Researchers led by Dr. C. Noel Bairey Merz of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles looked at 453 women with risk factors for heart disease. They were undergoing coronary angiography for suspected ischemia -- a condition in which there is a shortage of oxygen reaching the heart. A total of 114 of these women were premenopausal and of childbearing age. Some of these women were taking statins to maintain healthy cholesterol levels since elevated cholesterol can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.

After adjusting for age, menopausal status, menstrual phase and body mass index, researchers found neither statins nor blood cholesterol levels appeared to affect reproductive hormone levels.

"What it represents is our body has good defense mechanisms to protect fertility and to protect reproductive hormones and once again we have a pretty good biology," Merz told United Press International.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States and controlling cholesterol is important for women at risk. There was concern, however, cholesterol-fighting medications might influence reproductive hormones because estrogen and testosterone are derived from cholesterol. Typically women, particularly those of childbearing age, have lower rates of cholesterol problems or heart disease when compared to older women and men. While statins were shown to be extremely safe and effective in clinical trials, less than 20 percent of the participants in those clinical trials were women and even fewer were young women.

Merz said while the findings look promising in this study, doctors should still use caution when prescribing statins to young women.

"What remains unanswered is whether it's safe taking these drug while conceiving or while pregnant," Merz said.

Dr. Nieca Goldberg, a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association and a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, said the study offers some long-awaited good news.

"I think it's an important finding to think about," Goldberg told UPI. "We just can't assume they're going to have the same effects on postmenopausal and premenopausal women."

Goldberg added, "There are times when younger women need to have statin therapy, but we don't know yet the long-term effects of what these drugs are."

The study is published in the January issue of American Journal of Medicine.

(Reported by Katrina Woznicki in Washington)