This study will attempt to determine whether having gastric bypass surgery changes the way that the gut absorbs hormones from birth control pills. It is believed that, because gastric bypass surgery causes malabsorption of nutrients and some medications, the levels of birth control hormones after the surgery will be lower than in women before they have the surgery. The investigators will ask several women to take a pack of birth control pills before having bypass surgery, and then another pack several months after surgery. The investigators will measure hormone levels in the blood. The investigators will also measure outcomes that may tell us how well the birth control pills are working, such as ultrasounds of the uterus and ovaries, and examination of the cervix.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Women will be asked to take a daily ethinyl estradiol-levonorgestrel combined oral contraceptive (COC) for 21 days, beginning 2-3 months pre-operatively, so as to stop at least 30 days before planned surgery date. Then, approximately 3-4 months after surgery, they will again be asked to take a daily pill for 21 days. During these pill cycles, we will collect serum samples and perform ultrasound and cervical mucus assessments on a twice-weekly basis, culminating in an inpatient stay of up to 48 hours in order to obtain more frequent sampling at the end of the pill pack.
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Serum hormone levels of Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, as assessed by area under the curve (AUC)
Time frame: twice weekly x 4 weeks, at 2 separate months: 1 pre-op and one 3-4 months postoperative. Thus, total duration of participation in study will be approximately 7-8 months
Endometrial thickness on transvaginal ultrasound
Time frame: twice weekly x 4 weeks, at 2 separate months: 1 pre-op and one 3-4 months postoperative. Thus, total duration of participation in study will be approximately 7-8 months
Serum levels of FSH, LH, E and P
Serum levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), estradiol (E) and progesterone (P)
Time frame: twice weekly x 4 weeks, at 2 separate months: 1 pre-op and one 3-4 months postoperative. Thus, total duration of participation in study will be approximately 7-8 months
Cervical mucus score
We will assess cervical mucus favorability according to standard criteria.
Time frame: twice weekly x 4 weeks, at 2 separate months: 1 pre-op and one 3-4 months postoperative. Thus, total duration of participation in study will be approximately 7-8 months
Presence of ovarian follicles on transvaginal ultrasound
We will assess for and measure ovarian follicles with maximum diameter 10mm or greater
Time frame: twice weekly x 4 weeks, at 2 separate months: 1 pre-op and one 3-4 months postoperative. Thus, total duration of participation in study will be approximately 7-8 months
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