Impact of Oral Contraceptives on GABA and Neurosteroids

Thus, the proposed study has the following Specific Aims and Hypotheses: 1. To determine in menstruating women ages 18-45 whether an OCP containing ethinyl estradiol (EE) and the progestin ethinydiol diacetate (ED) increases cortical GABA concentrations as measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) above that of an OCP containing EE and the progestin norethindrone (NOR). 2. To determine the relationship between changes in occipital GABA concentrations with acute OCP administration and negative affect with chronic OCP administration over two menstrual cycles.