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Oral contraceptives may reduce fluctuating hormone levels’ affect on airway inflammation.

By Jeremy Cockerill | November 16, 2009

HealthDay (11/13, Gordon) reported, “Women with asthma may notice that their asthma symptoms get worse at certain times of the month.” Now, a paper appearing in Chest “confirms that fluctuating female hormone levels appear to affect airway inflammation, but oral contraceptives might help ease those changes.” Specifically, Canadian researchers found that “in women who were not using birth control pills…increased levels of estrogen were associated with decreased levels of exhaled nitric oxide — indicating decreased airway inflammation.” Increased progesterone levels also appeared to increase “levels of exhaled nitric oxide.” On the other hand, “birth control pills lessen dramatic hormone fluctuations, and researchers didn’t find differences in asthma symptoms throughout the month for women who took them.”