Let's Talk About Research on Hormonal Contraceptives

In this episode, PhD candidate Franziska Weinmar interviews Dr. Adriene Beltz, visiting Tübingen from the University of Michigan. The topic of today’s episode are hormonal intrauterine devices, short IUD. From contraceptives beyond the “pill” and hormonal contraceptive trends worldwide, they discuss how the IUD works, why it is important to look at potential effects of IUDs separately from oral contraceptives and what research there is on the IUD and mental health as well as the brain. Further, they discuss how a specific method of research, “intense longitudinal data”, can help understand individual variability within people to do better science and go towards individualized medicine. Timestamps:01:30 Hormonal contraceptives beyond the “pill”05:00 Trends in contraception worldwide / by age06:45: How does the hormonal IUD work?08:15: Hormonal levels in IUDs10:30 Systemic IUD effects?12:30 Combining OC and IUD in research?15:00 IUDs in neuroscience research and types of progestins23:10 IUD & the brain25:50 Why is it so important to investigate hormonal contraceptives and IUDs specifically?29:30: Summary34:00 Outlook with focus on methods37:30 Intense longitudinal data – what is it and why is it important40:00 Paths to individualized medicine?42:00 Diversity in research via intensive longitiudinal data45:00 Summary and teaser for future episodes on stress & the IUDMany thanks to Zoé Bürger for contributing to this episode!Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.