scholarly journals No evidence that women using oral contraceptives have weaker preferences for masculine characteristics in men’s faces

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedict C Jones ◽  
Lisa Marie DeBruine ◽  
Amanda Hahn
Keyword(s):  
Steroid Hormones ◽  
Oral Contraceptives ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Reproductive Hormones ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Facial Masculinity ◽  
Oral Contraceptive Use ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Women’S Preferences

Previous research has suggested that women using oral contraceptives show weaker preferences for masculine men than do women not using oral contraceptives. Such research would be consistent with the hypothesis that steroid hormones influence women’s preferences for masculine men. Recent large-scale longitudinal studies, however, have found limited evidence linking steroid hormones to masculinity preferences. Given the relatively small samples used in previous studies investigating putative associations between masculinity preferences and oral contraceptive use, we compared the facial masculinity preferences of women using oral contraceptives and women not using oral contraceptives in a large online sample of 6482 heterosexual women. We found no evidence that women using oral contraceptives had weaker preferences for male facial masculinity than did women not using oral contraceptives. These findings add to a growing literature suggesting that links between reproductive hormones and preferences are more limited than previously proposed.

scholarly journals No compelling evidence that preferences for facial masculinity track changes in women’s hormonal status

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedict C Jones ◽  
Amanda C Hahn ◽  
Claire I Fisher ◽  
Hongyi Wang ◽  
Michal Kandrik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Contraceptive ◽  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Steroid Hormone ◽  
Hormonal Status ◽  
Compelling Evidence ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Facial Masculinity ◽  
Oral Contraceptive Use ◽  
Women’S Preferences

AbstractAlthough widely cited as strong evidence that sexual selection has shaped human facial attractiveness judgments, evidence that preferences for masculine characteristics in men’s faces are related to women’s hormonal status is equivocal and controversial. Consequently, we conducted the largest ever longitudinal study of the hormonal correlates of women’s preferences for facial masculinity (N=584). Analyses showed no compelling evidence that preferences for facial masculinity were related to changes in women’s salivary steroid hormone levels. Furthermore, both within-subject and between-subject comparisons showed no evidence that oral contraceptive use decreased masculinity preferences. However, women generally preferred masculinized over feminized versions of men’s faces, particularly when assessing men’s attractiveness for short-term, rather than long-term, relationships. Our results do not support the hypothesized link between women’s preferences for facial masculinity and their hormonal status.

scholarly journals No Compelling Evidence that Preferences for Facial Masculinity Track Changes in Women’s Hormonal Status

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 996-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedict C. Jones ◽  
Amanda C. Hahn ◽  
Claire I. Fisher ◽  
Hongyi Wang ◽  
Michal Kandrik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Steroid Hormone ◽  
Hormonal Status ◽  
Compelling Evidence ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Facial Masculinity ◽  
Oral Contraceptive Use ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Women’S Preferences

Although widely cited as strong evidence that sexual selection has shaped human facial-attractiveness judgments, findings suggesting that women’s preferences for masculine characteristics in men’s faces are related to women’s hormonal status are equivocal and controversial. Consequently, we conducted the largest-ever longitudinal study of the hormonal correlates of women’s preferences for facial masculinity ( N = 584). Analyses showed no compelling evidence that preferences for facial masculinity were related to changes in women’s salivary steroid hormone levels. Furthermore, both within-subjects and between-subjects comparisons showed no evidence that oral contraceptive use decreased masculinity preferences. However, women generally preferred masculinized over feminized versions of men’s faces, particularly when assessing men’s attractiveness for short-term, rather than long-term, relationships. Our results do not support the hypothesized link between women’s preferences for facial masculinity and their hormonal status.

scholarly journals Hormonal Oral Contraceptive Use and Depression and Anxiety in England

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica R Siddall ◽  
Emily H Emmott
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Oral Contraceptive ◽  
Oral Contraceptives ◽  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Reproductive Hormones ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Total N ◽  
Oral Contraceptive Use

