title: The relationship between oral contraceptive use and sensitivity to olfactory stimuli.
abstract: The present study examined differences in olfactory sensitivity between 16 naturally cycling (NC) women and 17 women taking monophasic oral contraceptives (OCs) to six odors: lemon, peppermint, rose, musk, androstenone and androsterone. Thresholds were assessed twice for both groups of women (during the periovulatory and luteal phases of their cycles) via a forced-choice discrimination task. NC women in the periovulatory phase were significantly more sensitive to androstenone, androsterone, and musk than women taking OCs. These findings give support to odor-specific hormonal modulation of olfaction. Further, due to the social and possibly sexual nature of these odors, future work should address whether there is a relationship between decreased sensitivity to these odors and reported behavioral side effects among women taking OCs.
authors: Psychology Department, Knox College, 2 East South Street, Galesburg, IL 61401-4999, USA. kjrenfr@emory.edu
authors: Kaytlin J
authors: KJ
authors: Renfro
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009812:Odorants; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral