ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Data relating to the influence of hormonal contraception on sexual life are conflicting and mostly they refer to oral contraceptives. In this study we evaluated the effect of a long-acting contraceptive on sexual function, metabolism and bleeding pattern variations. METHODS: 23 women with a permanent partner and an active sexual life completed a specific questionnaire at the start of the study and after cycles 3 and 6 of contraceptive use; a blood sample was performed or metabolic evaluation and a "bleeding calendar" was compiled by the patients. CONCLUSION: There is an increase of quality and frequency of sexual function after 6 month of contraception; there aren't significant change in metabolic parameters and is detectable a modification of bleeding patterns.
ABSTRACT
Brain beta-endorphin (beta-EP) plays an important role in regulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis activity. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) beta-EP levels seem to reflect the central rather than pituitary secretion. With the aim to correlate the changes of plasma estradiol (E2), progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone with brain beta-EP, CSF levels of beta-EP were measured in 15 normally cycling and 15 postmenopausal women. CSF beta-EP levels in post-menopausal women were lower than in fertile women. A positive correlation between plasma E2 and CSF beta-EP level was found in all women. In fertile women CSF beta-EP levels were inversely correlated to plasma gonadotropin levels. These results showed that CSF beta-EP levels differ between fertile and postmenopausal women and are correlated with plasma LH and E2, suggesting a strong linkage between central beta-EP levels and pituitary-gonadal axis hormones.
