In late 2004, Dr. Robert Frisina 1, associate chair, otolaryngology at the University of Rochester Medical School, reported his first findings on the link between Progestin and hearing loss in women who used HRT over a period of time.
His study consisted of 64 postmenopausal women ages 60 to 86 taking estrogen, and estrogen plus progesterone for periods of between one and 20 years. The study indicated that hearing loss is progressive. “The initial pilot data suggest that the longer a woman is on HRT, the worse the hearing loss gets.” Dr. Frisina conducted several tests and found that HRT affects both the inner ear and brain stem processing, in which a person can localize sound sources. “As we age, we lose that ability anyway.
However, it may be that HRT accelerates that loss.” Now Dr. Frisina and his colleagues are studying whether various HRT formulations are worse than others. They are also looking to see whether the hearing loss is permanent or reversible.
At the time, Dr. Frisina advised women who were planning to go on HRT to have their hearing tested beforehand and to follow up every six months; or, speak to a doctor about alternatives if they had already experienced a deterioration in hearing while on HRT.
The National Academy of Sciences (September 5, 2006) reported the results of the latest progestin linked hearing loss study. Of the124 postmenopausal women in the study, those taking hormone replacement therapy that included progestin had poorer speech understanding than women who were not taking hormones or who were using estrogen only.
Other researchers site studies that indicate subtle hearing differences during different phases of the menstrual cycle. *2/3/4/5
1) Robert D. Frisina,
Professor of Otolaryngology, Surgery, Neurobiology & Anatomy, and Biomedical Engineering
Area of Research: Neural Processing of Speech in Young and Aged, Effects of Hearing Loss and Deafness
Contact Information:
Robert_Frisina@urmc.rochester.edu
University of Rochester
School of Medicine and Dentistry
601 Elmwood Ave, Box 629
Rochester, New York 14642
Medical Center [1-5010]
Phone: (585) [275-8130]
Fax: (585) [271-8552]
2) Performance in a test demanding prefrontal functions is favored by early luteal phase progesterone: an electroencephalographic study
Solis-Ortiz S, Guevara MA, Corsi-Cabrera M Psychoneuroendocrinology; September 2004 (Vol. 29, Issue 8, Pages 1047-1057)
3) Effects of tibolone on auditory brainstem responses in postmenopausal women—a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Sator MO, Franz P, Egarter C, Gruber DM, Wölfl G, Nagele F
Fertility and Sterility November 1999 (Vol. 72, Issue 5, Pages 885-888)
4) Changes in Pure-Tone Thresholds and Temporary Threshold Shifts as a Function of Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraceptives
Sara J. Swanson,Harold A. Dengerink;Washington State University
Journal of Speech and Hearing Research Vol.31 569-574 December 1988.© American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
5) Changes in Sensorimotor inhibition across the menstrual cycle: Implications for neuropsychiatric disorders
Neal R. Swerdlow, Corresponding Author, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA, Copyright © 1997 Published by Elsevier Inc.
© Iconic Woman/Inconvenient Woman Blog
