Oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone increase hydroxylation and methylation of endogenous estrogen but not genotoxic estrogen DNA-adduct formation.

ABSTRACT: Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are commonly prescribed for the prevention of pregnancy, as well as numerous other non-contraceptive health reasons. COCs act by suppressing the natural hormonal fluctuations of the menstrual cycle that result in ovulation. No studies have investigated the effects of COC use on endogenous estrogen biotransformation and the production of estrogen metabolites. This is important since imbalances in hormone biotransformation (e.g., inefficient methylation by catechol O-methyltransferases; COMT) are implicated in the initiation of breast cancer through the generation of genotoxic metabolites (i.e., estrogen quinones) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the depletion of vital antioxidants and metabolic cofactors. Here, we quantified the urinary levels of va

SUBMITTER: Venter G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12381094 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature