Decreased neuroactive steroids induced by combined oral contraceptive pills are not associated with mood changes

Rapkin, Andrea J.; Morgan, Melinda; Sogliano, Cristiana; Biggio, Giovanni; Concas, Alessandra

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.10.031

Cited by 70 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 57 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Several methodological differences may underlie these inconsistent findings, for example, failure to employ strict DSM diagnostic criteria [32] and to assess prior psychiatric disorders in MRD and control subjects [30,32], duration of MRD, absence of cycle phase evaluation or differences in blood sampling procedures and assay sensitivity [33], as well as difference in pharmacokinetic properties (see below). Another recent small study does not support the hypothesis that neurosteroid suppression (consecutive to low-dose OC administration) could engender mood effects, at least in psychologically healthy women [35]. One possibility is that altered neurosteroids provoke adverse mood symptoms only in women predisposed to affective disorders.…”

Section: Menstruationmentioning

confidence: 94%

Hormonal therapy and depression: Are we overlooking an important therapeutic alternative?

Ancelin¹,

Scali²,

Ritchie³

2007

Journal of Psychosomatic Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

implications: that women vary in vulnerability to mood disorder when abrupt change in steroid levels occur, that these effects could be cumulative across the female lifespan, and that women do not arrive at menopause with equal risk of mood disorders, or equal susceptibility to the effects of hormonal replacement therapy as has been assumed by current clinical research and practice. Conclusion:While hormonal therapies could have positive effects in the treatment and prevention of depressive disorders, further research is required to differentiate hormone-responsive subgroups of women for whom specific hormonal treatments may be most beneficial. To this end we suggest that a multifactorial model of cumulative vulnerability, which takes into account hormonal exposure throughout life, genetic vulnerability and environmental factors, may provide better prediction of treatment response.

show abstract

Section: Menstruationmentioning

confidence: 94%

Hormonal therapy and depression: Are we overlooking an important therapeutic alternative?

Ancelin¹,

Scali²,

Ritchie³

2007

Journal of Psychosomatic Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Rapkin et al (12) studied healthy OC pill-naive women without current or history of affective disorder. These women received 0.020 mg ethinyl estradiol (E2)-combined with 0.1 mg levonorgestrel as OC for 3 months.…”

Section: Is Progesterone Good or Bad For The Global Well-being Of Thementioning

confidence: 99%

Progesterone, progestins and psychosomatic health of women

Bitzer

2010

Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Psychosomatics as a medical perspective and discipline focuses on the interaction of physical and mental health in the specific life situation of a patient, taking into account the physical and emotional well-being, role functioning, satisfaction with the partner and family relationship, as well as sexual function and satisfaction. There are two important effects of progesterone on the combined physical, mental and sexual well-being of the climacteric patient. The first is the antiestrogenic effect of progesterone on the peripheral physical level which not only protects the endometrium against overstimulation but also reduces individual suffering from heavy bleeding, breast tension, bloating and general discomfort. The second effect is due to the complex action of progesterone in the brain. Studies using different progestins in different dosages and in different regimens show contradictory results. Some studies demonstrate an increase in depressed mood and reduced well-being while using synthetic progestins. Other studies, however, indicate an anxiolytic and sometimes antidepressant effect of progesterone and progesterone-like progestins with an improvement of emotional well-being and quality of life. In the individual patient, the positive or negative emotional and mental state can be conditioned by various pathways of progesterone and progestins. The antiestrogenic effect can attenuate the psychotropic effect of estradiol (E2) on the brain, thus reducing emotional well-being. Progesterone interacting with many brain areas can have a mood stabilizing and anxiolytic effect through the action on the GABA receptor. This effect seems to be strongest when using natural progesterone and the effect varies considerably among different progestins and different dosages due to metabolic pathways involving the production of allopregnanolone or other metabolites. In conclusion, the positive anxiolytic and sedative effects of progesterone on the central nervous system depend on the type of progestogen, the dosage, the timing of application, the combination with estrogen, etc. Progesterone and progestins have important potential to maintain or improve the psychosomatic health of women. Their use must, however, be tailored to specific symptom clusters and to the individual's pre-existing psychosomatic health status.

show abstract

“…For instance, only marginal effects in the response inhibition have been observed in women who underwent EE and LNG combination (Gingnell et al 2016). In addition, in healthy COC-naïve women, a low-dose combination was ineffective on mood (Rapkin et al 2006). On the other hand, in another study enrolling women with previous history of COC-induced adverse mood, it was reported that the administration of EE and LNG produced depressed mood, mood swings, fatigue and lower emotional-induced reactivity in brain (i.e., in left insula, left middle frontal gyrus, and bilateral inferior frontal gyri) of COC users vs placebo controls Review s giatti and others Progestins in the brain (Gingnell et al 2013).…”

Section: Progestinsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Moreover, healthy women, with no previous history of depression, reported increased anxiety and mood disorders after a long-acting subdermal implant of LNG (Wagner & Berenson 1994). Furthermore, different combinations of COC decreased plasma levels of allopregnanolone (Follesa et al 2002, Paoletti et al 2004, Rapkin et al 2006. On the contrary, DRSP or chlormadinone were able to reduce anxiety and mood swings (Paoletti et al 2004, Huber et al 2008).…”

Section: Progestinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The other side of progestins: effects in the brain

Giatti

Melcangi

Pesaresi

2016

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Progestins are a broad class of progestational agents widely differing in their chemical structures and pharmacological properties. Despite emerging data suggest that progestins, besides their action as endometrial protection, can also have multiple nonreproductive functions, much remains to be discovered regarding the actions exerted by these molecules in the nervous system. Here, we report the role exerted by different progestins, currently used for contraception or in postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies, in regulating cognitive functions as well as social behavior and mood. We provide evidence that the effects and mechanisms underlying their actions are still confusing due to the use of different estrogens and progestins as well as different doses, duration of exposure, route of administration, baseline hormonal status and age of treated women. We also discuss the emerging issue concerning the relevant increase of these substances in the environment, able to deeply affect aquatic wildlife as well as to exert a possible influence in humans, which may be exposed to these compounds via contaminated drinking water and seafood. Finally, we report literature data showing the neurobiological action of progestins and in particular their importance during neurodegenerative events. This is extremely interesting, since some of the progestins currently used in clinical practice exert neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in the nervous system, opening new promising opportunities for the use of these molecules as therapeutic agents for trauma and neurodegenerative disorders.

show abstract

Decreased neuroactive steroids induced by combined oral contraceptive pills are not associated with mood changes

Cited by 70 publications

References 57 publications

Hormonal therapy and depression: Are we overlooking an important therapeutic alternative?

Hormonal therapy and depression: Are we overlooking an important therapeutic alternative?

Progesterone, progestins and psychosomatic health of women

The other side of progestins: effects in the brain

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About