• Timo De Bondt, Wim Van Hecke, Jelle Veraart, Alexander Leemans, Jan Sijbers, Stefan Sunaert, Yves Jacquemyn, and Paul M Parizel.
• Department of Radiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Antwerp, Belgium. timo.debondt@ua.ac.be
• Eur Radiol. 2013 Jan 1;23(1):57-64.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of monophasic combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) and menstrual cycle phase in healthy young women on white matter (WM) organization using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).MethodsThirty young women were included in the study; 15 women used COCP and 15 women had a natural cycle. All subjects underwent DTI magnetic resonance imaging during the follicular and luteal phase of their cycle, or in different COCP cycle phases. DTI parameters were obtained in different WM structures by performing diffusion tensor fibre tractography. Fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were calculated for different WM structures. Hormonal plasma concentrations were measured in peripheral venous blood samples and correlated with the DTI findings.ResultsWe found a significant difference in mean diffusivity in the fornix between the COCP and the natural cycle group. Mean diffusivity values in the fornix were negatively correlated with luteinizing hormone and estradiol blood concentrations.ConclusionAn important part in the limbic system, the fornix, regulates emotional processes. Differences in diffusion parameters in the fornix may contribute to behavioural alternations related to COCP use. This finding also suggests that the use of oral contraceptives needs to be taken into account when designing DTI group studies.

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