Faculty Collaboration Database

Circulating cortisol levels after exogenous cortisol administration are higher in women using hormonal contraceptives: data from two preliminary studies. Stress 2014 Jul;17(4):314-20

Date

04/30/2014

Pubmed ID

24773147

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4273669

DOI

10.3109/10253890.2014.919447

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84903697554 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   19 Citations

Abstract

Exogenous cortisol administration has been used to test the influence of glucocorticoids on a variety of outcomes, including memory and affect. Careful control of factors known to influence cortisol and other endogenous hormone levels is central to the success of this research. While the use of hormonal birth control (HBC) is known to exert many physiological effects, including decreasing the salivary cortisol response to stress, it is unknown how HBC influences circulating cortisol levels after exogenous cortisol administration. To determine those effects, we examined the role of HBC on participants' cortisol levels after receiving synthetic cortisol (hydrocortisone) in two separate studies. In Study 1, 24 healthy women taking HBC and 26 healthy men were administered a 0.1 mg/kg body weight intravenous dose of hydrocortisone, and plasma cortisol levels were measured over 3 h. In Study 2, 61 participants (34 women; 16 were on HBC) received a 15 mg hydrocortisone pill, and salivary cortisol levels were measured over 6 h. Taken together, results from these studies suggest that HBC use is associated with a greater cortisol increase following cortisol administration. These data have important methodological implications: (1) when given a controlled dose of hydrocortisone, cortisol levels may increase more dramatically in women taking HBC versus women not on HBC or men; and (2) in studies manipulating cortisol levels, women on hormonal contraceptives should be investigated as a separate group.

Author List

Gaffey AE, Wirth MM, Hoks RM, Jahn AL, Abercrombie HC

Author

Allison L. Jahn PhD Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Contraceptive Agents
Female
Glucocorticoids
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Male
Saliva
Sex Characteristics
Stress, Psychological
Young Adult