Carriers Of Certain Genetic Variant May Be More Susceptible To Getting Pregnant While Taking Birth Control

WOW reports a new study “suggests some women may inherit genes that break down contraceptive hormones more rapidly, leaving them with hormone levels that are too low to prevent pregnancy.” Researchers found in an analysis of “350 women with an etonogestrel implant in place for at least a year and no more than 36 months” that “women with a certain genetic variant metabolized estrogen and progesterone so quickly that it could put them at risk for pregnancy if they were taking low-dose birth control pills.” The findings were published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. On its website, CNN (3/12, Scutti) reports researchers “focused on a genetic variant called CYP3A7*1C, which is carried by about 5% of the overall population” and refers to the CYP3A7 gene. Those with the gene variant keep producing the enzyme, while most people cease producing the enzyme with age. Dr. Aaron Lazorwitz, co-author of the study and an obstetrician-gynecologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, said, “That enzyme – and we know this from other studies as well – seems to break down the steroid hormone.” https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/12/health/birth-control-genetic-variant-study/index.html