Working Memory in Oral Contraceptive Users: Does Time of Pill Ingestion and the Catechol-o-methyltransferase Val158Met Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Influence Working Memory?

Abstract

The main estrogen produced by the ovaries, 17-beta estradiol (E2), interacts with different DA availabilities due to the COMT Val158Met polymorphism to modulate WM. Whether the commonly used synthetic estrogen, ethinyl estradiol (EE), does the same is unknown. To addressed this question, we investigated WM in OC users. Additionally, we examined if the pharmacokinetics of EE affect WM by testing OC users at a peak EE state 1-2 hours after pill ingestion, and at a low EE state just before pill ingestion. Naturally cycling controls were tested at low and high E2 menstrual cycle phases. Our preliminary results indicate time since pill ingestion does not affect WM performance, but COMT genotype may differentially affect WM in NC and OC women. These data suggest that despite the pharmacokinetics of EE in OC users and the variability of DA breakdown, women on OCs have stable WM throughout the day.M.A.2021-07-28 00:00:0