Abstract
Ovarian steroid hormones are frequently used in clinical practice. Postmenopausal replacement therapy and oral contraception are both based on the effects of the ovarian steroids. Mental side effects have often been reported, especially in relation to oral contraceptives. In that context it is of course of importance to collect knowledge about the influence ovarian steroid hormones have on the brain. The present review discusses the natural hormones estradiol and progesterone and some of their metabolites. Knowledge of the effects of synthetic estrogen and progestagen derivatives is very limited and will be mentioned only briefly.
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