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Effects on hearing during prolonged oral contraceptive use.
Contraception
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Prolonged oral contraceptive use did not cause hearing loss, but brain-stem evoked responses (BSER) showed subtle changes in central auditory pathways, warranting further study.
Area of Science:
- Ototoxicology
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
Background:
- Oral contraceptives are widely used, and some studies suggest a link to hearing defects.
- The potential impact on the auditory nervous system remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate subclinical pathology in the nervous hearing structures of women using oral contraceptives.
- To assess hearing function using audiological tests and brain-stem evoked responses (BSER).
Main Methods:
- Twenty healthy women using oral contraceptives (9-30 months) and 10 controls underwent audiological testing.
- Brain-stem evoked responses (BSER) and stapedial reflex tests were performed.
Main Results:
- No significant hearing loss was detected in the oral contraceptive group.
- BSER analysis revealed significantly shorter latencies for waves I and III, indicating a functional alteration.
- Minor alterations in other auditory parameters were observed.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged oral contraception does not appear to impair overall hearing function, even with advanced testing.
- Observed BSER and stapedial reflex alterations may represent early, non-organic signs of central auditory pathway changes.
- These findings suggest a need for further investigation into the effects of oral contraceptives on the auditory nervous system.
Keywords:
BiologyClinical ResearchComparative StudiesContraception--side effectsContraceptive Agents, Female--side effectsContraceptive Agents--side effectsContraceptive Methods--side effectsDeveloped CountriesDiseasesEuropeFamily PlanningItalyMediterranean CountriesNeurologic EffectsOral Contraceptives--side effectsPhysiologyResearch MethodologyResearch ReportSouthern EuropeStudies