Hormonal Contraception Research Articles

IMPACT OF HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES ON RESTING AUTONOMIC FUNCTION: A HEART RATE VARIABILITY STUDY

IMPACT OF HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES ON RESTING AUTONOMIC FUNCTION: A HEART RATE VARIABILITY STUDY

-Oxygenated androgens in healthy young men and women and the impact of hormonal contraceptives.

-Oxygenated androgens in healthy young men and women and the impact of hormonal contraceptives.

Prevalence of Menstrual Dysfunction and Hormonal Contraceptive Use Among Elite Female Athletes from Different Sports in Germany

BackgroundWhile a regular menstrual cycle is an indicator of good health, menstrual dysfunction (MD) and wrong beliefs regarding hormonal contraceptives (HC) are quite common among elite female athletes and threaten their health. This study aimed to (1) identify the prevalence of current and lifetime MD in various sports disciplines, (2) investigate variables that are associated with the prevalence of MD, (3) study the current practice of HC use among elite German female athletes.Methods584 German elite female athletes (mean 20.7 ± 4.9 years) from 64 different sports completed an online questionnaire to assess gynecological health characteristics, history of MD, and the use of HC.ResultsSixty-nine percent of athletes not using HC reported a regular menstrual cycle, while oligomenorrhea was currently reported in 13%, secondary amenorrhea in 8%, primary amenorrhea in 2% and polymenorrhea in 8%. The current prevalence of primary amenorrhea differed between sports disciplines (p = 0.002), while oligomenorrhea (p = 0.828) and secondary amenorrhea (p = 0.848) did not. The lifetime prevalence of primary amenorrhea (10%) and oligomenorrhea (74%) differed significantly between sports disciplines (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001), while secondary amenorrhea (40%) did not (p = 0.298). The current and lifetime prevalence of primary amenorrhea was higher in aesthetic sports disciplines, while the lifetime prevalence of oligomenorrhea was higher in endurance disciplines. Factors associated with lower prevalences of MD were menstrual cycle tracking (p < 0.001), higher gynecological age (p < 0.001), regular gynecological health screenings (p = 0.008), and a diagnosed eating disorder (p = 0.037). Twenty-nine percent of these elite athletes used HC, of whom 15% claimed to use HC as a treatment for MD.ConclusionElite female athletes from a variety of sports disciplines, not just from endurance and aesthetic sports, are at high risk of developing MD. Given the high percentage of athletes using HC to treat MD, educating athletes, coaches, others from the support team and parents about the risk and prevention of MD and the effects of HC in the context of elite sports may improve gynecological health among elite athletes.

Analysing gender disparities in youth sports coaching: an international survey (FEMCoach project)

IntroductionThe issue of gender inequality has a significant impact on the sporting world, with a range of implications and consequences. In the field of coaching, women are confronted with inequity throughout their careers, which frequently has a detrimental impact. To gain a deeper insight into the under-representation of women in sport coaching, framing the Female Sport Coaching Training Programme (FEMCoach) project, an investigation was carried out to examine coaches' educational support. After reviewing the scientific literature, a survey was developed aiming to analyse the needs of women youth sports coaches in practice to design coaching educational programmes that promote gender equity in youth sports.MethodsThe present study collected and analyzed survey data from 463 coaches (45% women and 55% men) from 24 different countries, sports and competitive levels. Coaches completed a 40-question online survey, divided into seven topics: (1) sociodemographic data, (2) the inclusion environment for sports practice, (3) coach professional activities, (4) menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception and pregnancy/childcare, (5) barriers for females in sport, (6) coaches' courses, and (7) gender differences.ResultsSome differences were found between women and men coaches' perceptions regarding barriers or stigmas that women face in practice. Most women's [80% (±5%)] and approximately half of men's [54% (±5%)] believe that women coaches sometimes face discrimination and/or mistrust and most of the women's [78% (±6%)] and the majority of men's [64% (±5%)] recognize different opportunities for coaches between genders. Considering the presence of topics related to female biology in coaches' education process the majority of women [72% (±5%)] and men [63% (±5%)] considered that they were not approached enough, agreeing most of the coaches, women [92% (±3%)] and men [87% (±4%)], that coach education programmes should be more expanded to cover it. In open-ended questions coaches agreed that educational programmes can promote gender equality and mentioned a lack of contents related to equity, identity and female biology.DiscussionFinally, accepting the limitations, this survey study provides relevant contextual information and practical applications for coaching educational programmes targeting women coaches and athletes and insights for governing bodies and institutions to foster gender equality in coaching.

