Millions of women and teenage girls use oral contraception, but we are only now getting an idea of what effect these drugs have on our brains
Hormonal birth control is effective in preventing pregnancy, but there may be some neurological trade-offs that we are only just learning aboutOral contraceptives have been effectively preventing pregnancy for more than 65 years, but it has only been in the past 10 that scientists – many of them women – have started to seriously examine what effect they have on the brain.
New research is showing that oral hormonal contraceptives may alter the risk of mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, affect the brain’s response to stress and change the structure of certain brain regions. Evidence presented at the European Stroke Organisation Conference on 21 May also shows that women on oral contraception faceSo far, the science still suggests hormonal birth control is largely safe, but it has side-effects that vary with each individual, their age and health history, and the particular formulation of their contraceptive.at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “Now we’re recognising that it was a blunt tool, and we understand there’s more nuance.” Getting to grips with that nuance will require more investigation, say researchers. However, some of that nascent work is threatened by the chaos surrounding the Trump administration’s efforts to terminate diversity, equity and inclusion policies and to gut federal health funding. So, what do we know now?Birth control came to the US market in 1960, with the UK following in 1961, offering women an unprecedented level of bodily autonomy;, known colloquially as “the pill”. However, though many studies have demonstrated the pill’s effectiveness at preventing pregnancy, few have investigated the effect exogenous hormones, specifically oestrogen and progesterone, have on the brain. Recent research has – and the results are mixed. “I don’t think we should all freak out and run to the hills and throw away all of our birth control pills,” saysat the University of California, Los Angeles. “But I do think that we should study these things so that we can understand the trade-offs that we’re making.”have found higher rates of depression in oral contraceptive users, particularly in those just starting to take the pill. Those who display, where abrupt changes in hormones – such as during puberty, pregnancy and the postpartum period – hit particularly hard, may be at a higher risk of negative effects. But the evidence suggests people’s responses are incredibly individual – someon oral contraceptives, and for others, using oral birth control methods for long periods reduces the risk of depression and anxiety., the combined oral contraceptive pill, contains both oestrogen and one of several kinds of progestin, which are synthetic forms of progesterone. Progestin-only pills, also called “mini-pills”, haven’t been as well studied, and the different kinds of progestin they use each act differently in the body.higher levels of chronic inflammation . This can increase sensitivity to stress and elevate the risk of mood disorders. Other research suggests that sex steroid hormones, such as oestrogen, may modulate the body’s stress response. A 2022 study found that hormonal contraceptive users had both higher levels of cortisol, a steroid hormone, andthose who use oral contraceptives process stress differently, says Mengelkoch. Although cortisol is often maligned as the “stress hormone”, that is an over-simplification of a necessary molecule involved in regulating metabolic function and reducing inflammation, as well as helping the body deal with stress. When cortisol doesn’t rise as it should, people still experience stress, but they aren’t as equipped to respond. “Their bodies aren’t coming online to help them to manage the stressors that they’re experiencing,” says Mengelkoch. “Over time, that might be causing some of the mental health and depression-related outcomes that you see.”Evidence is also mounting that the use of oral contraceptives changes structures within the brain, with potential for adverse effects. Those at greatest risk of detrimental changes may be teenagers, whose brains are still developing. Aboutcompared with those who never use oral contraceptives or who start later in life. Studies have also shown that women who started using the pill earlier in adolescence had moreAdult brains also seem to change, although the effect of those changes is unclear. A 2023 study found that adult women using oral contraceptives had athan those who never used or stopped using the pill. Researchers concluded that the changes might imply a structural vulnerability to stress or anxiety disorders, since other studies show a. However, they also caution that more investigation is needed – these studies tend to be small and the association between brain structure and fear Scans of neuroscientist Carina Heller’s brain showed that the volume of her cerebral cortex shrank while she was on oral contraceptionat the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, decided to use her own brain as a test subject. Heller, who was 30 at the time of this research, underwent 75 brain scans over the course of a year, covering the time before, during and after using oral contraceptives . She and her colleagues found that the volume of her cerebral cortex decreased by 1 per cent while she was on the pill. Heller warns that it is too early to say what these changes mean – changes in volume don’t necessarily imply an effect on health or cognition. “Decreases could be a protective factor, could be a risk factor, it could be both,” she says. Furthermore, it isn’t clear what is happening at the microscopic level: “Is it just water that’s changing, or are the actual neural cells changing?” While any changes may seem alarming, our brains are constantly adapting. “Every time you learn something new, your brain changes. Every time you change your diet, your brain changes,” says Taylor. “That’s why we’re so successful, because our brain can change and adapt to the environments that we’re putting it in.”But though research into the effects of hormonal birth control on the brain have begun to pick up steam in the past decade, changes to the political landscape are threatening to bring this to a halt., along with employees at the division dedicated to women’s health and fertility at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . This, say researchers, means the loss of valuable data and guidance on the safety of contraceptives. Meanwhile, women’s health researchers at major universities, including Columbia University in New York, have seen, after the Trump administration forced the termination of grants potentially related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Words triggering immediate scrutiny included “women” and “female”. The funding freeze also prematurely halted Neuroscientist Carina Heller scanned her brain 75 times over the course of a year to track changes in its structure while using hormonal contraceptives“It’s unclear how severe the long-term consequences will be, but yes this will hamper research into this question and others adjacent to it,” says Taylor. “No matter where you look, there are going to be fewer trained and motivated people to ask the questions, fewer opportunities to fund the people who are trained and interested, lower likelihood that they’ll have the facilities and resources to conduct the science effectively… When push comes to shove, the research programs that will be considered worthy of funding or safe to pursue are not likely going to be those that focus on women’s health.”In the meantime, scientists want to stress that research done so far doesn’t point to a need to stop using oral contraceptives. Side-effects are a reality of any pharmaceutical, and, says Mengelkoch: “Oftentimes the benefit of being not pregnant is worth the trade-off of a lot of side-effects.” Ultimately, birth control is a personal choice, dictated by the circumstances and needs of the individual. “I would never tell anyone who’s having a good experience on their birth control to stop using birth control,” she says. “I wouldn’t even necessarily tell someone who’s having a kind of bad but tolerable experience to change it.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Millions brace for 'catastrophic' ice as 18 states declare emergency amid historic winter stormFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
Millions brace for 'catastrophic' ice; 18 states declare emergency amid historic winter stormFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
Officials: L.A. Charity Director Stole Millions in Taxpayer Funds While Feeding Homeless Ramen NoodlesSource of breaking news and analysis, insightful commentary and original reporting, curated and written specifically for the new generation of independent and conservative thinkers.
Read more »
California Charity Director Arrested for Alleged Wire Fraud, Misusing Millions in Homeless FundsAlexander Soofer, the director of a California charity, faces wire fraud charges for allegedly using over $23 million in taxpayer money meant for the homeless to fund a lavish lifestyle, including a mansion, private jets, and luxury vacations. The charity was supposed to provide housing and nutritious meals, but instead, the homeless received Ramen noodles while Soofer allegedly enriched himself.
Read more »
Microsoft Confirms Emergency Update For Millions Of Outlook UsersOutlook users must update Windows PCs now.
Read more »
California sees rash of flight cancellations due to massive winter storm affecting millions of AmericansNearly 1,800 flights have been canceled through Saturday ahead of this weekend’s colossal storm. Disruptions are expected to begin today, as cancellations have already started in Texas. Ice and snow will be major concerns over the weekend. Stick with FOX Weather for the latest travel updates.
Read more »