Professor Vibe G. Frøkjær has been granted 5.153.161 DKK from DFF for a 5-year (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2031) research project entitled 'How hormonal intrauterine systems affect the female brain'. Congratulations to Vibe!
Project summary: The identification of adverse mental health effects of hormonal contraceptives motivates us to detect underlying mechanisms, to ultimately inform personalized contraception, which is safe for all. Even though hormonal intra-uterine systems (H-IUS) are highly popular alternatives to combined oral contraceptives, they come with a higher dose-dependent risk for adverse mood effects. Nevertheless, we completely lack data on H-IUS brain signatures, which can explain such adverse effects. In a longitudinal, within subject study in 50 healthy women, we will determine if a key brain receptor (serotonin 4 receptor) known to be implicated in cognition and mood, and to be reduced in combined oral contraceptive users, is also affected by starting a H-IUS. Further we will evaluate other plausible links between H-IUS and risk for mood symptoms, i.e. neuroplasticity markers, cortisol dynamics, and inflammatory status. We anticipate to identify mechanisms critical for hormone-related brain health.