The use of birth control pills has been linked to changes in stress responses in women. According to a study published in the journal Behavioural Brain Research, women who use the contraceptive have significantly higher levels of the stress hormone ACTH in their blood after social activities compared to those who do not use the pill. Despite being available since the 1960s, the complex interactions between the pill and the body are still not fully understood, and new side effects are still being discovered. The study, conducted by researchers at Aarhus University, examined in detail how the contraceptive affects stress responses in women.
The study involved 131 women, some of whom used the pill and some who did not. The women were given an intravenous catheter to take blood samples before and after participating in various social activities, including games and singing. The results showed that the ACTH levels in women who did not use the pill decreased after social activities, while those who used the contraceptive did not experience any change. The researchers suggest that the pill may suppress the body’s production of progesterone, which is converted into the calming hormone allopregnanolone. However, further research is needed to fully understand the complex mechanisms that connect hormone levels and stress responses.
The study’s findings have important implications for women who use birth control pills, as they suggest that social activities may not be as effective in managing stress for these women as they are for those who do not use the pill. It is also important to note that there are different generations of birth control pills, each with its own chemical structure and side effect profile. Therefore, the study needs to be repeated with a larger and more diverse group of participants to fully understand the effects of the contraceptive on stress responses.
