4) | 24.7 (4.3 to 45.1) | 1.1 (0.8 to 1.4) | 44.2 (31.0 to 57.5) | 19.5 (1.0 to 39.9)* |
| Haemoglobin (g/l) | 131.3 (126.7 to 135.9) | 132.6 (128.6 to 136.5) | 130.7 (126.9 to 134.5) | 133.1 (128.6 to 137.7) | 134.4 (130.5 to 138.4) | 135.7 (131.9 to 139.5) |
| Packed cell volume (%) | 38.5 (37.3 to 39.7) | 39.2 (38.3 to 40.2) | 38.7 (37.5 to 39.9) | 39.0 (37.7 to 40.2) | 39.3 (38.4 to 40.3) | 39.9 (38.7 to 41.1) |
| Mean cell volume (fl) | 91.9 (89.0 to 94.7) | 92.3 (89.1 to 95.5) | 91.8 (88.6 to 95.1) | 92.0 (89.1 to 94.9) | 91.7 (88.6 to 94.9) | 92.9 (89.6 to 96.1) |
| Vo2max (litres/min) | 3.29 (3.00 to 3.59) | 3.26 (3.00 to 3.52) | 3.18 (2.94 to 3.43) | 3.16 (2.86 to 3.45) | 3.08 (2.82 to 3.34) | 3.18 (2.94 to 3.43)** |
| Vo2max (ml/kg/min) | 54.7 (51.6 to 57.9) | 53.7 (51.0 to 56.5) | 52.0 (49.0 to 55.1) | 53.0 (49.9 to 56.1) | 52.0 (49.1 to 54.7) | 53.8 (50.7 to 56.8)** |
| Ve (litrres/min; BTPS) | 104.5 (96.6 to 112.4) | 105.3 (97.3 to 113.2) | 102.6 (93.7 to 111.4) | 108.3 (100.4 to 116.2) | 109.3 (101.3 to 117.2) | 107.6 (98.8 to 116.5) |
| Maximal heart rate (bpm) | 190.7 (181.8 to 199.7) | 190.0 (180.7 to 199.3) | 192.6 (181.9 to 203.3) | 188.9 (179.9 to 197.8) | 188.3 (179.0 to 197.5) | 191.0 (180.3 to 201.7) |
| RER | 1.17 (1.12 to 1.21) | 1.18 (1.12 to 1.23) | 1.16 (1.11 to 1.20) | 1.19 (1.14 to 1.23) | 1.17 (1.11 to 1.22) | 1.12 (1.08 to 1.17) |
| AST (seconds) | 33.0 (26.2 to 39.8) | 33.0 (26.4 to 39.6) | 32.9 (26.1 to 39.6) | 26.1 (19.4 to 32.9) | 24.9 (18.3 to 31.4) | 26.6 (19.8 to 33.3) |
| Quadriceps peak torque (N.m) | 158.1 (136.9 to 179.4) | 153.1 (135.4 to 170.7) | 145.1 (123.6 to 166.6) | 142.6 (121.4 to 163.9) | 141.6 (124.0 to 159.3) | 139.2 (117.7 to 160.7) |
| Hamstrings peak torque (N.m) | 89.2 (72.0 to 106.4) | 93.4 (79.5 to 107.3) | 89.4 (75.6 to 103.2) | 76.6 (59.5 to 93.8) | 78.9 (65.0 to 92.8) | 77.3 (63.5 to 91.1) |