50 years of hormonal contraception – time to find out, what it does to our brain
Hormonal contraceptives are on the market for more than 50 years and used by 100 million women worldwide. However, while endogenous steroids have been convincingly associated with change in brain structure, function and cognitive performance, the effects of synthetic steroids contained in hormonal c...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2014-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnins.2014.00256/full |
| _version_ | 1818179166957207552 |
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| author | Belinda ePletzer Belinda ePletzer Hubert Hannes Kerschbaum Hubert Hannes Kerschbaum |
| author_facet | Belinda ePletzer Belinda ePletzer Hubert Hannes Kerschbaum Hubert Hannes Kerschbaum |
| author_sort | Belinda ePletzer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hormonal contraceptives are on the market for more than 50 years and used by 100 million women worldwide. However, while endogenous steroids have been convincingly associated with change in brain structure, function and cognitive performance, the effects of synthetic steroids contained in hormonal contraceptives on brain and cognition have barely been investigated. In this article we summarize the sparse findings, describing brain structural, functional and behavioral findings from the literature and suggest that synthetic steroids may contribute to masculinizing as well as feminizing effects on brain and behavior. We try to identify methodological challenges, explain, how results on endogenous steroids may transfer into research on hormonal contraceptives and point out factors that need to be controlled in the study of hormonal contraceptive dependent effects. We conclude that there is a strong need for more systematic studies, especially on brain structural, functional and cognitive changes due to hormonal contraceptive use. The hormonal contraceptive pill is the major tool for population control. Hence, such behavioral changes could cause a shift in society dynamics and should not stay unattended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T20:59:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c0805dcab00493fb1aac4c484978085 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T20:59:34Z |
| publishDate | 2014-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c0805dcab00493fb1aac4c4849780852022-12-22T00:51:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2014-08-01810.3389/fnins.2014.0025610831850 years of hormonal contraception – time to find out, what it does to our brainBelinda ePletzer0Belinda ePletzer1Hubert Hannes Kerschbaum2Hubert Hannes Kerschbaum3University of SalzburgUniversity of SalzburgUniversity of SalzburgUniversity of SalzburgHormonal contraceptives are on the market for more than 50 years and used by 100 million women worldwide. However, while endogenous steroids have been convincingly associated with change in brain structure, function and cognitive performance, the effects of synthetic steroids contained in hormonal contraceptives on brain and cognition have barely been investigated. In this article we summarize the sparse findings, describing brain structural, functional and behavioral findings from the literature and suggest that synthetic steroids may contribute to masculinizing as well as feminizing effects on brain and behavior. We try to identify methodological challenges, explain, how results on endogenous steroids may transfer into research on hormonal contraceptives and point out factors that need to be controlled in the study of hormonal contraceptive dependent effects. We conclude that there is a strong need for more systematic studies, especially on brain structural, functional and cognitive changes due to hormonal contraceptive use. The hormonal contraceptive pill is the major tool for population control. Hence, such behavioral changes could cause a shift in society dynamics and should not stay unattended.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnins.2014.00256/fullEthinyl EstradiolProgestinshormonal contraceptivessynthetic steroidsandrogenicity |
| spellingShingle | Belinda ePletzer Belinda ePletzer Hubert Hannes Kerschbaum Hubert Hannes Kerschbaum 50 years of hormonal contraception – time to find out, what it does to our brain Frontiers in Neuroscience Ethinyl Estradiol Progestins hormonal contraceptives synthetic steroids androgenicity |
| title | 50 years of hormonal contraception – time to find out, what it does to our brain |
| title_full | 50 years of hormonal contraception – time to find out, what it does to our brain |
| title_fullStr | 50 years of hormonal contraception – time to find out, what it does to our brain |
| title_full_unstemmed | 50 years of hormonal contraception – time to find out, what it does to our brain |
| title_short | 50 years of hormonal contraception – time to find out, what it does to our brain |
| title_sort | 50 years of hormonal contraception time to find out what it does to our brain |
| topic | Ethinyl Estradiol Progestins hormonal contraceptives synthetic steroids androgenicity |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnins.2014.00256/full |
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