Hormonal contraceptives during adolescence impact the female brain and behavior in a rat model.

Hormonal contraceptives during adolescence impact the female brain and behavior in a rat model.

Are Body Composition Estimates Affected by the Menstrual Cycle in Females With or Without Hormonal Contraception?-A Case-Control Study.

Hormonal-induced water retention during the menstrual cycle (MC) may affect the estimates of body composition (BC) parameters depending on the MC phase if tissue hydration or volume is part of the BC analysis equations. Given this, MC phase-dependent changes of BC parameters might be expected within females for bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) or air-displacement plethysmography (ADP), whereas skin-fold calipometry (CAL) might not be affected. This study aimed to evaluate BC analyses during a regular MC by means of BIA and ADP with CAL serving as a control method in females with or without hormonal contraception with males serving as a control group. In a case-control design with repeated measurements, BC was determined using BIA, ADP, and CAL in 54 participants (age 18-33; BMI 17.0-27.8) divided into females using hormonal contraceptives (HC) (n=19), females using no-hormonal contraceptives (no-HC) (n=17), and males (n=18). BC was assessed on four cycle-related days (menstruation, late follicular, ovulation, and late luteal). There were only small intraindividual BC variations during the MC (CV% 0.5-5.2) and neither significant time effects within any group (p=0.065-0.939) nor significant time*group interactions (p=0.151-0.956) for all devices (BIA, ADP, CAL) in any BC parameter. The results indicate that hormonal-induced water retention, if any, during MC had no effect on BC estimates of ADP, BIA, and CAL or were too small to be identified neither in females with HC nor in females with no-HC.

Comparing Risk Behaviour among 14,614 Human Papillomavirus Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Danish Young Women.

Comparing Risk Behaviour among 14,614 Human Papillomavirus Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Danish Young Women.

Development of a transdermal gel for reversible male contraception.

Development of a transdermal gel for reversible male contraception.

Contraception and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus.

Contraception and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus.

Female Exercise Metabolism: Quality Assessment of Existing Knowledge Base and Key Challenges in Study Design.

A better understanding of the practical and methodological challenges inherent in accurately tracking female hormonal status would enhance the clarity of research findings in exercise metabolism. The purpose of this study was to conduct an objective assessment of the quality of existing literature in this area and to provide a general overview of the practical conditions and issues encountered in studies investigating substrate metabolism during exercise in women, both in those using (HC+) or not using (HC-) hormonal contraceptives. Forty-four articles were identified through systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and searches on PubMed/MEDLINE. A quality assessment framework was developed and applied using a double-blind scoring approach. The loss/exclusion of data between baseline and final analyses per study was quantified, and the main challenges were highlighted. A higher mean global score was observed in studies conducted among HC+ women (81%) than those among HC- women (46%). Although the dropout rates were rarely mentioned in HC+ women articles, the mean rate of participant/data loss in HC- groups was 22.1%. The rate of HC- participant loss was positively correlated with the global score (r = .504, p = .02). High-quality research may be easier to achieve in studies involving HC+ women compared with those involving HC- women. Studies on HC- women seem to face more practical challenges, such as tracking the menstrual cycle and targeting specific (sub)phases of the menstrual cycle, along with technical and feasibility limitations. Thus, although the framework for designing such studies exists, the quality assessment of the available literature emphasizes its challenge in terms of research implementation.

Elevated blood pressure, stroke volume, and vascular tone in young women who use oral contraception.

Elevated blood pressure, stroke volume, and vascular tone in young women who use oral contraception.

Venous thromboembolism with contraceptive use in females with sickle cell trait.

Venous thromboembolism with contraceptive use in females with sickle cell trait.

Thrombosis risk with use of hormonal contraception among women with thrombophilia: an updated systematic review

Thrombosis risk with use of hormonal contraception among women with thrombophilia: an updated systematic review

Study of spatial abilities: The role of sex, female hormonal status and emotional context in visualizing 2D cross sections of 3D objects.

Study of spatial abilities: The role of sex, female hormonal status and emotional context in visualizing 2D cross sections of 3D objects.

Self-reported hormonal contraceptive use in the British Armed Forces.

