Pregnancy, Menopause, and Other Hormonal Factors

Historically, the medical community has often viewed puberty, pregnancy, and menopause through the narrow scope of their effects on female reproductive organs, emphasizing their roles in physiological readiness for conception and childbearing. This perspective has traditionally overlooked the critical neuroendocrine signals and pathways essential for these processes, which have systemic effects throughout the body. Recent decades of research have shed light on how fluctuations in reproductive hormones can have significant, system-wide physiological impacts. These effects are far-reaching, both spatially within the body and temporally over time, with some persisting long after the initial hormonal changes. While research in this domain has traditionally focused on reproductive hormones and cognitive function during pregnancy, it is now recognized that these hormones fluctuate continuously over the lifespan. This has opened new avenues of research into how these hormonal variations correlate with cognitive shifts at various stages of a woman’s life. This chapter will explore the latest research on subjective cognitive experiences and objective cognitive functioning as they relate to changes in reproductive hormones throughout a woman’s life. It will cover key developmental milestones such as puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause, as well as examine other factors influencing reproductive hormones, including hormonal contraception, hormone replacement therapy, as well as gender-affirming hormonal therapy. Additionally the chapter will offer insights for researchers and healthcare professionals looking to incorporate this knowledge into their practice.