Kirsten A. Oinonen

Facial symmetry detection ability changes across the menstrual cycle.

The effects of menstrual cycle phase and hormones on womens visual ability to detect symmetry and visual preference for symmetry were examined. Participants completed tests of symmetry detection and preference for male facial symmetry at two of three menstrual cycle phases (menses, periovulatory, and luteal). Women were better at detecting facial symmetry during the menses than luteal phase of their cycle. A trend indicated the opposite pattern for dot symmetry detection. Similarly, change in salivary progesterone levels across the cycle was negatively related to change in facial symmetry detection scores. However, there was no clear evidence of a greater preference for facial symmetry at any cycle phase, despite an overall preference for facial symmetry across phases. These findings suggest a menses phase advantage and a low progesterone advantage in womens ability to detect facial symmetry. The results are discussed in the context of hormonal, evolutionary mate selection, and functional neurocognitive theories.

Effects of oral contraceptives on daily self-ratings of positive and negative affect

OBJECTIVES The relationship between affect and duration of oral contraceptive (OC) use was investigated. METHOD Ninety-six women (17 first-time OC users, 34 long-time users, and 45 never-users) completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) daily for 35 days. This study was the first to examine positive affect variability; and personal family psychiatric history; and to compare early-, late-, and never-users of OCs. RESULTS Triphasic users experienced greater variability in positive affect across the cycle, likely due to the variable hormone levels. Withdrawal of a constant level of hormones (monophasics) during early use was associated with greater variability in positive affect than withdrawal of changing hormonal levels (triphasics). Furthermore, personal and family psychiatric history may mediate an effect of OCs on negative affect variability. CONCLUSIONS OCs and, therefore, hormones can alter day-to-day affect variability. Four variables are associated with this effect: duration of use, OC type, personal psychiatric history, and family psychiatric history.

Age at menarche is associated with divergent alcohol use patterns in early adolescence and early adulthood

A cross-sectional retrospective design was employed to examine the relationship between age at menarche (AAM) and alcohol use patterns from middle childhood (age 7) to early adulthood in 265 University-aged women. Earlier menarche was associated with: (a) earlier ages at first drink and first intoxication, (b) greater use between ages 9 and 14 (i.e., frequency, amount, vomiting), and (c) binge drinking between ages 11 and 14. In contrast, late menarche was associated with greater current use in the adult women (i.e., frequency, amount, hangovers). Early timing of first intoxication relative to menarche (FIRM) strongly predicted higher current drinking. These findings suggest: (a) a link between AAM and alcohol use as early as age 9, (b) opposite relationships between AAM and alcohol use during two distinct developmental periods separated by a period of use unassociated with AAM, and (c) that the impact of early FIRM on adult consumption deserves further study.

Do oral contraceptives act as mood stabilizers? Evidence of positive affect stabilization

SummaryPrevious research has suggested that oral contraceptives (OCs) may provide a stabilizing effect on affect. The present study examined whether OC users and nonusers differ in their affect reactivity in response to four laboratory mood induction procedures. A sample of 107 undergraduate students (40 OC users, 36 nonusers, and 31 men) completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) before and after completing a series of four mood-induction procedures (i.e., positive affect, jealousy, social ostracism, and parental feelings affect inductions). OC users experienced a blunted positive affect response to the tasks when compared with nonusers and men. Women who used OCs for less than two years showed the lowest positive affect reactivity. The groups did not differ in terms of negative affect reactivity. The results suggest that hormonal contraceptives may reduce the degree of positive affect change that women experience in response to environmental events. Possible mechanisms for an OC-induced positive affect stabilization effect are discussed.

Putting a finger on potential predictors of oral contraceptive side effects: 2D:4D and middle-phalangeal hair

Many women experience emotional or physical side effects when taking oral contraceptives (OCs). Despite the potential impact on womens health and well-being, there are no valid methods to screen women for their risk of OC side effects. The present paper presents the results of two studies where anthropometric indicators of androgen exposure, 2D:4D and middle-phalangeal hair, were examined for their potential as predictors of OC side effects. In study 1, 2D:4D was associated with womens reports of a history of: (a) negative mood side effects; (b) discontinuation due to negative mood side effects; (c) specific mood side effects (i.e., crying, sadness, and altered trust in ones partners) and (d) specific physical side effects (i.e., headaches, fatigue, and decreased sex drive). In study 2, 2D:4D and/or middle-phalangeal hair was/were associated with a reported history of: (a) discontinuation due to negative mood side effects; (b) specific mood-related side effects (i.e., negative mood, disrupted sleep, increased aggression, and altered trust in ones partner) and (c) specific physical side effects (i.e., headaches, decreased menstrual cramps, and increased sex drive/arousal). The general pattern was that adverse OC side effects were experienced by women with lower 2D:4D and fewer middle-phalangeal hairs. Almost all relationships remained significant when response bias was controlled. These results suggest a possible role for prenatal testosterone exposure and both androgen action and sensitivity in womens experience of OC side effects. Furthermore, these two digit measures may be useful predictors of hormonal contraceptive side effects in women.

An inverse relationship between typical alcohol consumption and facial symmetry detection ability in young women.

