Washington, Nov 6 A new study has found that oral contraceptives might benefit women with asthma.

The research team from McMaster University in Hamilton, ON, Canada found that women with asthma who were not taking oral contraceptives (OC) had lower exhaled nitric oxide levels (eNO), a marker of airway inflammation associated with asthma.

They studied 17 women with asthma during their menstrual cycles and found that individuals not using oral contraceptives (OC) had higher mean eNO levels than women using OC.

Moreover, among women not using oral contraceptives, an increase in estrogen levels was associated with a decrease in eNO, while an increase in progesterone was significantly associated with an increase in eNO.

The researchers believe that OC may have a potential role in the management of premenopausal women with asthma. (ANI)