Background: Globally, women are at greater risk of common mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, and physiological differences relating to reproductive hormones have been suggested as one cause. Recent evidence suggests that oral contraceptives alter female hormonal responses, potentially increasing the risk of mental ill health. However, studies to date investigating the effect of oral contraceptives on depression and/or anxiety have produced inconsistent results. Objectives: We test the hypothesis that hormonal oral contraceptive use is associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety related outcomes. Method: We use data from Health Survey England, a nationally-representative cross-sectional survey, collected annually between 2013-2016 (total n=4,428). As the characteristics of oral contraceptive users differ from non-users, we carry out propensity score matching to select a comparable sub-sample of non-users (controlling for age, partnership status, education, profession and survey year). We compare levels of depression and anxiety related outcomes between oral contraceptive users and matched non-users.Results: We did not find statistically significant differences between oral contraceptive users and matched non-users for the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale scores, General Health Questionnaire scores, or generalised anxiety disorder. Antidepressant prescription (RR=1.48, 95% CI=1.25-1.71) and depression experience (RR=1.33, 95% CI=1.10-1.55) was higher among oral contraceptive users, as well as a trend indicating an increased history of self-harm (RR=1.43 95% CI=1.01-1.86) and suicide attempt (RR=1.37; 95% CI=0.90-1.83).Conclusion: Our results point to potential negative effects of hormonal oral contraceptives on mental health, and hypothesise that these effects may be concentrated for women vulnerable to depression/anxiety. Further research is required to ensure a detailed understanding of the potential mental health effects of oral contraceptive use.

scholarly journals The risk of breast, cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancer in oral contraceptive users

2010 ◽  
Vol 63 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 657-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milena Veljkovic ◽  
Slavimir Veljkovic
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Oral Contraceptive ◽  
Oral Contraceptives ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Oral Contraceptive Use ◽  
Increased Risk

Introduction. Oral contraceptives, mainly combined monophasic pills, are widely used by young women who expect their physicians to prescribe them safe drugs which will not harm their health and which will simplify their life. Numerous epidemiologic studies have been performed to determine the relation between oral contraceptive use and the development of neoplasms. Breast cancer. An increased incidence of breast cancer has occurred simultaneously with the growing use of oral contraceptives. The possibility of a link between the oral contraceptive use and breast cancer has led to intensive research, but studies have provided inconsistent results causing confusion among clinicians. It was noticed that the risk of breast cancer was slightly elevated in current and recent young oral contraceptives users. That finding could be influenced by a detection bias or could be due to the biologic effect of the pills. The absolute number of additional breast cancer cases will be very small because of low baseline incidence of the disease in young women. Oral contraceptives probably promote growth of the already existing cancer, they are probably promoters not initiators of breast cancer. The available data do not provide a conclusive answer that is need. Cervical cancer. Numerous factors may influence the development of cervical cancer. The evidence suggests that current and recent oral contraceptive users have an increased risk of cervical cancer which decline after discontinuation of the application of medication. Oral contraceptives might increase the biological vulnerability of the cervix. Cervical cancer develops slowly over a long time period and can be effectively prevented by periodic cervical screening. Fortunately, oral contraceptives do not mask abnormal cervical citology. Conclusions regarding invasive cervical cancer and oral contraceptive use are not definitive but if there is any increased risk, it is low. Endometrial cancer. In oral contraceptive users the endometrium is almost under the influence of progestin component which suppresses endometrial mitotic activity and its proliferation. Most epidemiologic studies show that oral contraceptives reduce the risk of endometrial cancer and that this protective effect exists many years after the discontinuation of medication. Ovarian cancer. It has been long known that the oral contraceptive use causes protective an ovulation and reduces the risk of ovarian cancer. This powerful reduction is the best demonstrated major benefit of oral contraception. This protection is especially observed in nulliparous and seems to persist for many years after the discontinuation of medication.

scholarly journals A rare case of cavernous hemangioma accompanied with diffuse hepatic hemangiomatosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuji Ota ◽  
Toshiya Kamiyama ◽  
Takuya Kato ◽  
Takayuki Hanamoto ◽  
Kunihiro Hirose ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Contraceptives ◽  
Cavernous Hemangioma ◽  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Careful Examination ◽  
Pathological Examination ◽  
Surgical Removal ◽  
Adjacent Area ◽  
Oral Contraceptive Use ◽  
History Of ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Abstract Background Hepatic cavernous hemangioma (CH) is the most common hepatic benign tumor. Most cases are solitary, asymptomatic, and found incidentally. In symptomatic cases with rapidly growing tumors and coagulopathy, surgical treatment is considered. In rare cases, diffuse hepatic hemangiomatosis (DHH) is reported as a comorbidity. The etiology of DHH is unknown. Case presentation A 29-year-old female patient had a history of endometriosis treated with oral contraceptives. Hepatic CH was incidentally detected in the segment IVa of the liver according to the Couinaud classification. Follow-up computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound sonography showed the growth of the lesion and formation of multiple new lesions near the first. Enhanced CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed that the new lesions were different from CH. Although oral contraceptives were stopped, all lesions grew in size. Malignancy and possibility of rupture of these tumors were considered due to the clinical course, and we opted for surgical removal of the tumors. Left liver lobectomy and cholecystectomy were performed. Surgical findings were small red spot spreading and a mass in segment IV of the liver. Pathological examination revealed a circumscribed sponge-like tumor with diffuse irregular extension to the adjacent area. Both of the lesions consisted of blood-filled dilated vascular spaces lined by flat endothelium without atypia. The diagnosis was hepatic CH with DHH. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 12 uneventfully. Conclusion We report the successful resection of CH with DHH. The case findings suggest a relationship between oral contraceptive use and enlargement of CH and DHH. Although DHH has been poorly understood, a few previously published cases reported DHH occurrence in patients using oral contraceptives. In such cases, the decision to perform surgical resection should be made after careful examination.