The relationship between monthly alcohol consumption over the past 6 months and facial symmetry perception ability was examined in young sober women with typical college-age drinking patterns. Facial symmetry detection performance was inversely related to typical monthly alcohol consumption, r (41) = —0.57, p < 0.001. Other variables that were predictive of facial symmetry detection included alcohol-related hangover and blackout frequency over the past 6 months, number of alcoholic drinks over the past week, early adolescent alcohol consumption and frequency of drug use. The relationship between alcohol use and symmetry detection could not be explained by individual differences in personality, family alcoholism history or other drug use. These findings suggest the possibility of a neurotoxic effect of alcohol on facial symmetry perception ability in female undergraduate students. As similar results did not emerge for a test of dot symmetry detection, the findings appear specific to facial symmetry. No previous studies have examined the effect of alcohol history on symmetry detection. The findings add to a growing literature indicating negative visuospatial effects of early alcohol use, and suggest the importance of further research examining alcohol and drug effects on sober facial perception in non-alcoholic populations.

Preconception health behaviours: A scoping review

Preconception health refers to the health of males and females at any point in time prior to a potential pregnancy. A goal of preconception health research is to use preventive behaviour and healthcare to optimize the health of future offspring that result from both planned and unplanned pregnancies. This paper briefly reviews evidence of the importance of various preconception health behaviours, and examines the extent to which specific preconception health behaviours have been included in recent studies of such knowledge, behaviours, and intentions. To describe this recent research in highly developed countries, a scoping review of the literature was completed of studies published within the past seven years. A total of 94 studies on preconception health were identified and reviewed: (a) 15 examined knowledge and attitudes, (b) 68 studied behaviours, (c) 18 examined interventions designed to improve knowledge or behaviour, and (d) no studies examined intentions to engage in preconception health behaviours. Over 40% of studies examining preconception health behaviour focussed exclusively on folic acid. Overall, folic acid, alcohol, and cigarettes have consistently been topics of focus, while exposure to harmful environmental substances, stress, and sleep have been largely neglected. Despite strong evidence for the importance of mens health during the preconception period, only 11% of all studies included male participants. Based on existing gaps in the research, recommendations are provided, such as including men in future research, assessing a wider variety of behaviours, consideration of behavioural intentions, and consideration of the relationships between preconception health knowledge, intentions, and behaviour.

Age at menarche and digit ratio (2D:4D): Relationships with body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and bulimia symptoms in women

This study examined the hypothesis that lower prenatal androgen exposure and earlier puberty are associated with more dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors. Relationships between both age at menarche (AAM) and 2D:4D (a marker of prenatal androgen exposure), and EDI-2-Body Dissatisfaction, EDI-2-Drive for Thinness, and EDI-2-Bulimia scores, were examined in women using correlations and regressions. Earlier menarche was associated with higher drive for thinness after controlling for BMI and negative affect, but only in women who were not exclusively heterosexual. Higher 2D:4D was associated with higher Bulimia and Body Dissatisfaction scores, but only in exclusively heterosexual women, and relationships disappeared when covariates were controlled. Later AAM and higher 2D:4D were unique predictors of higher Bulimia scores for exclusive heterosexuals when BMI was controlled. These findings suggest future research should examine sexual orientation as a mediator or moderator of prenatal and postnatal organizational hormonal effects on womens disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.

Past reproductive events as predictors of physical symptom severity during the menopausal transition.

Objective This study aims to determine whether the severity of physical symptoms experienced during perimenopause can be predicted by physical symptoms experienced during past reproductive events (ie, symptoms experienced during pregnancy, the postpartum period, the premenstrual phase, and hormonal contraceptive use). Methods Two hundred ninety perimenopausal and postmenopausal women completed a series of questionnaires pertaining to their menopausal symptoms and the severity of both physical and emotional symptoms experienced during past reproductive events. Results The severity of some physical symptoms experienced during past reproductive events predicted the severity of menopausal physical symptoms. Some symptoms experienced during the premenstrual phase (ie, pain, lack of concentration, and water retention) and physical symptoms experienced during pregnancy were the best unique predictors of menopausal physical symptoms. Conclusions The findings suggest that women with a history of more severe physical symptoms during periods of both low (ie, premenstrual phase) and high (ie, pregnancy) hormone exposure are at greatest risk for experiencing severe physical symptoms during the perimenopausal transition.

Elevated eating disorder symptoms in women with a history of oral contraceptive side effects

Previous research suggests a link between gonadal hormones and eating disorder symptomatology. This study examined the role of gonadal hormones and hormonal sensitivity in eating disorder (ED) symptoms by using oral contraceptive (OC) side effect history as an indicator of hormonal sensitivity. A questionnaire containing two scales of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 and an OC side effect scale was completed by 174 healthy women who had used OCs. Histories of emotional and physical OC side effects were evaluated as predictors of body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. Women with a history of negative OC side effects had higher levels of ED symptoms. After controlling for body mass index (BMI) and depression scores, OC side effect history remained a significant predictor of body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. The experience of OC side effects may indicate a greater risk for increased eating disorder symptoms. The findings provide further support for a hormonal link to ED symptoms, as women who are more “sensitive” to exogenous gonadal hormones also experience more ED symptoms.