The Effects of the Female Hormones on Cerebral Perfusion

Summary

Measuring brain perfusion is biased by a inter- and intrasubject variability, caused by physiological and lifestyle factors. In this study, the investigators want to investigate the variations in cerebral perfusion and other brain parameters (grey matter, resting-state brain activity, brain connectivity and white matter diffusion) caused by the female sex hormones and hormonal contraception.

Conditions

• Cerebral Perfusion
• Contraception
• Menstrual Cycle

Interventions

DEVICE

MRI scan

Several MRI scan modalities: MPRAGE (structural scan), arterial spin labeling (cerebral perfusion), resting state functional-MRI (fMRI, cerebral activity) and diffusion MRI (white matter diffusion and white matter tracts).

DEVICE

Physiological monitoring

During MRI: heart rate, end-tidal carbon dioxide (CO2), respiratory rate and skin conductance

BIOLOGICAL

Blood sample

Blood sample after MRI-session: measurement of hematocrit, hemoglobin, estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulation hormone and luteinizing hormone.

DEVICE

Blood pressure measurement

Measuring blood pressure before and after MRI-scan

DEVICE

Body temperature

Measuring body temperature before and after MRI-scan

OTHER

Questionnaires

Questionnaires at the start of the study on lifestyle. Additionally, a questionnaire before each scan session on the actual state of the volunteer (e.g. mood, caffeine consumption, alcohol, medication, etc.)

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Pregnancy test

Test for pregnancy using a pregnancy dipstick test

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Ghent

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Eric Achten, MD, PhD · University Hospital, Ghent

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-10-03

Primary Completion

2027-12-31

Completion

2027-12-31

Countries

• Belgium

Study Locations