scholarly journals Do more attractive women show stronger preferences for male facial masculinity?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ciaran Docherty ◽  
Anthony J Lee ◽  
Amanda Hahn ◽  
Lisa Marie DeBruine ◽  
Benedict C Jones
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Study ◽  
Physical Condition ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Facial Attractiveness ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Online Study ◽  
Facial Masculinity ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Women’S Preferences

Researchers have suggested that more attractive women will show stronger preferences for masculine men because such women are better placed to offset the potential costs of choosing a masculine mate. However, evidence for correlations between measures of women’s own attractiveness and preferences for masculine men is mixed. Moreover, the samples used to test this hypothesis are typically relatively small. Consequently, we conducted two large-scale studies that investigated possible associations between women’s preferences for facial masculinity and their own attractiveness as assessed from third-party ratings of their facial attractiveness (Study 1, N = 454, laboratory study) and self-rated attractiveness (Study 2, N = 8972, online study). Own attractiveness was positively correlated with preferences for masculine men in Study 2 (self-rated attractiveness), but not Study 1 (third-party ratings of facial attractiveness). This pattern of results is consistent with the proposal that women’s beliefs about their own attractiveness, rather than their physical condition per se, underpins attractiveness-contingent masculinity preferences.

Oral contraceptive use and saliva diurnal pattern of metabolic steroid hormones in young healthy women

Contraception ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Vibarel-Rebot ◽  
N. Rieth ◽  
F. Lasne ◽  
C. Jaffré ◽  
K. Collomp
Keyword(s):  
Oral Contraceptive ◽  
Steroid Hormones ◽  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Diurnal Pattern ◽  
Healthy Women ◽  
Oral Contraceptive Use

The use of oral contraceptives in women over age 35 years

1995 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-120
Author(s):  
Robert F Casper ◽  
Selim Senoz ◽  
Avraham Ben-Chetrit
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Oral Contraceptive ◽  
Oral Contraceptives ◽  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Older Woman ◽  
Oral Contraceptive Use ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
Europe Today ◽  
The Impact

Oral contraceptives remain the most widely used form of contraception in North America and Europe today. In spite of the concerns of many women relating to the potential risks of these preparations, recent data have demonstrated that currently available oral contraceptives are safe, with no increased risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer in nonsmoking women. The present review will focus on the impact of oral contraceptive use in the older woman, including a discussion of the noncontraceptive health benefits of oral contraceptives.

Postscript: starting oral contraceptives (25 May, page 41)

1992 ◽  
Vol 30 (14) ◽  
pp. 56.1-56
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Oral Contraceptives ◽  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Causal Relation ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Term Pregnancy ◽  
Oral Contraceptive Use ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Uk

In our article on oral contraceptives (OCs) we state that ‘oral contraceptives increase the risk of breast cancer with long-term use but reduce the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer’. Some commentators have questioned the breast cancer risk. The UK National Case-Control (UKNCC) study, which looked at oral contraceptive use in women with breast cancer diagnosed before age 36, found a trend for increased risk associated with duration of use.1 ‘The simplest and most plausible explanation’, say the authors of the study, ‘must be that there is a substantial causal relation between prolonged use and breast cancer in young women.’ The increased risk seems to be associated particularly with OC use before the first full-term pregnancy.2 Several studies found no excess risk in OC users aged 45 or over, few of whom had taken the pill before their first pregnancy.3–5 In the UKNCC study the relative risk of breast cancer was 1.43 after 4–8 years’ use and 1.74 after more than 8 years’ use. In broad terms this means that three women in 1000 who use oral contraceptives for 4 or more years might be expected to be under treatment for breast cancer by age 36, compared with two per 1000 non-users.

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