The neuroscience of hormonal contraceptives is a vital but relatively new field. Existing studies are limited in size and scope, but they nonetheless highlight that the effects of hormonal contraceptives on the nervous system are complex and can vary because of individual differences, contraceptive type and formulation, and timing of use, among other factors. Neuroscientists can empower individuals with information about the biopsychological effects of hormonal contraceptives by delving more deeply into these effects in rigorous randomized controlled trials, large-scale studies that examine population-level trends, and dense imaging or intensive longitudinal studies that examine individual-level effects.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Brønnick, M. K., Økland, I., Graugaard, C. & Brønnick, K. K. Front. Psychol. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.556577 (2020).
Lisofsky, N., Riediger, M., Gallinat, J., Lindenberger, U. & Kühn, S. Neuroimage 134, 597–606 (2016).
Taylor, C. M. et al. Neuroimage 220, 117125 (2020).
Petersen, N. et al. Mol. Psychiatry 26, 917–926 (2021).
Gingnell, M. et al. Psychoneuroendocrinology 38, 1133–1144 (2013).
Casto, K. V., Jordan, T. & Petersen, N. Front. Neuroendocrinol. 67, 101036 (2022).
Beltz, A. M. Front. Neuroendocrinol. 67, 101037 (2022).
Warren, A. M., Gurvich, C., Worsley, R. & Kulkarni, J. Contraception 90, 111–116 (2014).
Arthur, L. C., Casto, K. V. & Blake, K. R. Front. Neuroendocrinol. 66, 101015 (2022).
Skovlund, C. W., Morch, L. S., Kessing, L. V. & Lidegaard, Ø. JAMA Psychiatry 73, 1154–1162 (2016).
Lundin, C. et al. BJOG 129, 917–925 (2022).
Furedi, A. Hum. Reprod. Update 5, 621–626 (1999).
Beltz, A. M. & Moser, J. S. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 1464, 156–180 (2020).
Baber, R. J., Panay, N. & Fenton, A. Climacteric 19, 109–150 (2016).
Pritschet, L., Taylor, C. M., Santander, T. & Jacobs, E. G. Curr. Opin. Behav. Sci. 40, 72–78 (2021).
Dubol, M. et al. Front. Neuroendocrinol. 60, 100878 (2021).
Hoekzema, E. et al. Nat. Neurosci. 20, 287–296 (2017).
Luders, E., Kurth, F. & Sundström Poromaa, I. Neuroimage 263, 119646 (2022).
Acknowledgements
B.P. was supported by European Research Council grant number 850953. E.G.J. was supported by The Ann S. Bowers Women’s Brain Health Initiative. A.M.B. was supported by the Jacobs Foundation. N.P. was supported by R00DA045749. We are grateful to L. Pritschet for helpful feedback on earlier drafts of this manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
I.S.-P. has served occasionally on advisory boards or acted as an invited speaker at scientific meetings for Bayer Health Care, Gedeon Richter, Peptonics, Shire/Takeda, and Sandoz. The remaining authors declare no competing interests.
Peer review
Peer review information
Nature Neuroscience thanks Margaret McCarthy and Klara Sifalakis-Spalek for their contribution to the peer review of this work.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Petersen, N., Beltz, A.M., Casto, K.V. et al. Towards a more comprehensive neuroscience of hormonal contraceptives. Nat Neurosci 26, 529–531 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01273-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01273-z