title: Changes in pure-tone thresholds and temporary threshold shifts as a function of menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives.
abstract: The present study examined the effects of exogenous and endogenous ovarian hormones on auditory functioning in young women. Fluctuations in pure tone thresholds and temporary threshold shifts (TTS) at 4 kHz and 6 kHz were assessed across the menstrual cycle. A group of normally cycling, ovulatory women and a group of women using Ortho Novum 7/7/7, a tri-phasic oral contraceptive, were tested during menstruation, at ovulation, and during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. A group of men served as controls and were tested at 3 similarly spaced intervals. Only the normally cycling women had significant cyclic fluctuations in auditory sensitivity, displaying poorer thresholds at 4 kHz during the menstrual phase than at the time of ovulation or during the luteal phase. In addition, normally cycling women were found to have significantly less TTS at 6 kHz during the menstrual phase than women using oral contraceptives.
authors.affiliation: Washington State University.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Dengerink
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004967:Estrogens; D011374:Progesterone