Hormonal contraceptives contain synthetic oestrogens and/or progestogens that can alter the endogenous production of oestradiol and progesterone, which potentially affect aspects of health and performance important for military employment. The nature of military service-operating away from home for prolonged periods, often in austere environments-might influence the choice of hormonal contraceptives of servicewomen. Hormonal contraceptive use and the primary reasons for use in British servicewomen are poorly understood. All trained servicewomen in the UK Armed Forces (N=14 500) with an active email were invited to respond to an online questionnaire. The questionnaire asked about demographics, current hormonal contraceptive use and reasons for choosing to use hormonal contraceptives. The survey was open for 3 months. A total of 3395 servicewomen completed the questionnaire (23% response rate). Hormonal contraceptives were currently used by 58% of servicewomen. The most common methods were the contraceptive pill (20% of all respondents) and the intrauterine system (17%). The main reasons for using hormonal contraceptives were to prevent pregnancy (78%) and to control or stop the menstrual cycle (61%). A high proportion of UK servicewomen use hormonal contraceptives, particularly younger women, with the contraceptive pill the most popular method. The high proportion of women using hormonal contraceptives to control or stop menstrual bleeding is likely determined by the unique cultural and environmental barriers of military employment.

Effects of hormonal contraceptives on serum electrolytes, blood pressure and body mass index: A comparative cross-sectional study

Background: Contraception prevents fertilization by using devices, practices, and hormonal methods. The impact of hormonal contraceptives on serum electrolyte levels, body weight, and blood pressure has been debated. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of hormonal contraceptives on serum electrolyte levels, body mass index, and blood pressure among users at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital (MTUTH) and Gebre-tsadik Shawo General Hospital (GSGH) in Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: In this comparative cross-sectional study involving 290 women, data were collected using consecutive sampling. SPSS version 21 was used for analysis, and the results were summarized using figures and tables. An independent t-test was employed to assess the variability between the two comparable groups regarding serum electrolyte levels, body weight, and blood pressure. Statistical significance was set at P &lt; 0.05. Results: In this study, no significant differences were found in serum sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride levels between hormonal contraceptive users and non-users. However, hormonal contraceptive users exhibited a notably higher body mass index (BMI) than non-users did. Additionally, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in hormonal contraceptive users than in non-users. Conclusion: Hormonal contraceptives do not significantly affect serum electrolyte levels but can increase blood pressure and BMI. These increases may pose cardiovascular risks, especially in women with preexisting conditions, and could lead to weight-related health issues over time. Therefore, the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of these contraceptives should be carefully considered, particularly for long-term users.

Menstrual Cycle Length Changes Following Vaccination Against Influenza Alone or With COVID-19

Multiple studies have identified an association between COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual disturbances. Data on whether menstrual health is impacted by other vaccines are needed to counsel individuals about what to expect and to address vaccine hesitancy. To assess the association of changes in length of the menstrual cycle with influenza vaccination, with or without concurrent receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine. This global retrospective cohort study prospectively collected menstrual cycle data from April 25, 2023, to February 27, 2024 (4-5 cycles per individual), among international English-speaking users of a digital birth control application. Participants included individuals aged 18 to 45 years, not using hormonal contraception, and with average cycle lengths of 24 to 38 days in 3 consecutive cycles before receipt of vaccines. Seasonal influenza vaccination with or without concurrent receipt of COVID-19 vaccine. The primary outcome consisted of adjusted mean within-individual changes of menstrual cycle length assessed by vaccination group. Secondary analysis evaluated the phase of menstrual cycle at time of vaccination. A total of 1501 individuals met the inclusion criteria, of whom 791 were vaccinated for influenza only and 710 were concurrently vaccinated for influenza and COVID-19. By race and ethnicity, 1 participant (0.1%) was American Indian or Alaska Native; 10 (0.7%), Asian; 3 (0.2%), Black; 15 (1.0%), Hispanic or Latina; 1 (0.1%), Middle Eastern or North African; 368 (24.5%), White; and 19 (1.3%), other; and 1084 (72.2%), missing. Most of the cohort was younger than 35 years (1230 [82.0%]), had at least a college degree (1122 [74.8%]), and was located in the US or Canada (938 [62.5%]). Individuals vaccinated for influenza alone experienced an adjusted mean increase of 0.40 (95% CI, 0.08-0.72) days, while those vaccinated concurrently for influenza and COVID-19 experienced a mean increase of 0.49 (95% CI, 0.16-0.83) days (P = .69 for difference between vaccine groups). A total of 37 individuals (4.7%) experienced a change in cycle length of at least 8 days with influenza vaccine only and 42 (5.9%) with concurrent receipt of both vaccines (P = .28). In the postvaccination cycle, both vaccination groups returned to their prevaccination cycle lengths. Menstrual cycle changes occurred with vaccination in the follicular phase but not the luteal phase. In this cohort study of individuals with regular menstrual cycles, influenza vaccine given alone or in combination with a COVID-19 vaccine was associated with a small but temporary change in menstrual cycle length. These findings may help clinicians confirm the utility of vaccination for patients with concerns about menstrual adverse effects of vaccination.

