Sex hormones, Gender-affirming Hormones, Oral contraceptives, Depression, Mood, Sleep

I am a neuroscientist by training, and my main area of expertise lies in the effects of sex hormones and sex hormone changes on mental health, including mood, sleep and depression. I approach theses topics from an interdisciplinary point of view, combining insights from neuroscience, psychology and sociology.

Many people will experience changes in sex hormones in their lifetime, either through the body's own process (i.e., menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause) or through the use of exogenous hormones (i.e., gender-affirming hormones, hormonal contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy). With my research, I aim to gain better insights into the role of these sex hormone changes in mental health. These insights can directly inform those going through hormone changes, empowering them to make better informed decisions about their health. 

Next to my resesarch activities, I am also an active advocate for the inclusion of sex and gender in (mental) health research.