Clinicopathological features, surgical outcomes and microbial patterns in chronic granulomatous mastitis: A retrospective study from a public hospital in Lima, Peru.

Objective: To evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of patients, surgery-related factors, and microbial patterns in patients diagnosed with chronic granulomatous mastitis treated at a public hospital in Lima, Peru. Methods: Retrospective study that included 161 women diagnosed with chronic granulomatous mastitis (GM) at the Hospital de Emergencias Grau, Seguro Social de Salud, Lima, Peru, between 2019 and 2021. The diagnosis of GM was established based on anatomical and microbiological criteria. We evaluated clinicopathological features, and factors associated with the need for oncoplastic surgery and post-surgical complications. Additionally, we analyzed 26 out of 161 breast tissue samples to detect the presence of pathogens using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). Results: The average age was 37.7±8.4 years, 53.9% reported the use of hormonal contraceptives, and 14.8% displayed elevated prolactin. Eighty percent of patients received corticosteroids, and 50.9% underwent surgical intervention, with 22.5% experiencing post-surgical complications. Factors associated with the need for surgery included the presence of a tumor, inflammation, shorter disease duration, higher BI-RADS classification, lesion size of 2-5 cm, and corticosteroid use. A recurrence rate of 3.8% was identified. Among the 26 analyzed samples, Corynebacterium was detected in 80.8%, with C. kroppenstedtii identified in 13 of the 26 (50%) samples. Conclusions: Medical treatment was the initial choice for all patients, nearly half underwent oncoplastic surgery, with some post-surgical complications reported. Nonetheless, chronic GM recurrence was low. Corynebacterium was the most frequently identified genus through NGS.

Potential Link between Long-Term Oral Contraceptive Use and the Concurrent Development of Budd-Chiari Syndrome and Peliosis Hepatis

Oral contraceptives are widely used for birth control, but their potential hepatic side effects remain a concern. This article presents a rare case of a 45-year-old woman, mother of four, who developed both Budd-Chiari syndrome and peliosis hepatis, with no other identifiable risk factors, after long-term oral contraceptive use. The case highlights the importance of careful monitoring of patients on prolonged hormonal contraception and the need for increased awareness of its potential hepatotoxic effects.

Dysmenorrhea and Adolescent Mental Health: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

While active monitoring of adolescent menstrual and mental health is advocated, research on their possible bidirectional relationship is limited. This study examines the association between adolescent dysmenorrhea and psychological symptoms. Cross-sectional study. 116 schools in Stockholm, Sweden. 1054 postmenarchal school girls (mean age 14.1 ± 0.7) randomly sampled from a population of 10 299 lower-secondary pupils in a school-based project. A self-report health survey assessed psychological symptoms using validated instruments. A multiple-choice item identified dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain affecting everyday life) and severe dysmenorrhea (dysmenorrhea that is hard to cope with). Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and severe dysmenorrhea in girls with and without symptoms of depression (Beck's Depression Inventory-II score ≥ 20), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale score ≥ 10), self-injury (≥ 3 instances on a modified Deliberate Self-harm Inventory), and suicide ideation (recent serious thoughts/plans on the Paykel Suicide Scale). Overall, 55.1% reported dysmenorrhea while 11.7% reported severe dysmenorrhea. Prevalence was 29%-34% higher among girls with psychological symptoms compared to those without. Severe dysmenorrhea was significantly more frequent among girls with any symptom (prevalence ratio [PR] 2.25; 95% CI 1.61, 3.13), depression (PR 2.60; 95% CI 1.86, 3.63), anxiety (PR 2.89; 95% CI 2.09, 4.00), self-injury (PR 1.87; 95% CI 1.29, 2.71), and suicide ideation (PR 1.75; 95% CI 1.18, 2.58) compared to girls without the same manifestations. These findings were consistent after adjustments for age, age of menarche, country of birth, and hormonal contraception. These findings emphasise the need for integrated approaches to adolescent menstrual and mental health care.